Ogotoruk Valley Botanical Project. Progress Report Page: 35 of 130
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27
the ridges include Hylocomium splendens, Rhytidium rugosum,
Dicranum sp.,Polytrichum sp., Aulocomnium palustre, Thamnolia
vermicularis, Cetraria cucullata, Peltigera aphthosa, and several
Cladonia species.
This subtype also contains many active frost scars (non-sorted
circles of Washburn, 1956). These frost scars consist of round or
oval areas partially or completely denuded of vegetation (Figure 5),
Often there are overturned plants or parts of plants indicating
current activity. The frost scars vary from 0.3 meters to 2.5
meters in diameter, although the most common width is about 1
meter. Often, there is recolonization of the surfaces of the scars
by Eriophorum angustifolium and Carex aquatilis. In wet meadows
around Ogotoruk Creek, the frost scars are often surrounded by
poorly developed tussocks of Eriophorum vaginatum which never
become widespread or conspicuous in this type of stand.
The ridged wet meadows in the Ogotoruk Valley are found 'on
slopes varying from less than 1 degree to 3.5 degrees, with an
average slope of 2 degrees. In most flatter areas,2the stands
are at the base of steeper slopes along the sides of the valley.
The substrate usually consists of clay and silt, and a bluish-
gray glei horizon is found at a depth of from 20 to 40 cms. Above
this is a zone of mixed mineral and organic material forming a
muck. The frozen layer is at an average depth of 20 cms. and shows
little change during the summer. The abundant small ridges consist
of decaying organic material, and under these the permafrost layer
is somewhat higher. Standing water is present- in many of the
stands during the summer, and after periods of heavy rain several
inches of water may accumulate behind each of the small ridges.
Even during dry periods the Sphagnum mosses in these stands remain
saturated.
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Johnson, A. W.; Viereck, L. A. & Melchior, H. R. Ogotoruk Valley Botanical Project. Progress Report, report, December 1, 1959; Alaska. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1033615/m1/35/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.