Loess ecosystems of northern Alaska: Regional gradient and toposequence at Prudhoe Bay
- Univ. of Colorado, Boulder (United States)
- Ohio State Univ., Columbus (United States)
Loess-dominated ecosystems cover {approx} 14% (11,000 km{sup 2}) of the Arctic Coastal Plain and much of the northern portion of the Arctic Foothills. Knowledge of this poorly known ecosystem is important for sound land-use planning of the expanding developments in the region and for understanding the paleoecological dynamics of eolian systems that once dominated much of northern Alaska. A conceptual alkaline-tundra toposequence includes eight common vegetation types and associated soils and vegetation downwind of the Sagavanirktok River. Properties of loess tundra important for land-use planning include: (1) its high ice content, which contributes to its susceptibility to thermokarst; (2) high salinities, which hamper revegetation efforts; and (3) presence of certain plant species such as Dryas intergrifolia, which are particularly sensitive to disturbance. The loess gradient provides a natural analogue for road dust, and extensive disturbance associated with oil-field development.
- OSTI ID:
- 6032731
- Journal Information:
- Ecological Monographs; (United States), Vol. 61:4; ISSN 0012-9615
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
02 PETROLEUM
ALASKA
ECOLOGY
CLIMATIC CHANGE
LAND USE
OIL FIELDS
PLANNING
PLANTS
SALINITY
SOILS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
TUNDRA
WETLANDS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOSYSTEMS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
USA
540210* - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (1990-)
020900 - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects