Late Quaternary vegetational history of the Howard Pass Area, northwestern Alaska
Palynological records from Tukuto and Etivlik Lakes contribute to an improved understanding of the late Quaternary history of vegetation in the Howard Pass area of northern Alaska. During the Itkillik II glaciation (24-14 ka BP), the vegetation of the western Arctic Foothills was sparse, xeric tundr...
| Published in: | Canadian Journal of Botany |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
1999
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b99-027 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/b99-027 |
| Summary: | Palynological records from Tukuto and Etivlik Lakes contribute to an improved understanding of the late Quaternary history of vegetation in the Howard Pass area of northern Alaska. During the Itkillik II glaciation (24-14 ka BP), the vegetation of the western Arctic Foothills was sparse, xeric tundra, as evidenced by taxa indicative of dry, rocky substrates (e.g., Selaginella rupestris (L.) Spring, Chenopodiaceae, and Encalypta cf. rhaptocarpa) and very low pollen accumulation rates in this interval of the 30-ka-old Tukuto Lake record. Mesic tundra dominated by non-Sphagnum (Bryidae) mosses, Cyperaceae, and Salix species expanded near Tukuto Lake during the late-glacial period, followed by the establishment of Sphagnum moss and increased shrub cover at ca. 10 ka BP. Landscapes around both lakes supported stands of Populus cf. balsamifera during the early Holocene, and Alnus crispa expanded in the Howard Pass area during the middle Holocene. Local variation in plant communities is illustrated by the comparison of the Tukuto and Etivlik pollen records. During the early Holocene, Populus cf. balsamifera was more common near Etivlik Lake than Tukuto Lake, and Juniperus cf. communis was present only in the vicinity of Etivlik Lake. Throughout the middle to late Holocene, Sphagnum, mesic tundra shrubs (Betula nana L., Salix, and Ericaceae species), and minor herbaceous taxa (e.g., Rubus chamaemorus L., Thalictrum, and Caryophyllaceae) were more prevalent at Tukuto Lake than at Etivlik Lake. These differences are likely related to the influence of local landform and soil characteristics near the two sites.Key words: Alaska, Arctic Foothills, Brooks Range, pollen analysis, Quaternary. |
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