Vegetation of the Angmagssalik District Southeast Greenland. I. Littoral vegetation

• Main Author: Molenaar, J.G. de
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: 1974
• Subjects: Arctic; Greenland; Angmagssalik; Subarctic
• Online Access: http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/record/535040; http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/572612

The present study deals with a part of the results of observations made during expeditions in 1968 and 1969 to the Angmagssalik District, the central and largest deglaciated area on the Southeast coast of Greenland; which journeys were preceded by a reconaissance in 1966. The Angmagssalik District is a very mountainous area deeply cut by numerous fjords, and has a pronounced oceanic low-arctic climate. Its general physiography has no broad beaches and wide saline deltas where such extensive, luxuriant and very diversified littoral vegetation as those known from southern latitudes might develop. However, well-developed small stands are locally common in suitable, sheltered habitats and represent several clearly distinguishable vegetation types. The occurrence and the composition of the littoral plant communities appear to depend on the physiography of the littoral, the climate, the properties of the open water, the substrate, and of course also on phytogeographical and historical factors. Although the environmental factors have not been studied in great detail, they are dealt with rather thoroughly, since they are in many respects different from conditions prevailing at lower latitudes as, for example, in the intensively studied western and southern parts Europe. The littoral communities were described and classified according to the principles of the Zürich-Montpellier school. Two exclusive arctic and subarctic groups of communities are represented in the area, viz. the order Carici-Puccinellietalia and the order Honckenyo-Elymetalia arenarii. The first comprises salt marsh communities which are mainly restricted to the lower beach and sandy to silty substrates, the second is chiefly confined to the upper part of coarse sandy to stony beaches in more exposed conditions. A comparative study of the Carici-Puccinellietalia has led to a revision of the syntaxon, and shows that the associations grouped in this order form for the greater part pairs of vicarious, exclusively arctic and subarctic units at least in the ...