Vegetation Environmental

The major species of the shrub layer of this type are Salix glauca (10% cover, 1 meter height). Species that occur occasionally in this type are Salix barrattiana and Potentilla fruticosa. The major species of the herbaceous layer are Salix reticulata (25% cover), Dryas octopetala (30% cover), Festuca altaica (25% cover), Artemisia arctica (10% cover), Hedysarum alpinum (5% cover), Anemone parviflora (8% cover) and Gentiana propinqua (3% cover). Important occasional associates in the herbaceous layer are Salix arctica (10% cover), Festuca rubra (10% cover), Senecio lugens (5% cover), Solidago multiradiata (5% cover), Epilobium latifolium (5% cover), Polygonum bistorta (5% cover), Equisetum scirpoides, Poa arctica (5% cover), Carex species (5% cover), Aster sibiricus (2% cover) and Silene acaulis. The major species of the nonvascular layer are Hylocomium splendens (10% cover), Peltigera canina var. rufescens (2% cover), Stereocaulon species (2% cover), Rhytidium rugosum, Tortula mucronifilia, Rhacomitrium canescens, and Cetraria cucullata.

This type occurs at an average altitude of 1,163 meters with 14% slope and an aspect of 158 degrees. The range in elevation is 920 to 1,305 meters, the range in slope is 0% to 37%, and the range in aspect is 026 to 356 degrees. The bedrock geology is 62% sedimentary/metasedimentary, 23% basalt/gabbroic, 8% schist/gneiss and 8% volcanic. The surficial geology is 38% alluvial/colluvial deposits, 31% glacial moraines and 31% bedrock. The ground surface is 5% weathered rock.