Toolik Lake Permanent Vegetation Plots

Walker D.A. and Barry N. 1991. Toolik Lake permanent vegetation plots: site factors, soil physical and chemical properties, plant species cover, photographs, and soil descriptions. Data Report 48, Department of Energy R4D Program, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.

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Table 2. List of vegetation communities and microsites sampled in 1989

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Plot No.Plant CommunityMicrosite
SWT-1Moist
Carex membranacea, Carex scirpoidea, Salix chamissonis, Salix reticulata, Potentilla fruticosa,
sedge, dwarf-shrub, forb tundra
Featureless active floodplain
SWT-2*Moist
Salix alaxensis, Aster sibiricus, Calamagrostis canadensis s.l., Potentilla fruticosa,
tall shrubland
Featureless active floodplain
SWT-3Dry
Betula nana s.l., Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens, Hierochloe alpina, Cladonia arbuscula,
dwarf-shrub, lichen tundra
Small turf hummocks on footslope
SWT-4Aquatic
Arctophila fulva,
marsh
Lake, in 20-30 cm of water
SWT-5*Dry
Arctous alpina, Hierochloe alpina,
dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra
High centered polygons on top of glacial outwash terrace
SWT-6Dry
Betula nana s.l., Hierochloe alpina, Cetraria cucullata,
low­-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra
High centered polygons on glacial outwash terrace
SWT-7Dry
Dryas octopetala, Selaginella sibirica, Thamnolia subuliformis,
dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra
Featureless hill crest of outwash terrace
SWT-8^Dry
Empetrum nigrum hermaphroditum, Betula nana s.l., Vaccinium uliginosum, Loiseleuria procumbens, Cladonia arbuscula, Stereocaulon alpinum,
dwarf-shrub, fruticose-­lichen tundra
Small hummocks and solifluction features on midslope
SWT-9Dry
Cassiope tetragona, Dryas integrifolia, Hylocomium splendens, Carex microchaeta, Salix glauca, Cetraria cucullata,
dwarf-shrub, fruticose­-lichen tundra
Snowbed, hummocky terrain, including turf hummocks and some solifluction features on footslope
SWT-10Moist
Carex bigelowii, Cassiope tetragona, Equisetum arvense, Dryas integrifolia, Hylocomium splendens, Tomentypnum nitens,
sedge, horsetail, dwarf-shrub tundra
Stone stripes on footslope
SWT-11*Wet
Carex chordorrhiza, Carex rotundata, Scorpidium scorpioides,
sedge tundra
Wet element of strangmoor in fen of colluvial basin
SWT-12Wet
Carex aquatilis s.l., Eriophorum angustifolium s.l., Carex rotundata,
sedge tundra
Strangmoor and aligned hummocks in fen of colluvial basin
SWT-13*Wet
Eriophorum angustifolium s.l., Carex rotundata, Carex aquatilis s.l.,
sedge tundra
Featureless margin of a small pond in a colluvial basin
SWT-14*Moist
Tricophorum caespitosum, Tomentypnum nitens,
sedge tundra
Strangmoor and aligned hummocks in fen of colluvial basin
SWT-15Wet
Carex chordorrhiza, Carex rotundata,
sedge tundra
Wet element of strangmoor and aligned hummocks in fen of colluvial basin
SWT-16Moist
Carex membranacea, Salix reticulata, Dodecatheon frigidum,
sedge, dwarf-shrub, forb tundra
Turf hummocks and solifluction features on footslope at lake margin
SWT-17Moist
Poa glauca, Epilobium angustifolium angustifolium,
grass, forb tundra
Ground squirrel dens on hill crest
SWT-18Dry
Dryas octopetala, Carex rupestris, Pertusaria sp.,
dwarf-shrub, crustose-lichen tundra
Featureless hill crest of moraine
SWT-19Dry
Vaccinium uliginosum, Loiseleuria procumbens, Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens, Betula nana s.l., Cetraria cucullata,
dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra
Snowbed, featureless shoulder of moraine
SWT-20Dry
Cassiope tetragona, Dryas integrifolia, Geum glaciale, Cetraria cucullata,
dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra
Snowbed, hummocky terrain on lower backslope
SWT-21Moist
Equisetum arvense, Carex bigelowii, Tomentypnum nitens, Dryas integrifolia,
horsetail, sedge tundra
Hummocky terrain with a few small water pits on toeslope
SWT-22Moist
Eriophorum vaginatum, Dryas integrifolia, Salix reticulata, Tomentypnum nitens,
tussock-sedge, dwarf­-shrub tundra
Hummocky terrain, including turf hummocks on lower backslope
SWT-23Moist
Carex bigelowii, Dryas integrifolia, Salix reticulata, Tomentypnum nitens,
sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra
Hummocky terrain with solifluction features on sideslope
SWT-24Moist
Equisetum arvense, Carex bigelowii, Dryas integrifolia, Tomentypnum nitens,
horsetail, sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra
Solifluction features on lower part of backslope
SWT-25Moist
Eriophorum vaginatum, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Betula nana s.l., Sphagnum rubellum,
tussock-­sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra
Hummocky terrain, including turf hummocks on footslope
SWT-26*Moist
Eriophorum vaginatum, Betula nana s.l., Sphagnum sp.,
tussock-sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra
Hummocky terrain, including turf hummocks on midslope
SWT-27*Wet
Eriophorum angustifolium s.l., Sphagnum sp., Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra,
sedge, low-shrub tundra
Well defined hill slope water track with hummocks on midslope
SWT-28Moist
Salix lanata richardsonii, Carex aquatilis s.l., Valeriana capitata, Drepanocladus uncinatus,
low shrubland
Active floodplain of small stream
SWT-29Wet
Carex aquatilis s.l., Eriophorum angustifolium s.l., Drepanocladus sp.,
sedge tundra
Featureless drained lake margin
SWT-30*Aquatic
Arctophila fulva,
grass marsh
Lake margin in 20-30 cm of water
SWT-31Dry
Calamagrostis purpurascens purpurascens, Poa glauca, Anemone drummondii,
grass, forb tundra
Ground squirrel den on kame crest
SWT-32*Moist
Eriophorum vaginatum, Betula nana s.l., Sphagnum rubellum,
tussock-sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra
Inter-frost scar element on sideslope with hummocky terrain
SWT-33Moist
Salix lanata richardsonii, Carex membranacea, Potentilla fruticosa, Dodecatheon frigidum,
low-shrub, sedge, forb tundra
Active floodplain of small stream
SWT-34*Moist
Carex podocarpa, Salix reticulata, Aconitum delphinifolium delphinifolium,
sedge, forb tundra
Lake margin at footslope of hill with solifluction features
SWT-35*Dry
Luzula arctica, Juncus biglumis,
barren
Frost scar element in tussock tundra
SWT-36Moist
Betula nana s.l., Rubus chamaemorus, Sphagnum sp.,
low-shrub tundra.
Sloped margin of small water track
SWT-37*Wet
Carex chordorrhiza, Scorpidium scorpioides, Carex aquatilis s.l.,
sedge tundra
Fen along small lake margin, wet element
SWT-38*Moist
Carex aquatilis s.l., Dryas integrifolia, Tomentypnum nitens,
sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra
Fen along small lake margin, hummock element
SWT-39*Moist
Carex bigelowii, Dryas integrifolia, Salix reticulata, Tomentypnum nitens,
sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra
Lower backslope, with numerous nonsorted stripes, inter-stripe element
SWT-40*Dry
Vaccinium uliginosum, Salix reticulata, Equisetum arvense, Astragalus umbellatus, Cetraria cucullata,
dwarf-shrub, horsetail, fruticose-lichen tundra
Midslope, nonsorted stone stripe element with frost scars
SWT-41*Moist
Carex bigelowii, Salix reticulata, Tomentypnum nitens, Equisetum arvense,
sedge, horsetail, dwarf-shrub tundra
Midslope, nonsorted stripe complex, inter-stripe element
SWT-42^Moist
Eriophorum vaginatum, Carex bigelowii, Salix reticulata, Tomentypnum nitens,
tussock-sedge, dwarf­-shrub tundra
Footslope with solifluction features
SWT-43^Moist
Carex bigelowii, Equisetum arvense, Dryas integrifolia,
sedge, horsetail, dwarf-shrub tundra
Hummocky midslope, with turf hummocks
SWT-44*Dry
Dryas integrifolia, Cassiope tetragona, Oxytropis maydelliana, Cetraria cucullata,
dwarf-shrub, fruticose-­lichen tundra
Stripe element of sorted stone-stripe complex
SWT-45*Moist
Equisetum arvense, Carex bigelowii, Salix reticulata, Dryas integrifolia, Tomentypnum nitens,
horsetail, sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra
Interstripe element of sorted stone-stripe complex
SWT-46^Dry
Vaccinium uliginosum, Dryas octopetala, Cetraria cucullata,
dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra
Featureless hillcrest of glacial moraine
SWT-47*Dry
Dryas octopetala, Arnica alpina, Hierochloe alpina, Calamagrostis purpurascens purpurascens, Oxytropis sp.,
dwarf-shrub, crustose-lichen tundra
Irregular hill crest relief on glacial moraine
SWT-48*Moist
Poa glauca, Bromus pumpellianus s.l., Ranunculus pedatifidus,
grass, forb tundra
Ground squirrel den on hill crest
SWT-49*Dry
Cassiope tetragona, Carex microchaeta, Cladonia arbuscula,
dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra
Snowbed, upper backslope, hummocky terrain with some solifluction features
SWT-50^Moist
Cassiope tetragona, Boykinia richardsonii, Hylocomium splendens,
dwarf-shrub, forb, moss tundra
Snowbed, lower backslope, with solifluction features
SWT-51*Moist
Salix rotundifolia, Hylocomium splendens,
dwarf­-shrub, moss tundra
Snowbed, lower backslope, with solifluction features
SWT-52^Moist
Salix reticulata, Carex bigelowii, Equisetum arvense,
dwarf-shrub, horsetail sedge tundra
Snowbed, footslope, with large solifluction features
SWT-53*Moist
Carex bigelowii, Dryas integrifolia, Hylocomium splendens, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra,
sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra
Hummocky area with solifluction features on toeslope
SWT-54*Moist
Eriophorum vaginatum, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Hylocomium splendens, Sphagnum rubellum,
tussock-sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra
Hummocky terrain, including turf hummocks and some solifluction features on lower footslope
SWT-55Wet
Carex aquatilis s.l., Carex chordorrhiza, Carex rariflora,
sedge tundra
Strangmoor and aligned hummocks in fen, in colluvial basin
SWT-56*Moist
Carex bigelowii, Eriophorum triste, Dryas integrifolia, Cetraria cucullata,
sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra
Featureless, flat centered polygon on stabilized floodplain
SWT-57*Wet
Carex chordorrhiza, Carex rotundata, Carex aquatilis s.l., Scorpidium scorpioides,
sedge tundra
Strangmoor and aligned hummocks in fen, in small colluvial basin
SWT-58*Moist
Carex aquatilis s.l., Carex rariflora, Salix fuscescens ,
sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra
Strangmoor and aligned hummocks in fen, in small colluvial basin
SWT-59Dry
Salix glauca, Potentilla fruticosa,
low-shrub tundra
Rocky sideslope of kame
SWT-60Dry
Dryas octopetala, Artemisia arctica s.l., Kobresia myosuroides, Arnica alpina,
dwarf-shrub, forb tundra
Rocky sideslope of kame
SWT-61*Moist
Salix glauca, Betula nana s.l., Festuca altaica,
low-shrub tundra
Featureless midslope of steep south-facing slope
SWT-62Moist
Carex membranacea, Dodecatheon frigidum, Salix reticulata,
sedge, forb, dwarf-shrub tundra
Featureless lake margin
SWT-63Dry
Salix phlebophylla, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Cetraria cucullata,
dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra
Featureless glacial outwash terrace
SWT-64Dry
Juncus biglumis, Luzula arctica,
barren
Backslope, frost scar
SWT-65*Dry
Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Hierochloe alpina, Cladonia arbuscula,
dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra
Featureless glaciofluvial outwash terrace
SWT-66Dry
Betula nana s.l., Hierochloe alpina, Cladonia arbuscula,
low-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra
Featureless glaciofluvial outwash terrace
SWT-67Moist
Salix lanata richardsonii, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Calamagrostis canadensis s.l., Rubus arcticus acaulis,
low shrubland
Featureless glaciofluvial outwash terrace
SWT-68*Moist
Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Salix lanata richardsonii, Calamagrostis canadensis s.l., Potentilla fruticosa, Rubus arcticus acaulis,
low shrubland
Irregular relief on stabilized floodplain
SWT-69Dry
Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Vaccinium uliginosum, Calamagrostis inexpansa, Stereocaulon tomentosum,
dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra
Rocky glaciofluvial outwash terrace
SWT-70*Dry
Betula nana s.l., Hierochloe alpina, Cladonia arbuscula,
low-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra
Featureless glaciofluvial outwash terrace
SWT-71Dry
Arctous alpina, Hierochloe alpina,
dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra
Featureless glaciofluvial outwash terrace
SWT-72Wet
Carex aquatilis s.l., Eriophorum angustifolium s.l.,
sedge tundra
Featureless lake margin
SWT-73^Moist
Eriophorum vaginatum, Betula nana s.l., Hylocomium splendens,
tussock-sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra
Inter frost-scar element, midslope with tussock tundra
SWT-74Dry
Luzula arctica, Juncus biglumis,
gray liverwort barren
Frost scar element midslope
SWT-75*Moist
Betula nana s.l., Rubus chamaemorus, Hylocomium splendens,
low-shrub tundra
Featureless water track margin on sideslope
SWT-76Squirrel dens on kame

Featureless crest of kame
SWT-77Moist
Carex bigelowii, Salix lanata richardsonii, Betula nana s.l., Hylocomium splendens,
sedge, low-shrub tundra
Solifluction features on footslope, with merging into colluvial basin
SWT-78Wet
Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Rubus chamaemorus, Sphagnum sp.,
low shrubland
Well-developed hillslope water track with hummocks
SWT-79*Moist
Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Rubus chamaemorus, Sphagnum rubellum, Sphagnum sp.,
low shrubland
Well-developed hillslope water track
SWT-80Dry
Juncus biglumis, Luzula arctica,
barren
Frost scar in tussock tundra
SWT-81Moist
Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Carex bigelowii, Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens, Hylocomium splendens, Sphagnum rubellum,
dwarf-shrub, sedge tundra
Solifluction features and hummocks, hill toeslope

* Plots with soil descriptions and soil analysis for most horizons.
^ Plots with soil analysis for most horizons.
All other plots have soil analysis for horizon at 10-cm depth (rooting zone).

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