Plant Diversity in a Chronosequence at Glacier Bay, Alaska

Abstract

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Vegetation succession in deglaciated landscapes: implications for sediment and landscape stability

“…These species often form a dense thicket and persist until competition from later successional species limits their success (Crocker and Major, 1955). Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) typically follows the initial alder-willow thicket stages, peaking in abundance approximately 50-70 years following deglaciation (Reiners et al, 1971). Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) begins to increase in abundance approximately 100 years following deglaciation, creating a mixed cottonwood-spruce forest before slowly being replaced by scattered western (Tsuga heterophylla) and mountain hemlock (T. mertensiana) which dominate the forest over time (Chapin et al, 1994).…”

“…The repeat survey capabilities of the Landsat satellites were highlighted as being particularly useful to study vegetation change, as landscape dynamics and physical processes which occur over relatively short (<10 2 years) timescales are deemed too difficult to measure directly (Reinhardt et al, 2010). These timescales are also of particular importance in the study of the interactions of biological and physical processes with one another over the long term (Rull, 2012) as physical-biological feedbacks and interactions often require significant time to develop before influencing their surroundings (Reiners et al, 1971;Milner et al, 2007). Given the opportunities for the space-for-time substitution available at GBNP, combined with the existence of repeat aerial Landsat satellite images in this area over a 22 year period and an extensive body of literature available regarding processes of vegetation succession, soil development and changes in sediment yield over time within GBNP, we aim to determine the rate and processes of vegetation-landscape interactions which influence sediment availability, and by proxy, paraglacial adjustment on glacier forelands over the 250 year time period since the Neoglacial maxima.…”

Coupling between Primary Terrestrial Succession and the Trophic Development of Lakes at Glacier Bay, Alaska

“…Classical studies of this invasion sequence (e.g., Cooper 1923;Lawrence 1958;Reiners et al 1971) depict early colonization by plants such as mountain avens (Dryas drummondii), fireweed (Epilobium latifolium), and dwarf willows (Salix sp. ), followed by shrub thickets of alder (Alnus crispa vs. sinuata) that are in turn replaced by a closed forest of spruce (Picea sitchensis) and associated conifers.…”

Écologie des populations d’aulne vert (Alnus crispa (Ait.) Pursh) à la limite des forêts, Québec nordique

“…Le dynamisme des populations arbustives n'a été étudié que par quelques auteurs (CHEW et CHEW, 1965;FLOWER-ELLIS, 1971;LINDHOLM, 1980;PEL-TON, 1953). Le genre AInus a déjà fait l'objet de plusieurs travaux autoécologiques, spécialement en Angleterre par McVEAN (1956), à cause de ses propriétés fixatrices d'azote atmosphérique et de son rôle important dans la colonisation de régions récemment dégla-ciées (COOPER, 1923(COOPER, , 1931(COOPER, , 1939CROCKER et MAJOR, 1955;DECKER, 1966;LAWRENCE, 1950LAWRENCE, , 1951LAWRENCE, , 1958LAWRENCE et al, 1967 ;LAWRENCE et HULBERT, 1950 ;REINERS et a/., 1970;UGOLINI, 1968). L'enneigement dans les buissons d'A crispa de l'Hémi-arctique a déjà été mesuré (FILION et PAYETTE, 1976).…”