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 Community	Microsite
SWT-1	Moist 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-3	Dry Betula nana s.l., Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens, Hierochloe alpina, Cladonia arbuscula, dwarf-shrub, lichen tundra	Small turf hummocks on footslope
SWT-4	Aquatic 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-6	Dry Betula nana s.l., Hierochloe alpina, Cetraria cucullata, low­-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	High centered polygons on glacial outwash terrace
SWT-7	Dry 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-9	Dry 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-10	Moist 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-12	Wet 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-15	Wet Carex chordorrhiza, Carex rotundata, sedge tundra	Wet element of strangmoor and aligned hummocks in fen of colluvial basin
SWT-16	Moist Carex membranacea, Salix reticulata, Dodecatheon frigidum, sedge, dwarf-shrub, forb tundra	Turf hummocks and solifluction features on footslope at lake margin
SWT-17	Moist Poa glauca, Epilobium angustifolium angustifolium, grass, forb tundra	Ground squirrel dens on hill crest
SWT-18	Dry Dryas octopetala, Carex rupestris, Pertusaria sp., dwarf-shrub, crustose-lichen tundra	Featureless hill crest of moraine
SWT-19	Dry 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-20	Dry Cassiope tetragona, Dryas integrifolia, Geum glaciale, Cetraria cucullata, dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Snowbed, hummocky terrain on lower backslope
SWT-21	Moist Equisetum arvense, Carex bigelowii, Tomentypnum nitens, Dryas integrifolia, horsetail, sedge tundra	Hummocky terrain with a few small water pits on toeslope
SWT-22	Moist Eriophorum vaginatum, Dryas integrifolia, Salix reticulata, Tomentypnum nitens, tussock-sedge, dwarf­-shrub tundra	Hummocky terrain, including turf hummocks on lower backslope
SWT-23	Moist Carex bigelowii, Dryas integrifolia, Salix reticulata, Tomentypnum nitens, sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra	Hummocky terrain with solifluction features on sideslope
SWT-24	Moist Equisetum arvense, Carex bigelowii, Dryas integrifolia, Tomentypnum nitens, horsetail, sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra	Solifluction features on lower part of backslope
SWT-25	Moist 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-28	Moist Salix lanata richardsonii, Carex aquatilis s.l., Valeriana capitata, Drepanocladus uncinatus, low shrubland	Active floodplain of small stream
SWT-29	Wet 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-31	Dry 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-33	Moist 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-36	Moist 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-55	Wet 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-59	Dry Salix glauca, Potentilla fruticosa, low-shrub tundra	Rocky sideslope of kame
SWT-60	Dry 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-62	Moist Carex membranacea, Dodecatheon frigidum, Salix reticulata, sedge, forb, dwarf-shrub tundra	Featureless lake margin
SWT-63	Dry Salix phlebophylla, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Cetraria cucullata, dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Featureless glacial outwash terrace
SWT-64	Dry 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-66	Dry Betula nana s.l., Hierochloe alpina, Cladonia arbuscula, low-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Featureless glaciofluvial outwash terrace
SWT-67	Moist 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-69	Dry 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-71	Dry Arctous alpina, Hierochloe alpina, dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra	Featureless glaciofluvial outwash terrace
SWT-72	Wet 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-74	Dry 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-76	Squirrel dens on kame	Featureless crest of kame
SWT-77	Moist 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-78	Wet 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-80	Dry Juncus biglumis, Luzula arctica, barren	Frost scar in tussock tundra
SWT-81	Moist 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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