Arctic Shallow Tundra Mountain Slopes

Description

The ecological site has plant communities representative of the native or natural conditions. Minimal impact from human influence is seen. Fire is rare, and generally not possible due to the lack of fuels.

The acidic substrates of the mountain summits, shoulders and exposed side slopes of arctic Alaska mountains are sparsely populated and highly impacted by frost action. This ecological site has exposed to harsh environment and a mesic climate.

Dominant plant species

1. eightpetal mountain-avens (Dryas octopetala), shrub

2. black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), shrub

3. alpine sweetgrass (Anthoxanthum monticola), grass

4. northern singlespike sedge (Carex scirpoidea), grass

5. Altai fescue (Festuca altaica), grass

6. alpine pussytoes (Antennaria alpina), grass

7. twinflower sandwort (Minuartia obtusiloba), grass

8. reindeer lichen (Cladina), grass

Submodel