Vegetation studies at Polar Bear Pass, Bathurst Island, N.W.T. I. Classification of plant communities

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Botany
• Main Authors: Sheard, J. W., Geale, Dorothy W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1983
• Subjects: Plant Science; Arctic; Bathurst Island; Bear Pass; Polar Bear Pass
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b83-174; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/b83-174

Vegetation communities at Polar Bear Pass, Bathurst Island, are described with the aid of agglomerative classification using chord distance and the minimum variance criterion. Two classification levels were determined, one of 15 clusters and the other at the more generalized seven-community level. These community types are described in terms of statistically defined diagnostic species. The boundaries between the communities are identifiable on color mosaic aerial photographs, allowing the preparation of vegetation maps. The community types identified in this study are compared with previous studies in the high arctic.