Imnavait Creek Permanent Vegetation Plots

Walker DA, Lederer ND, and Walker MD. 1987. Permanent vegetation plots: Site factors, soil physical and chemical properties and plant species cover. Department of Energy R4D Program, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.

Home // Vegetation communities and microsites // Summary of areas sampled // Environmental variables // Environmental information // Soil descriptions // Soil physical characteristics // Soil chemical characteristics // Species composition //
Appendices: Plot and soil photos // Equivalent vegetation units // Plot location map

Table 1. List of vegetation communities and microsites sampled in 1984 and 1985

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Plot No.	Plant Community	Microsite
SW-1	Moist Carex bigelowii, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Vaccinium uliginosum, Sphagnum rubellum, Hylocomium splendens, sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra	Inter-water-track area
SW-2 *	Wet Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Eriophorum angustifolium s.l., Drepanocladus uncinatus, low-shrub, sedge tundra	Well developed water track
SW-3	Moist Eriophorum vaginatum, Carex bigelowii, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Ledum palustre decumbens, Betula nana exilis, Hylocomium splendens, Aulacomnium turgidum, tussock-sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra	Inter-water-track area
SW-4A	Wet Eriophorum vaginatum, Carex bigelowii, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Drepanocladus uncinatus, tussock-sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra	Weakly developed water track
SW-4B	Moist Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex bigelowii, Sphagnum rubellum, Aulacomnium palustre, low-shrub tundra	Margin of water tracks
SW-5	Wet Betula nana exilis, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Carex bigelowii, Sphagnum sp., Hylocomium splendens, low-shrub tundra	Weakly defined water track
SW-6 *	Moist Carex bigelowii, Betula nana exilis, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Ledum palustre decumbens, Hylocomium splendens, Sphagnum sp., sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra	Inter-water-track site with weakly developed solifluction features
SW-7	Wet Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Carex bigelowii, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rubus chamaemorus, Hylocomium splendens, Sphagnum sp., low-shrub tundra	Weakly defined water track
SW-8 *	Moist Carex bigelowii, Betula nana exilis, Ledum palustre decumbens, Sphagnum sp., sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra	Inter-water-track area
SW-9	Dry Arctous alpina, Salix phlebophylla, Cetraria nivalis, Sphaerophorus globosus, dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Dry rocky till
SW-10	Moist Betula nana exilis, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Carex bigelowii, Sphagnum sp., low-shrub tundra	Margin of water track
SW-11 *	Wet Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Eriophorum angustifolium s.l., Betula nana exilis, Sphagnum sp., low-shrub, sedge tundra	Well developed water track
SW-12	Moist Carex bigelowii, Betula nana exilis, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Eriophorum vaginatum, Sphagnum sp., Hylocomium splendens, sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra	Inter-water-track area
SW-13	Moist Betula nana exilis, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Carex bigelowii, Sphagnum sp., Hylocomium splendens, low-shrub, sedge tundra	Inter-water-track area, footslope of west-facing hill
SW-14	Wet Carex aquatilis s.l., Rubus chamaemorus, Salix fuscescens, Sphagnum sp., sedge, dwarf-shrub, moss tundra	Flat creek margin
SW-15	Moist Betula nana exilis, Rubus chamaemorus, Salix fuscescens, Sphagnum sp., Aulacomnium turgidum, dwarf-shrub, moss tundra	Slightly raised streamside site
SW-16 *	Aquatic Carex aquatilis s.l., Eriophorum angustifolium s.l., sedge tundra	Stream channel
SW-17	Moist Betula nana exilis, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rubus chamaemorus, Sphagnum sp., tussock-sedge, dwarf-shrub, moss tundra	Inter-water-track area, footslope of west-facing hill
SW-18	Wet Carex aquatilis s.l., Salix fuscescens, Salix chamissonis, Carex rariflora, Sphagnum sp., sedge tundra	Wet meadow with strangmoor
SW-19 *	Wet Eriophorum scheuchzeri scheuchzeri, Salix fuscescens, Sphagnum lenense, sedge, dwarf-shrub, moss tundra	Wet meadow
SW-20	Wet Carex rotundata, Eriophorum scheuchzeri scheuchzeri, Salix fuscescens, Sphagnum lenense, sedge, dwarf-shrub, moss tundra	Wet meadow
SW-21A	Wet Carex rotundata, Carex rariflora, Eriophorum scheuchzeri scheuchzeri, Sphagnum imbricatum, sedge tundra	Inter-hummock in wet meadow with strangmoor
SW-21B	Moist Betula nana exilis, Vaccinium uliginosum, Sphagnum lenense, dwarf-shrub tundra	Hummocks in wet meadow with strangmoor
SW-22A *	Wet Carex rariflora, Carex rotundata, Eriophorum scheuchzeri scheuchzeri, Sphagnum lindbergii, sedge tundra	Inter-hummock areas in wet meadow
SW-22B	Wet Eriophorum scheuchzeri scheuchzeri, Andromeda polifolia, Salix fuscescens, Sphagnum lenense, sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra	Hummocks in wet meadow
SW-23	Aquatic Carex aquatilis s.l., Carex rotundata, sedge tundra	Stream channel
SW-24 *	Moist Betula nana exilis, Rubus chamaemorus, Ledum palustre decumbens, Dicranum elongatum, Sphagnum sp., Cladonia spp., dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Palsa
SW-25A	Moist Carex rariflora, Betula nana exilis, Salix fuscescens, Sphagnum sp., sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra	Hummock in strangmoor area
SW-25B	Wet Carex rariflora, Eriophorum scheuchzeri scheuchzeri, Carex rotundata, Sphagnum imbricatum, sedge tundra	Inter-hummock sites in strangmoor area
SW-26	Dry Cassiope tetragona tetragona, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex bigelowii, Tortula ruralis, Dicranum elongatum, Cetraria nivalis, Cladonia spp., fruticose lichen tundra	Dry stone stripe with frost scars on shoulder of hill
SW-27	Moist Carex bigelowii, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Salix reticulata reticulata, Cassiope tetragona tetragona, Hylocomium splendens, Dicranum fuscescens, sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra	Wetter area between stone stripes
SW-28	Dry Arctous alpina, Salix phlebophylla, Diapensia lapponica, Dicranum elongatum, Alectoria nigricans, Cetraria nivalis, dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Rocky till deposit on hill crest
SW-29A	Moist Betula nana exilis, Ledum palustre decumbens, Calamagrostis inexpansa, Salix phlebophylla, Dicranum fuscescens, Cladonia rangiferina, dwarf-shrub, grass, fruticose-lichen tundra	Inter-frost-scar areas on stone stripe
SW-29B	Dry Arctous alpina, Luzula arctica, Polytrichum strictum, Alectoria ochroleuca, barren	Frost scars on stone stripe
SW-30A	Moist Betula nana exilis, Salix phlebophylla, Cassiope tetragona tetragona, Carex bigelowii, Dicranum elongatum, Cladonia rangiferina, dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Inter-frost-scar areas on stone stripe
SW-30B	Dry Salix phlebophylla, Luzula arctica, Diapensia lapponica, Rhacomitrium lanuginosum, Alectoria ochroleuca, barren	Frost scars on stone stripe
SW-31	Moist Carex bigelowii, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Petasites frigidus, Dicranum sp., Hylocomium splendens, sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra	Wetter area between stone stripes
SW-32A *	Moist Cassiope tetragona tetragona, Salix phlebophylla, Dicranum elongatum, Cladonia rangiferina, dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Inter-frost-scar areas on stone stripe
SW-32B *	Dry Salix phlebophylla, Luzula arctica, barren	Frost scars on stone stripe
SW-33 *	Dry Dryas octopetala octopetala, Salix phlebophylla, Hierochloe alpina, dwarf-shrub tundra	Dry southwest-facing sandstone outcrop
SW-34	Wet Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Eriophorum angustifolium s.l., Petasites frigidus, Drepanocladus uncinatus, Sphagnum sp., low-shrub, sedge tundra	Well developed water track
SW-35A	Moist Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Carex bigelowii, Petasites frigidus, Aulacomnium palustre, Sphagnum sp., low-shrub tundra	Tops of weakly developed solifluction lobes in water track margin
SW-35B	Wet Eriophorum angustifolium s.l., Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Aulacomnium palustre, Drepanocladus uncinatus, Sphagnum angustifolium, Sphagnum sp., sedge, moss tundra	Interhummock areas
SW-36A	Wet Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Eriophorum angustifolium s.l., Petasites frigidus, Hylocomium splendens, Aulacomnium palustre, Sphagnum sp., low-shrub, sedge tundra	Tops of solifluction hummocks in water track
SW-36B	Wet Eriophorum angustifolium s.l., Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Drepanocladus uncinatus, Sphagnum sp., sedge, low shrub tundra	Inter-hummock areas in water track
SW-37	Aquatic Sparganium hyperboreum, Hippuris vulgaris, Calliergon sarmentosum, forb marsh	Pond in beaded stream
SW-38	Dry Arctous alpina, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Dicranum elongatum, Cetraria nivalis, Cornicularia divergens, Cladonia spp., dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Rocky till, shoulder of hill
SW-39	Dry Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Hierochloe alpina, Salix phlebophylla, Dicranum elongatum, Cetraria nivalis, Cladonia spp., dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Slight depression in dry till at crest of hill
SW-40	Dry Cassiope tetragona tetragona, Carex microchaeta, Artemisia arctica arctica, Dicranum sp., Cladonia spp., dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Snowbed area on east-facing slope
SW-41	Dry Cassiope tetragona tetragona, Salix chamissonis, Carex microchaeta, Hylocomium splendens, Cladonia spp., Cetraria sp., dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Snowbed area on east-facing slope
SW-42 *	Dry Dryas octopetala octopetala, Salix phlebophylla, Cornicularia divergens, Alectoria ochroleuca, prostrate-shrub tundra	Exposed sandstone outcrop
SW-43	Dry Salix phlebophylla, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Arctous alpina, Diapensia lapponica, Cetraria nivalis, Sphaerophorus globosus, Cetraria cucullata, prostrate-shrub, forb, tundra	Dry till outcrop on ridge
SW-44A	Dry Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Cassiope tetragona tetragona, Salix phlebophylla, Carex bigelowii, Dicranum elongatum, Cladonia rangiferina, Cetraria sp., Sphaerophorus globosus, dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Dry portion of stone-stripe complex
SW-44B	Dry Cassiope tetragona tetragona, Salix phlebophylla, Luzula arctica, Rhacomitrium lanuginosum, barren	Frost scar on stone stripe
SW-45	Moist Carex bigelowii, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Betula nana exilis, Ledum palustre decumbens, Aulacomnium palustre, Sphagnum sp., sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra	Moist part of stone-stripe complex
SW-46	Moist Betula nana exilis, Rubus chamaemorus, Carex bigelowii, Hylocomium splendens, Sphagnum sp., low-shrub, moss tundra	Footslope, inter-water-track
SW-47	Wet Carex aquatilis s.l., Salix chamissonis, Salix fuscescens, Drepanocladus uncinatus, Aulacomnium palustre, sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra	Stream bank
SW-48	Moist Betula nana exilis, Carex bigelowii, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Hylocomium splendens, Aulacomnium turgidum, low-shrub tundra	Footslope, inter-water-track
SW-49	Wet Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Eriophorum angustifolium s.l., Carex aquatilis s.l., Drepanocladus uncinatus, Hylocomium splendens, low-shrub tundra	Well developed water-track
SW-50	Moist Eriophorum vaginatum, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Betula nana exilis, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Aulacomnium turgidum, Hylocomium splendens, tussock-sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra	Stable slope
SW-51	Dry Vaccinium uliginosum, Arctous alpina, Cetraria cucullata, Cladonia spp., Stereocaulon tomentosum, dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Snowbank on south-facing slope
SW-52	Dry Dryas octopetala octopetala, Salix phlebophylla, Saxifraga nivalis, Smelowskia calycina, Artemisia arctica arctica, Cetraria nivalis, Cladonia pyxidata, dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Exposed sandstone outcrop, south-facing slope
SW-53	Dry Dryas octopetala octopetala, Kobresia myosuroides, Anemone drummondii, Smelowskia calycina, Erigeron muirii, Thamnolia subuliformis, Cetraria sp., Cornicularia divergens, prostrate-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Exposed sandstone outcrop, south-facing slope
SW-54	Dry Dryas octopetala octopetala, Oxytropis nigrescens s.l., Thamnolia subuliformis, Cornicularia divergens, prostrate-shrub tundra	Very exposed site on sandstone ridge
SW-55	Moist Cassiope tetragona tetragona, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Salix phlebophylla, Hylocomium splendens, Aulacomnium turgidum, Cladonia spp., dwarf-shrub, moss tundra	Hummocky deep snow-bed on north-facing slope
SW-56	Moist Cassiope tetragona tetragona, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Hylocomium splendens, Aulacomnium turgidum, Cladonia spp., Cetraria sp., dwarf-shrub, moss tundra	Hummocky deep snow-bed on north-facing slope
SW-57	Dry Cassiope tetragona tetragona, Vaccinium uliginosum, Novosieversia glacialis, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Hylocomium splendens, Rhacomitrium lanuginosum, Cladonia spp., Cetraria sp., dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Well-drained north-facing snow-bed
SW-58A	Dry Dryas octopetala octopetala, Cornicularia divergens, Asahinea chrysantha, prostrate-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Very exposed hill crest
SW-58B	Dry Carex rupestris, Minuartia obtusiloba, Silene acaulis, Cornicularia divergens, barren	Frost-scar in exposed site
SW-59	Dry Cassiope tetragona tetragona, Dryas integrifolia integrifolia, Vaccinium uliginosum, Salix reticulata reticulata, Tomentypnum nitens, Ptilidium ciliare, Dactylina arctica, Cetraria sp., Thamnolia subuliformis, dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Hummocky snow-bed southwest facing
SW-60	Dry Vaccinium uliginosum, Arctous alpina, Dryas octopetala octopetala, Rhytidium rugosum, Stereocaulon tomentosum, Cetraria cucullata, dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	South-facing snow-bed
SW-61	Moist Eriophorum vaginatum, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Carex bigelowii, Aulacomnium turgidum, Hylocomium splendens, tussock-sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra	Gentle northwest-facing slope
SW-62	Moist Eriophorum vaginatum, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Betula nana exilis, Ledum palustre decumbens, Aulacomnium turgidum, Sphagnum sp., Hylocomium splendens, tussock-sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra	Stable level site
SW-63	Dry Rhizocarpon geographicum, Xanthoria separata, Xanthoria centrifuga, Cornicularia divergens, Umbilicaria sp., lichen barren	Boulder field
SW-64	Dry Xanthoria centrifuga, Rhizocarpon spp., Lecidea sp., Umbilicaria sp., lichen barren	Boulder field
SW-65	Aquatic Sparganium hyperboreum, forb marsh	Beaded pond
SW-66	Aquatic Sparganium hyperboreum, forb marsh	Beaded pond
SW-67	Moist Betula nana exilis, Ledum palustre decumbens, Rubus chamaemorus, Dicranum sp., Cladonia rangiferina, dwarf-shrub, moss, fruticose-lichen tundra	Palsa
SW-68	Moist Calamagrostis canadensis canadensis, Salix chamissonis, Polemonium acutiflorum, grass tundra	Stream bank
SW-69	Dry Luzula arctica, Juncus biglumis, barren	Frost scar
SW-70	Dry Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Luzula arctica, Juncus biglumis, barren	Frost scar
SW-71	Dry Juncus biglumis, Eriophorum vaginatum, barren	Frost scar
SW-72	Moist Salix rotundifolia rotundifolia, Saxifraga rivularis, Saxifraga nelsoniana, Hypnum sp., Stereocaulon tomentosum, dwarf-shrub, moss tundra	Very late lying snow-bed
SW-73	Moist Salix rotundifolia rotundifolia, Arnica lessingii, Carex microchaeta, Hypnum sp., dwarf-shrub tundra	Very late lying snow-bed