Response of arctic tundra plant communities to winter vehicle disturbance

摘要: Effects of 1984 and 1985 winter seismic exploration on arctic tundra were evaluated at 104 sites the coastal plain northeastern Alaska in 1991. Plant cover increased between initial years 1991 with low to moderate disturbance. All disturbed had species whose values remained lower than controls, especially nonvascular plants evergreen shrubs. Graminoids less affected by At high levels disturbance, impacts included (i) surface compression moist sites, replacement shrubs mosses hydrophytic sedges (ii) persistence bare patches drier prostrate grasses. Although recolonizing generally common forbs graminoids not present adjacent areas some highly sites. Active layers deeper 55% but shallower 6 where dead sedge leaves insulated permafrost. biomass nutrient concentr...