Table 8 (cont.). Description of ecotypes found on Ft. Wainwright, central Alaska, 1998.
Class
Description
Upland Rocky
Upland areas on steep, south-facing slopes with dry, rocky soils and vegetation dominated by herbs. Soils are excessively
Dry Meadow
drained, and lack organic horizons and permafrost. These sites are too dry to support trees so vegetation is dominated
by scattered shrubs (Artemisia frigida, Juniperus communis, Rosa acicularis), grasses (Elymus innovatus, Festuca spp.), and
forbs (Galium boreale, Pulsatilla patens, Cnidium cnidifolium).
Upland Slope
A complex mosaic of ecotypes associated with fluvial processes on upland areas. Closely repeating drainages produce
an alternating pattern that includes Upland Moist Needleleaf Forest, Upland Moist Broadleaf Forest, and Upland Moist
Complex
Tall Scrub.
Lowland
Lowland areas with moist, gravelly soils and vegetation dominated by needleleaf trees. Soils are somewhat well- to
Gravelly
somewhat-poorly drained, have thin to moderately thick organic horizons, probably lack permafrost, and are associ-
Moist Needle-
ated with gravelly abandoned floodplains, alluvial fan deposits, and glaciofluvial deposits. Vegetation is dominated by
leaf Forest
an open canopy of Picea mariana, Larix laricina, and occasionally P. glauca. The understory commonly contains ericaceous
shrubs (Ledum groenlandicum, Vaccinium uliginosum, V. vitis-idaea), Potentilla fruticosa (shrubby cinquefoil), and
Hylocomium splendens.
Lowland
Lowland areas on abandoned floodplains with moist, gravelly soils and vegetation dominated by needleleaf and broad
Gravelly Moist
leaf trees. Soils are well- to somewhat poorly drained, have thin to moderately thick organic horizons, are slightly
Mixed Forest
acidic, and probably lack permafrost. The open to closed canopy is dominated by Picea glauca, P. mariana, Larix laricina,
Betula papyrifera, and Populus tremuloides. The understory usually has Alnus tenuifolia, Ledum groenlandicum, Vaccinium
vitis-idaea, Rosa acicularis, Festuca sp., and lichens.
Lowland Gravelly Lowland areas with moist, gravelly soil and vegetation dominated by broadleaf trees. Soils are well-drained, have thin
Moist Broadleaf
to moderately thick organic horizons, and probably lack permafrost. The open to closed forest canopy is dominated by
Forest
Betula papyrifera, and/or Populus tremuloides. There is little data describing this type.
Lowland
Lowland areas with wet, gravelly soils and vegetation dominated by tall shrubs. Soils are somewhat poorly drained,
Gravelly
have thin organic horizons, lack permafrost, and are associated with gravelly abandoned river channels and cover
Wet Tall Scrub
deposits. The open or closed shrub canopy is dominated by Alnus tenuifolia, Salix bebbiana, and S. planifolia, with
Calamagrostis canadensis in the understory .
Lowland
Lowland areas with wet, gravelly soils and vegetation dominated by low shrubs. Soils are poorly drained, have moder-
Gravelly
ately thick organic horizons, and lack permafrost. The open or closed shrub canopy is dominated by Betula nana (shrub
Wet Low Scrub
birch), Salix planifolia, and ericaceous shrubs. Scattered trees (Picea mariana, Larix laricina) often are present. Other com-
mon plants include Myrica gale (sweetgale) and Potentilla fruticosa.
Lowland Wet
Lowland areas with wet, loamy to organic soils, and vegetation dominated by needleleaf trees. Soils are poorly drained,
Needleleaf Forest
have moderate to thick organic horizons, are slightly acidic, usually have permafrost, and are associated with abandoned
floodplain cover deposits, lowland retransported deposits on lower slopes, lowland loess, and flat bogs. The open to
closed canopy is dominated by Picea mariana, although P. glauca and Larix laricina occasionally occur. The understory
includes Ledum groenlandicum, Vaccinium uliginosum, V. vitis-idaea, Hylocomium splendens, and often Sphagnum spp.
Lowland Wet
Lowland areas with wet, loamy to organic soils and vegetation with needleleaf and broadleaf trees. Soils are somewhat
Mixed Forest
poorly drained, have moderately thick organic horizons, are neutral (pH), and are underlain by permafrost. The open
to closed overstory is dominated by Picea glauca and Betula papyrifera, although Populus tremuloides and P. mariana are
sometimes present. Understory plants include Ledum groenlandicum, Calamagrostis canadensis, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, and
Hylocomium splendens.
Lowland Wet
Lowland areas with wet, loamy to organic soils dominated by broadleaf trees. Soils are somewhat poorly drained, have
Broadleaf Forest
moderately thick to very thick organic horizons, are moderately acidic, and are underlain by ice-rich permafrost. The
usually closed overstory is dominated by Betula papyrifera, although Picea glauca and P. mariana are often present in the
understory. Other plants include Rosa acicularis, Calamagrostis canadensis, and Equisetum arvense.
Lowland Wet
Lowland areas with wet, loamy to organic soils and vegetation dominated by tall shrubs. Soils are poorly drained, have
Tall Scrub
moderately thick to thick organic horizons, and are underlain by permafrost. The open to closed canopy of tall shrubs
includes Alnus tenuifolia, A. crispa and Salix bebbiana; Betula papyrifera and Larix laricina may be present. In the under
story Salix planifolia, Calamagrostis canadensis, and Equisetum arvense are common.
Lowland Wet
Lowland areas with wet, loamy to organic soils and vegetation dominated by low shrubs. Soils are poorly drained,
Low Scrub
have thin to thick organic horizons, are moderately acidic, and are underlain by permafrost. The open to closed canopy
of low shrubs is dominated by Betula nana and ericaceous shrubs (Ledum groenlandicum, Vaccinium uliginosum, V. vitis-
idaea), although scattered trees (Picea mariana, Larix laricina) often are present. Other plants include Calamagrostis
canadensis, Chamaedaphne calyculata, and Sphagnum mosses.
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