Ecological Subsections Map of Noatak National Preserve

Landscape-level mapping of ecological units within the Noatak National Preserve was based on a review of ecological characteristics described from numerous field studies and the differentiation of important large-scale landscape components, particularly physiography and geology. The mapping, done within the framework of the broader ecoregion map of Alaska, produced 6 sections and 57 subsections within the Brooks Range, 2 sections and 7 subsections within the Kobuk Ridges and Valleys, and 2 sections and 2 subsections within the Kotzebue Sound Lowlands. The units were differentiated on the basis of dominant geologic and geomorphic processes, including: marine and estuarine processes along the coast, thaw-lake processes on the coastal plain and lowlands, fluvial processes on floodplains, colluvial and slope processes on hills, and frost riving and slope processes on mountains. Much of the diversity among subsections within the mountains was driven by the wide variation in bedrock structure and chemistry, ranging from sedimentary carbonate rocks to sedimentary noncarbonate rocks and ultramafic intrusive volcanic rocks. Large differences among subsections in the relative abundances of land cover classes (based on previous mapping) revealed that the mapping was effective at partitioning the abundance of land cover classes. The subsection map probably also is effective at partitioning floristic differences, based on limited data obtained from field studies. Overall, it appears that the landscape-level partitioning of ecological patterns and processes will provide a useful way to stratify sampling for the upcoming biological inventory and monitoring program.

Ecological Subsections Map of Noatak National Preserve

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