Natural plant recolonization of surficial disturbances, Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula Region, Northwest Territories

1973 
Seismic lines or winter roads were sampled where they passed through three different plant communities in the Mackenzie Delta and through four of the major tundra communities in the Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula. Winter seismic lines have been less detrimental than summer lines for all communities examined. Although winter roads through upland areas remove most of the vegetation cover, the peat layer usually remains intact and soil energy budgets are relatively little affected. Wetland sedge meadows are highly susceptible to summer disturbance but least affected by winter operations. Winter-disturbed forested and tall shrub communities recover faster initially than similarly disturbed upland tundra communities.Eriophorum vaginatum and Carex bigelowii appeared to be stimulated by disturbances which did not eliminate them, with Eriophorum often flowering more abundantly in disturbed areas. This probably results from warmer soils and greater nutrient uptake.Summer seismic lines (1965), originally bladed to permafros...
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