Lichens of Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, with Emphasis on the Impact of Caribou Grazing
Moser TJ, Nash TH, Thomson JW. 1979. Lichens of Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, with Emphasis on the Impact of Caribou Grazing. The Bryologist. 82(3):393-408
(Adapted from authors' abstract.) An effort was made to establish a baseline of the flora of Anaktuvuk Pass. Collections were made in 1976 and 1977 within a 10-km radius, representing a range of arctic and alpine habitats. Sampling for biomass was employed in both grazed and nongrazed areas to quantify the effects of caribou grazing on lichen. A portion of the Western Arctic Caribou Herd overwintered in the Anaktuvuk Pass area eight years prior to sampling. Caribou grazing resulted in the almost complete removal of macrolichens in grazed areas, and this was followed by the invasion of crustose and squamulose species. An analysis by species biomass composition for grazed and nongrazed areas on both north and south slope exposures revealed a lichen composition of 31 species, with Cladonia stellaris, C. rangiferina, C. arbuscula, and C. mitis being the most common and present in almost equal abundance on both exposures. In addition, 288 species in 71 genera are reported for the Anaktuvuk Pass area. Aspicilia plicigera (Zahlbr.) Thoms. is reported as a new combination and new to North America.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Moser, Thomas; Nash, Thomas; Thomson, John
- Units
- GAAR
- Keywords
- Anaktuvuk Pass, Caribou, Forage, Gates Of The Arctic National Park And Preserve, Grazing, Lichen (Mycophycophyta), New Species, Plants, Rangifer tarandus, Species List, Tundra