Vegetation and Production Ecology of an Alaskan Arctic Tundra

685 Pages·1978·15.93 MB·English

by  Larry L. Tieszen (auth.)

Ecological Studies
Analysis and Synthesis
Edited by
W. D. Billings, Durham (USA) F. Golley, Athens (USA)
O. L. Lange, Wiirzburg (FRG) J. S. Olson, Oak Ridge (USA)
Volume 29
Vegetation and Production
Ecology of
an Alaskan Arctic Tundra
Edited by
Larry L. Tieszen
With 217 Figures
Springer-Verlag N ew York Heidelberg Berlin
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Main entry under title:
Vegetation and production ecology of the Alaskan
arctic tundra.
(Ecological studies; 29)
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
I. Tundra flora-Alaska-Barrow. 2. Primary
productivity (Biology)-Alaska-Barrow. 3. Tundra
ecology-Alaska-Barrow. 4. Primary productivity
(Biology)-Arctic regions. I. Tieszen, Larry L.
II. Series.
QKI46.V43 581.5'264 78-14039
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be transiated or reproduced in any form
without written permission from Springer-Verlag.
© 1978 by Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1s t edition 1978
987654321
lSBN-13: 978-1-4612-6309-8 e-lSBN-13: 978-1-4612-6307-4
DOl: 10.1007/978-1-4612-6307-4
Preface
This volume on botanical research in tundra represents the culmination of four
years of intensive and integrated field research centered at Barrow, Alaska. The
volume summarizes the most significant results and interpretations of the pri
mary producer projects conducted in the U.S. IBP Tundra Biome Program
(1970-1974). Original data reports are available from the authors and can serve as
detailed references for interested tundra researchers. Also, the results of most
projects have been published in numerous papers in various journals.
The introduction provides a brief overview of other ecosystem components.
The main body presents the results in three general sections. The summary
chapter is an attempt to integrate ideas and information from the previous papers
as well as extant literature. In addition, this chapter focuses attention on pro
cesses of primary production which should receive increased emphasis.
Although this book will not answer all immediate questions, it hopefully will
enhance future understanding of the tundra, particularly as we have studied it in
Northern Alaska.
The synthesis of these primary producer papers as well as those of other
ecosystem components is being published in "An Arctic Ecosystem: The
Coastal Tundra at Barrow, Alaska" (J. Brown et aI., Eds.) and can be considered
a companion volume. "Truelove Lowland, Devon Island, Canada: A High
Arctic Ecosystem" (L. C. Bliss, Ed.) provides an invaluable comparison from
the High Arctic, and "Fennoscandian Tundra Ecosystems" (F. E. Wielgolaski,
Ed.) summarizes recent studies in northern Europe. Comparative information
and the synthesis at the international level can be found in a number of recent
books including: "Structure and Function of Tundra Ecosystems" (T. Rosswall
and O. W. Heal, Eds.) and "Primary Production and Production Processes,
Tundra Biome" (L. C. Bliss and F. E. Wielgolaski, Eds.). "Tundra; Compara
tive Analysis of Ecosystems" (L. C. Bliss et aI., Eds.) is being prepared as an
international synthesis.
The rising environmental awareness in the world coincided with the discovery
Preface
VI
of large oil deposits on the Alaskan Arctic Coastal Plain. The period 1970-1974
was therefore especially interesting as the U.S. Tundra Biome Program served as
a scientific focus for the environmental interests of private industry, the U.S.
Government and the public. In many ways we have all benefited from this
confrontation and perhaps the resolution of future environmental issues will now
be easier. The interest, encouragement, and support of these diverse groups is
sincerely appreciated. Direct financial support of the program has been derived
from three major sources: the National Science Foundation, the State of Alaska
through the University of Alaska, and individual companies and members of the
petroleum industry. The NSF funding was under the joint sponsorship of the
U.S. Arctic Research Program (Office of Polar Programs) and the U.S. Interna
tional Biological Programme (Ecosystem Analysis).
The Office of Naval Research through its Naval Arctic Research Laboratory
(NARL) at Barrow provided the field and laboratory support without which the
U.S. Tundra Biome Program would not have been possible. Two former direc
tors of NARL, Dr. Max C. Brewer and Mr. John Schindler, deserve particular
credit for facilitating this support. Alpine field support was provided through the
University of Alaska's Institute of Arctic Biology for Eagle Summit and through
the University of Colorado's Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at its
Mountain Research Station for Niwot Ridge. Administratively, the Tundra
Biome Center at the University of Alaska provided vital contractual and support
services. Dr. George C. West, Director of the Tundra Biome Center, Dr. Keith
Van Cleve, and Mr. David Witt deserve particular credit. The U.S. Army Cold
Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) provided overall man
agement, specialized logistic and equipment support and editing services to the
program through an interagency agreement with the NSF and in the spirit of
Public Law 40-280 which authorized the U.S. IBP. Mr. Stephen L. Bowen of
CRREL and his staff, particularly Donna Murphy and Audrey White, were
responsible for the preparation of all Biome reports and the final draft of this
volume. Mr. Harold Larsen, CRREL illustrator, supervised the preparation of
illustrations. In addition to the directly funded support, parent institutions,
almost without exception, provided their staff members with a variety of on
campus and other institutional aid. This is gratefully acknowledged at this time
on behalf of the entire program.
The success of this program is to a large extent due to the untiring optimism
and perseverance of one person, Dr. Jerry Brown of CRREL, who served as
director from 1970-1975. His managerial skills allowed many of us to concentrate
more effort on scientific problems.
Research in the U.S. Tundra Biome has been an extremely exciting and
rewarding experience. To a large extent this has occurred because the program
assembled more than 20 diverse projects most of which were committed to the
"program," to full cooperation, and to an experimental assessment of plant
function and productivity in tundra. It is perhaps this commitment to understand
plant function and the basis for productivity which distinguishes our program.
The dedication of most projects under the difficult conditions of remote field
experimentation is also highly appreciated.
Preface VII
The program was enriched by the high degree of cooperation and criticism
from international colleagues and U.S. participants in other biome programs.
The opportunity for international meetings and exchanges as well as U.S.
Specialists meetings is greatly appreciated for it helped clarify experimental
approaches at regular intervals. May this international spirit of cooperation and
camaraderie, especially among the young scientists, be one of the lasting results
of the IBP Tundra Biome Program.
L. L. TIESZEN
References
Bliss, L. C. (Ed.) (1977) Truelove Lowland, Devon Island, Canada: A High Arctic
Ecosystem. Edmonton: University of Alberta Press, 714 p.
Bliss, L. C. and F. E. Wielgolaski (Eds.) (1973) Primary Production and Production
Processes, Tundra Biome. Proceedings of Conference, Dublin, Ireland, April 1973.
International Tundra Biome Steering Committee, Stockholm, 256 p.
Brown, J., P. C. Miller, L. L. Tieszen, F. L. Bunnell, and S. F. MacLean, Jr. (Eds.) (in
prep.) An Arctic Ecosystem: The Coastal Tundra at Barrow, Alaska. Stroudsburg, Pa.:
Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross.
Rosswall, T. and O. W. Heal (Eds.) (1975) Structure and Function of Tundra Ecosystems.
Swedish Natural Science Research Council, Ecol. Bull. NFR 20, 450 p.
Wielgolaski, F. E. (Ed.) (1975) Fennoscandian Tundra Ecosystems, Parts 1 and 2. New
York: Springer-Verlag, 366 and 337 p., respectively.
Contents
Preface v
List of Contributors xvi
Section I. Floristics, Vegetation, and Primary Production 1
la. Vascular Plants 1
lb. Nonvascular Plants 2
1. Introduction 3
LARRY L. TIESZEN
Background 3
Research Design and Site Selections 5
Overview of the Barrow Ecological System 7
References 17
2. Vegetation, Floristics, and Phytogeography of Northern Alaska 19
D. F. MURRAY
Tundra Landscapes and Vegetation 19
Floristics and Phytogeography 27
Acknowledgments 33
References 33
3. Spatial and Temporal Variation of the Vegetation and its Productivity 37
P.J. WEBBER
Introduction and Site Overview 37
Methods 39
Results 43
Discussion 85
Summary and Conclusions 104
Acknowledgments 105
References 105
x Contents
4. Seasonal Dynamics of Above- and Belowground Production of
Vascular Plants at Barrow, Alaska 113
J. G. DENNIS, L. L. TIESZEN and M. A. VETTER
Introduction 113
Methods and Materials 115
Results 116
Discussion 134
Acknowledgments 138
References 138
5. Floristics, Phytogeography and Ecology of Arctic Alaskan Bryophytes 141
W. C. STEERE
The Bryophyte Flora and its Floristic Elements 141
Ecology and Physical Factors of the Environment 149
Acknowledgments 163
References 164
6. Composition and Bryomass of the Moss Layers of Two Wet-Tundra-
Meadow Communities near Barrow, Alaska 169
J. R. RASTORFER
Introduction 169
Materials and Methods 169
Results 172
Discussion 177
Acknowledgments 181
References 181
7. The Role of Lichens in the Structure, Productivity, and Mineral
Cycling of the Wet Coastal Alaskan Tundra 185
M. E. WILLIAMS, E. D. RUDOLPH, E. A. SCHOFIELD, and D. C.
PRASHER
Introduction 185
Environmental Setting 185
Lichen Occurrence 186
Methods 188
Results and Discussion 196
Conclusions 204
Acknowledgments 204
References 204
8. The Role of Algae in Tundra Soil 207
R. E. CAMERON, A. D. KNOX, and F. A. MORELLI
Introduction 207
Methods 209
Results and Discussion 210
Conclusions 222
Contents xi
Acknowledgments 223
References 224
9. Ecto- and Endomycorrhizae of Arctic Plants at Barrow, Alaska 229
O. K. MILLER, JR. and G. A. LAURSEN
Introduction 229
Distribution of Ectomycorrhizae 232
Distribution of Endomycorrhizae 233
Distribution of Mycorrhizal Fungi 234
Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus 234
Conclusions and Discussion 236
Acknowledgments 236
References 236
Section II. Photosynthesis, Respiration and Water Relations. 239
IIa. Plant and Community Photosynthesis 239
lIb. Photosynthesis and Water Relations 240
10. Photosynthesis in the Principal Barrow, Alaska Species: A Summary
of Field and Laboratory Responses 241
L. L. TIESZEN
Introduction 241
Methods 242
Results and Discussion 242
Conclusions 265
Acknowledgments 266
References 266
11. Primary Production Processes in Arctic Bryophytes at Barrow, Alaska 269
W. C. OECHEL and B. SVEINBJORNSSON
Introduction 269
Field Research Site 270
Methods 271
Results and Discussion 273
Conclusions 2%
Acknowledgments 2%
References 297
12. Meteorological Assessment of CO Exchange Over an Alaskan Arctic
2
Tundra 299
P. I. COYNE and J. J. KELLEY
Introduction 299
Theory 299
Experimental Procedure 300
Data Analysis 301
3m
~wb
xii Contents
Discussion 314
Acknowledgments 318
References 319
13. Constraints on Tundra Productivity: Photosynthetic Capacity in
Relation to Solar Radiation Utilization and Water Stress in Arctic and
Alpine Tundras 323
M. M. CALDWELL, D. A. JOHNSON and M. FAREED
Introduction 323
Methods 324
Results and Discussion 325
Acknowledgments 341
References 341
14. Some Aspects of Water Relations of Arctic and Alpine Regions 343
P. C. MILLER, W. A. STONER, and J. R. EHLERINGER
Introduction 343
Conceptual Framework 344
Methods 345
Results 348
Discussion and Conclusions 353
Acknowledgments 356
References 356
15. Radio-Tracer Measurement of Transpiration in Tundra Vegetation,
Barrow, Alaska 359
J. J. KORANDA, B. CLEGG, and M. STUART
Introduction 359
Methods 359
Results and Discussion 361
Conclusions 367
Acknowledgments 368
References 368
16. Simulation of the Effect of the Tundra Vascular Plant Canopy on the
Productivity of Four Moss Species 371
W. A. STONER, P. C. MILLER, and W. C. OECHEL
Introduction 371
Simulation Models and Methods 371
Results and Discussion 375
Acknowledgments 385
References 385