The ecology and distribution of Empetrum nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum on Svalbard and Jan Mayen

• Published in: Nordic Journal of Botany
• Main Authors: Elvebakk, Awe, Spjelkavik, Sigmund
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1995
• Subjects: Elvebakk; Jan Mayen; Liefdefjorden; Nordaustlandet; Svalbard; Empetrum nigrum; Kongsfjord*; Kongsfjorden; Liefdefjord*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-1051.1995.tb00190.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1756-1051.1995.tb00190.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1756-1051.1995.tb00190.x

Elvebakk, A. & Spjelkavik, S. 1995. The ecology and distribution of Empetrum nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum on Svalbard and Jan Mayen. — Nord. J. Bot. 15: 541–552. Copenhagen. ISSN 0107–055X. The distribution and ecology of Empetrum nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum has been studied on Svalbard and Jan Mayen, partly based on literature and herbarium data, and partly on local studies in the Kongsfjorden and Liefdefjorden areas. E. nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum is rare on Svalbard, where it is restricted to siliceous substrates, and is lacking from low temperature areas like mountains, the southern and eastern parts of Svalbard, the western and northern coastline, and from most of Nordaustlandet. The best climatic conditions for Empetrum seem to be offered by the lower part of a south facing mountain slope of Jan Mayen, an island where the effective temperature sum is relatively high due to a long growing season. In areas where Empetrum occurs on Svalbard the growing season is shorter and the effective temperature sum is generally lower. However, July temperatures are higher, and these and the occurrence of siliceous substrates seem to govern its potential area of distribution. The shorter Svalbard growing season only exceptionally permits sexual reproduction, but individuals are long‐lived and dendrochronological analysis of a 17 mm thick stem yielded an age of approximately 80 years. Locally, Empetrum is often concentrated to zonal habitats, like at southeast facing gneissic slopes and rock ledges at Liefdefjorden and a west facing sheltered mountain slope at Kongsfjorden.