Title: Early Stages of Plant Recovery on Tracked Vehicle Paths in the High Arctic (West Coast of Vestspitsbergen)
Abstract:The paper describes an early succession stages on the newly exposed substrata of abandoned tracked vehicle paths in two distinct physiographical regions on the Vestspitsbergen west coast. Prevailing w...The paper describes an early succession stages on the newly exposed substrata of abandoned tracked vehicle paths in two distinct physiographical regions on the Vestspitsbergen west coast. Prevailing willow-rnoss mesic tundra on Mount Ruscolen slopes and terrains can be related to Salieion polaris Du Rietz 1943 em. Hadac 1989, association Luzulo confusae-Salicetum polaris Hadac 1989. Meadow-like slightly halophytic plant communities in the Grondalelven delta fall in two orders: Puccinellion phryganodis Hadac 1946 (ass. Caricetum subspathaceae Hadao 1946) and Eriophorion schcuchrerlii Hadac 1939. Species composition and cover of pioneering plant communities are described in context of the secondary suceession. Open communities with prevailing .ruderal species drabas, saxifragas, graminoids and apocarpic mosses are reported to be an early successional stage on gravely sandy substrata in mesic dwarf shrub tundra. The prospects tor natural recovery of primary communities are unlikely because of low ability of native prevailing species (pleurocarpic mosses and dwarf shrubs) to re-establish themselves. Only the meadow-like vegetation of wettest sites studied showed high ability to return to pre-disturbance level.Read More
Publication Year: 1995
Publication Date: 1995-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 2
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot