scholarly journals Survey of the vascular plants of Alert (Ellesmere Island, Canada), a polar desert at the northern tip of the Americas

Check List ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 181-225
Author(s):  
Émilie Desjardins ◽  
Sandra Lai ◽  
Serge Payette ◽  
Martin Dubé ◽  
Paul C. Sokoloff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Arctic Ecosystems ◽  
Floristic Survey ◽  
Polar Desert ◽  
Term Monitoring

Long-term monitoring is critical to guide conservation strategies and assess the impacts of climatic changes and anthropogenic activities. In High Arctic ecosystems, information on distribution and population trends of plants is dramatically lacking. During two field expeditions in 2018 and 2019, we conducted a systematic floristic survey together with opportunistic collecting in the polar desert surrounding Alert (Nunavut, Canada) to update past vascular plant inventories. We recorded 58 species, of which 54 species were recorded over the last seven decades, and four species that are additions to the local flora (Draba pauciflora R. Brown, Festuca edlundiae S.G. Aiken, Consaul, & Lefkovitch, Festuca hyperborea Holmen ex Frederiksen, and ×Pucciphippsia vacillans (T. Fries) Tzvelev). With the addition of 19 species that were previously reported but not found in our survey, we estimate the species richness in the study area at 77 species.

In memory of Vera Antonovna Martynenko (1936-2018)

2018 ◽  
pp. 149-154
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Ussr Academy ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Komi Republic ◽  
Great Contribution ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
Natural Flora

Vera Antonovna Martynenko (17.02.1936–06.01.2018) — famous specialist in the field of studying vascular plant flora and vegetation of the Far North, the Honored worker of the Komi Republic (2006), The Komi Republic State Scientific Award winner (2000). She was born in the town Likhoslavl of the Kali­nin (Tver) region. In 1959, Vera Antonovna graduated from the faculty of soil and biology of the Leningrad State University and then moved to the Komi Branch of USSR Academy of Science (Syktyvkar). From 1969 to 1973 she passed correspondence postgraduate courses of the Komi Branch of USSR Academy of ­Science. In 1974, she received the degree of candidate of biology (PhD) by the theme «Comparative analysis of the boreal flora at the Northeast European USSR» in the Botanical Institute (St. Petersburg). In 1996, Vera Antonovna received the degree of doctor of biology in the Institute of plant and animal ecology (Ekaterinburg) «Flora of the northern and mid subzones of the taiga of the European North-East». The study and conservation of species and coenotical diversity of the plant world, namely the vascular plants flora of the Komi Republic and revealing its transformation under the anthropogenic influence, was in the field of V. A. Martynenko’ scientific interests. She made great contribution to the study of the Komi Republic meadow flora and the pool of medi­cinal plants. She performed inventorying and mapping the meadows of several agricultural enterprises of the Republic, revealed the species composition and places for harvesting medicinal plants and studied their productivity in the natural flora of the boreal zone. The results of her long-term studies were used for making the NPA system and the Red Book of the Komi Republic (1998 and 2009). Vera Antonovna participated in the research of the influence of placer gold mining and oil development on the natural ecosystems of the North, and developed the method of long-term monitoring of plant cover. Results of these works are of high practical value. V. A. Martynenko is an author and coauthor of more than 130 scientific publications. The most important jnes are «Flora of Northeast European USSR» (1974, 1976, and 1977), «Floristic composition of fodder lands of the Northeast Europe» (1989), «The forests of the Komi Republic» (1999), «Forestry of forest resources of the Komi Republic» (2000), «The list of flora of the Yugyd va national park» (2003), «The guide for vascular plants of the Syktyvkar and its vicinities» (2005), «Vascular plants of the Komi Republic» (2008), and «Resources of the natural flora of the Komi Republic» (2014). She also was an author of «Encyclopedia of the Komi Republic» (1997, 1999, and 2000), «Historical and cultural atlas of the Komi Republic» (1997), «Atlas of the Komi Republic» (2001, 2011). V. A. Martynenko made a great contribution to the development of the botanical investigations in the North. Since 1982, during more than 10 years, she was the head of the Department of the Institute of Biology. Three Ph. D. theses have been completed under her leadership. Many years, she worked actively in the Dissertation Council of the Institute of biology Komi Scientific Centre UrB RAS.  The death of Vera Antonovna Martynenko is a heavy and irretrievable loss for the staff of the Institute of Biology. The memory of Vera Antonovna will live in her numerous scientific works, the hearts of students and colleagues.

Microscale pattern of vascular plant distribution in two high arctic plant communities

1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (10) ◽  
pp. 2033-2042 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. H. Sohlberg ◽  
L. C. Bliss
Keyword(s):  
Distribution Pattern ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Extreme Environments ◽  
Niche Differentiation ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Plant Distribution ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Point Quadrat

Microscale pattern is of crucial importance in determining the distribution of vascular plants in the extreme environments of the High Arctic. Point-quadrat analysis of the distribution of the vascular plants in a mesic cryptogam–herb meadow and a xeric Puccinellia barren found a nonrandom distribution of vascular species. Most species were found growing in moss turfs versus crustose lichen or bare soil surfaces in the meadow and in desiccation cracks in the barren. Two species showed an opposite distribution pattern in the meadow indicating that incipient niche differentiation occurs in the High Arctic. Quadrat sampling showed that seed distribution was random in the meadow and only slightly skewed toward cracks in the barren. Microsites appeared to be crucial to the seedling establishment and adult distribution pattern for Papaver radicatum but less important for Ranunculus sabinei. Microclimate analyses showed that soil temperatures were higher, wind speeds were lower, soil moisture content was greater, and nitrate levels were higher in the microsites usually preferred by plants.

CO2 exchange in three Canadian High Arctic ecosystems: response to long-term experimental warming

2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1981-1995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Welker ◽  
Jace T. Fahnestock ◽  
Greg H. R. Henry ◽  
Kevin W. O'Dea ◽  
Rodney A. Chimner
Keyword(s):  
High Arctic ◽  
Co2 Exchange ◽  
Experimental Warming ◽  
Arctic Ecosystems ◽  
Canadian High Arctic

Temperature Sensitivity of Soil Greenhouse Gas Production in Three High‐Arctic Plant Community Types at Cape Bounty, Nunavut

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangeline Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Temperature Sensitivity ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Climate System ◽  
Arctic Ecosystems ◽  
Polar Desert ◽  
Community Types ◽  
Q10 Values

Enhanced precipitation and higher temperatures are expected in the Arctic as the result of future climatic warming. To understand future contributions of high‐arctic ecosystems to the climate system, we need to understand the feedbacks between climate and greenhouse gas production, and how they might vary between plant community types distributed along soil moisture gradients. We incubated intact soil cores in the laboratory to explore the temperature sensitivity of soil greenhouse gas (CO2, CH4, N2O) production across the three main plant community types of Cape Bounty, Nunavut: polar desert, mesic tundra and wet sedge. Two sets of cores (0‐10 cm mineral soil) were incubated in the laboratory at 4, 8, and 12°C for one month. We also measured plant community differences in soil thermal regimes for one year. Mean field temperatures were highest in the polar desert during the summer months, while temperatures in the mesic tundra were lowest during this time. In the winter, soil temperatures were lowest in the polar desert and highest in the wet sedge communities. Initial incubation results demonstrate Q10 values for CO2 production ranging from 2.18 in wet sedge to 8.67 in polar desert soils. We observed a Q10 of 4.03 for CH4 output in mesic tundra soils and a Q10 of 16.42 for N2O output in wet sedge soils. Our results suggest that use of single Q10 values to predict future greenhouse gas emissions from high‐arctic ecosystems would likely underestimate the contribution of these ecosystems to the global climate system in a warmer climate.

Vascular plant communities of a polar oasis at Alexandra Fiord (79° N), Ellesmere Island, Canada

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 1126-1136 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Muc ◽  
B. Freedman ◽  
J. Svoboda
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Ellesmere Island ◽  
Community Types

A cluster analysis was used to apportion 136 stands in a High Arctic lowland among six vascular plant community types. These communities are described on the basis of the average prominence values of vascular species and the total cover of macroalgae, bryophytes, lichens, and vascular plants within the designated clusters of stands. The relationships among the community types was explored by a detrended correspondence analysis. The ordination of stands showed considerable floristic overlap among the most widespread plant communities on the lowland. This largely reflects the microtopographic heterogeneity of the sites, the relatively depauperate flora of the High Arctic, and the considerable ecological amplitude of the most prominent vascular plant species.

Root growth in a polar semidesert environment

1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (20) ◽  
pp. 2470-2490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine L. Bell ◽  
L. C. Bliss
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Root Systems ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Moisture Gradient ◽  
Small Roots ◽  
Total Plant ◽  
Root:Shoot Ratios

Within the northwestern islands of the High Arctic, the vegetation and flora of King Christian Island are very representative. Five plant communities were recognized in a moisture gradient from a moss–rush moist meadow with 22 species of vascular plants and 13% cover (total plant cover 93%) to lichen barrens on low ridges with 8 species of vascular plants and 3% cover (total plant cover 24%). Root systems of 30 of the 34 known vascular plant species were examined. Root:shoot ratios (alive) are generally 0.2 to 0.7. Roots are estimated to live 1.5 years in Phippsia algida, 3.4–3.7 years in Alopecurus alpinus and Puccinellia vaginata, and 7–13 years in Luzula nivalis, L. confuse), and Cerastium arcticum. Optimal root growth occurs at 12 to 20 °C but cold field soils (1 to 3 °C) reduce these rates by 90%. Root growth was also reduced by low soil water potentials (< − 14 bars (1 bar = 100 kPa)), conditions seldom encountered in these sites. Limited root growth due to cold soils is combined with the adaptive advantages of small roots to produce small plants and sparse cover in these polar semidesert lands.

scholarly journals Different temporal trends in vascular plant and bryophytes communities along elevational gradients over four decades of warming

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoine Becker-Scarpitta ◽  
Diane Auberson-Lavoie ◽  
Mark Vellend
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Community Change ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Ecological Communities

Abstract1: Despite many studies showing biodiversity responses to warming, the generality of such responses across taxa remains unclear. Very few studies have tested for evidence of bryophyte community responses to warming, despite the fact that bryophytes are major contributors to diversity in many ecosystems, playing a central role in ecosystem functions. Understanding variation among taxa in their responses to warming is crucial for identifying priorities in conservation.2: We report an empirical study comparing long-term change of bryophyte and vascular plant communities in two sites with contrasting long-term warming trends. To assess long-term responses of ecological communities to warming, we used “legacy” botanical records as a baseline for comparison with contemporary resurveys.We hypothesized that ecological changes would be greater in sites with a stronger warming trends, and that vascular plant communities would be more sensitive than bryophyte communities to climate warming. For each taxon in each site, we quantified the magnitude of changes in species’ distributions along the elevation gradient, species richness, and community composition.3: Temporal changes in vascular plant communities were consistent with the warming hypothesis, but this was not the case for bryophytes. We also did not find clear support for the hypothesis that vascular plants would show greater sensitivity than bryophytes to warming, with results depending on the metric of community change. As predicted for sites with a strong warming trend, we found a significant upward shift in the distributions of vascular plants but not bryophytes.Synthesis: Our results are in accordance with recent literature showing that local diversity can remain unchanged despite strong changes in composition. Regardless of whether one taxon is systematically more or less sensitive to environmental change than another, our results suggest that vascular plants cannot be used as a surrogate for bryophytes in terms of predicting the nature and magnitude of responses to warming. In sites that experienced the same environmental changes, we found that communities of bryophytes and vascular plants did not predictably change in the same ways. Thus, to assess overall biodiversity responses to global change, data from different taxonomical groups and community properties need to be synthesized.

scholarly journals High Arctic ecosystem states: Conceptual models of vegetation change to guide long-term monitoring and research

AMBIO ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 666-677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virve Ravolainen ◽  
Eeva M. Soininen ◽  
Ingibjörg Svala Jónsdóttir ◽  
Isabell Eischeid ◽  
Mads Forchhammer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Change ◽  
Conceptual Models ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Arctic Ecosystem ◽  
Long Term Monitoring ◽  
Term Monitoring

scholarly journals Living on the edge of a shrinking habitat: the ivory gull, Pagophila eburnea , an endangered sea-ice specialist

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 20160277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier Gilg ◽  
Larysa Istomina ◽  
Georg Heygster ◽  
Hallvard Strøm ◽  
Maria V. Gavrilo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Ivory Gull ◽  
Ice Concentration ◽  
Satellite Transmitters ◽  
Current Context ◽  
Ice Edge

The ongoing decline of sea ice threatens many Arctic taxa, including the ivory gull. Understanding how ice-edges and ice concentrations influence the distribution of the endangered ivory gulls is a prerequisite to the implementation of adequate conservation strategies. From 2007 to 2013, we used satellite transmitters to monitor the movements of 104 ivory gulls originating from Canada, Greenland, Svalbard-Norway and Russia. Although half of the positions were within 41 km of the ice-edge (75% within 100 km), approximately 80% were on relatively highly concentrated sea ice. Ivory gulls used more concentrated sea ice in summer, when close to their high-Arctic breeding ground, than in winter. The best model to explain the distance of the birds from the ice-edge included the ice concentration within approximately 10 km, the month and the distance to the colony. Given the strong links between ivory gull, ice-edge and ice concentration, its conservation status is unlikely to improve in the current context of sea-ice decline which, in turn, will allow anthropogenic activities to develop in regions that are particularly important for the species.

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