A Comparison of Plant Development in Microenvironments of Arctic and Alpine Tundras

Bliss, L

The present study was made in the arctic tundra of northern Alaska and in the alpine tundra of the Medicine Bow Mountains in southeastern Wyoming. Tundra as used here refers to the treeless expanses beyond climatic timberline both in the north and on the tops of high mountains. The Alaskan study was made during the summer of 1953 in and near Umiat Alaska (approximately 152 degrees 10' W, 69 degrees 22' N and 350 feet elevation sea level). The alpine tundra work was done during the summers of 1954 and 1955 in the Snowy Range of the Medicine Bow Mountains, approximately 40 miles west of Laramie, Wyoming, (106 degrees 19' W, 41 degrees 20' N and 11,000 feet elevation). Eight stations were established in Alaska and four in Wyoming. The objectives were: first, to study the microenvironments of various topographic locations including north- and south-facing slopes, ridge, and relatively low areas in both regions; second, to analyze the plant communities of these various lcations; third, to record the phenological development of the plants and to measure the rates of plant growth in these microenvironments. The phenological and plant growth data were analyzed in terms of the environmental differences at the various stations. Finally, on the basis of such data, comparisons were made of the microenvironmental characteristics and plant communities of those two tundra regions which are separated by great geographical distances, yet which have many species and genera in common and in which the vegetational physiognomy is so similar.

A Comparison of Plant Development in Microenvironments of Arctic and Alpine Tundras

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