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Ecological sites and plant communities for the Alpine subregion. First approximation

Description

The Alpine Natural Subregion is a land of mountains, glaciers and snowfields extending north to south along the Continental Divide. Steeply inclined to vertical bedrock exposures, short, cold... More ≫

Description

The Alpine Natural Subregion is a land of mountains, glaciers and snowfields extending north to south along the Continental Divide. Steeply inclined to vertical bedrock exposures, short, cold summers, strong winds and high snowfalls limit extensive tree growth in favour of low growing shrubs and herbs in sheltered areas. The alpine is a complex of plant associations dominated by dwarf shrub and herbaceous vegetation and/or lichen tundra occurring at elevations above 1900 m at the northern extent of the Rocky Mountains of Alberta in Jasper National Park and 2150m at the south in Waterton Lakes National Park. This guide represents the analysis of over 970 plots described in the Alpine Natural Subregion that were subsequently split into 8 ecological sites and 52 plant community types. The dominant plant species, canopy cover, soils and environmental conditions are outlined for each type. Included in this approximation is a crosswalk table to the Alberta Wetland Classification System...

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Ecological sites of the Subalpine subregion. Second approximation

Description

The Subalpine Natural Subregion is a Rocky Mountain altitudinal vegetation zone extending from an elevation of 1575 m to 2175 m at its southernmost occurrence and 1365 m to 2000 m near Grande... More ≫

Description

The Subalpine Natural Subregion is a Rocky Mountain altitudinal vegetation zone extending from an elevation of 1575 m to 2175 m at its southernmost occurrence and 1365 m to 2000 m near Grande Cache. This approximation of the guide represents the analysis of over 3400 plots described in the Subalpine subregion. In this subregion it was found there were distinct differences between the community types and ecological sites between the Central and Northern Foothills and Mountains (west of Sundre, Hinton, Grande Cache and Jasper national park), and the Southern Rocky Mountains (south and west of Calgary and Banff national park). As a result the Subalpine plant communities are identified into two ecosections (south and north). The dominant plant species, canopy cover, environmental conditions and response to grazing, are outlined for each plant community type for each ecosection.

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