Papers PHYTOECOLOGICAL STUDY OF SYLVOTUNDRA AT SMALL TREE LAKE, N.W.T.l

• Main Author: J. S. Maini
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arctic; Parkland; Tree Lake; toundra; Tundra
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.546.4756; http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic19-3-220.pdf

ABSTRACT. Characteristics of terrain and the associated microenvironmental conditions deter-mine various vegetation types in the study area. Lakeshores and hill-bottoms support closed canopy Picea mariana forest, but the exposed slopes are treeless. A Picea glauca parkland forms a transition between forests and treeless slopes. The large size of trees in the parkland, absence of krumholz zone, and abrupt timber-line due to topography indicate a delicate balance between the vegetation types at the sylvotundra investigated. The present forest-tundra boundaries at Small Tree Lake appear semi-permanent. Vegetation analysis by stratification showed that the cover by each stratum decreased as the level above ground increased. Along a gradient from forests to treeless slopes, the percentage of boreal plants decreased and that of arctic plants increased. RfiSUMfi. gtude phytokcologique de la toundra forestière à Small Tree Lake, T. du N.-O. en dCcoulent dkterminent divers types de vCgCtation. Les rives du lac et le pied des collines Dans l’aire d’Ctude, les caractères du terrain et les conditions de micro-environnement qui supportent une forêt de Picea mariana à voûte fermee, mais les pentes exposCes sont dCpourvues d‘arbres. Une savane boisCe de Picea glauca forme la transition entre les forêts et les pentes. La