Nunataks and Island Biogeography in the Alaska-Canada Boundary
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NUNATAKS AND ISLAND BIOGEOGRAPHY IN THE ALASKA-CANADA BOUNDARY RANGE: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE FLORA AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE by POLLY BASS (Under the Direction of Elgene O. Box) ABSTRACT A baseline flora of the nunataks, isolated peaks and ridges protruding above glaciers, is developed for the Juneau Icefield. Nunatak and periglacial sites from adjacent areas in Alaska, northern British Columbia, and the Yukon are included. Key sites are investigated phytosociologically and biogeographically. Species richness is considered in relation to winter low temperature, dominant aspect of the study sites, growing-season length, latitude, elevation, the distance of the sites from the continuously vegetated mainland, and the surface area of the study sites. The nunatak habitats are tested against the tenets of the theory of island biogeography. Though difficult in the time frame of the study (approximately seven years) to draw conclusions on extinction and immigration rates, it is possible to identify species not observed in previous investigations. It is also possible to observe the relationship between richness and nunatak surface area, and richness and the distance of a given nunatak from the continuously vegetated mainland. Surface area of the sites is the variable most correlated with species richness. This finding is in agreement with the theory of island biogeography. Latitude, elevation, and growing-season length are further found to have a strong influence on the richness of the vascular plant assemblages. Species richness has more than doubled from 1948 to 2007, in parallel with a recorded increase in the mean annual temperature of the region over the same time period. The floristic data facilitate monitoring the region for further changes. The geobotany of the northern Alaska-Canada Boundary Range harbors significant information on the past, current and future effects of climate change on sub-Arctic and alpine vegetation. INDEX WORDS: Nunatak, Island biogeography, Phytosociology, Floristic richness, Juneau Icefield, Alaska-Canada Boundary Range, Sub-Arctic vegetation, Alpine vegetation, Temperature change NUNATAKS AND ISLAND BIOGEOGRAPHY IN THE ALASKA-CANADA BOUNDARY RANGE: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE FLORA AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE by POLLY BASS B.S., University of the South, 1997 M.Ed., Georgia Southwestern University, 2000 A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY ATHENS, GEORGIA 2007 © 2007 Polly Bass All Rights Reserved NUNATAKS AND ISLAND BIOGEOGRAPHY IN THE ALASKA-CANADA BOUNDARY RANGE: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE FLORA AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE by POLLY BASS Major Professor: Elgene O. Box Committee: Ervan G. Garrison Vernon G. Meentemeyer Fausto O. Sarmiento Wendy B. Zomlefer Electronic Version Approved: Maureen Grasso Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia December 2007 iv DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to the following special friends and associates who have passed on and now belong to the ages but who have made the world a better place for their having been in it. They have enriched my life and bolstered my dedication to keep striving every day. These include Dr. James H. Anderson, Dr. Eugene Odum, Dr. Calvin J. Heusser, Mrs. Joan Miller, Mr. Tony Coburn, Dr. Molly O. Ahlgren, Dr. Arthur Gittins, Dr. George Williams, Mr. Tom Bingam, Mr. Chris Cochran, Mrs. Vivian Norris, Mr. Fred Bass, Mrs. Mabre Stephens Bass, Mrs. Rose Jones, Mrs. Mary Servella, Mr. Goran Krop, Mr. Alex Lowe, and Dr. Bruce Haines. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many people have lent their time, support and encouragement to this study. I would like to thank the special people and organizations who have contributed to this project in one way or another. Numerous persons have assisted with editing and field assistance among other tasks. These include Dr. Maynard Miller, the Juneau Icefield Research Program, and the Foundation for Glacier and Environmental Research for their support and encouragement over many years. I add with deep appreciation, Dr. Robert A. Norris (for instilling an inspiration for field botany and a love of the herbarium), Dr. Elgene O. Box, Dr. Vernon G. Meentemeyer, Dr. Wendy B. Zomlefer and the University of Georgia Herbarium, Dr. Fausto O. Sarmiento, Dr. Ervan G. Garrison, Jill Coburn, Dennis Lewin, Stephen C. Lawrie, Dr. Isabel Ahlgren, Dr. Cliff Ahlgren, Jean Buck, Howie Langeveld, Gary Linder, Toby Dittrich, Stephanie Bales, Todd and Scooby Buxton, Dr. Hap Tietjen, Dr. Alexis Wenner, Mary Stensvold, and Brad Kriekhaus. I also thank Tiesha Cooks, Ryan Mairs; Lubomir Tichy for assistance with JUICE software and phytosociology; Volker Mell and Tony Heerema for HTML map assistance; Chuck and Blanch Eiliff, Elaine Strelow, Susan Stanford, Scott McGee, Prof. Werner Stepenhauber, Bob Brown, Maggie Auble, Melanie Schimmiz, Jessica Drees, Dr. Phil Druker, Pete Lamb, Sampson Chen, Pablo Wainstein, Natalie Silverton, Dr. Donald Friend, Cyndol Claycamp; Amy Peeke, and Amber Bean Carter. Also appreciation is extended to the Geologic Survey of Greenland and Denmark for assistance in locating archival publications; as well as to Carolyn Parker and the University of Alaska Herbarium; Jacqueline Foss; Dr. Burt Carter, Yonnie Williams, Dr. Bob Herrington, and to Dr. Michelle Smith for use of the Georgia Southwestern Herbarium; and vi appreciation too to Dr. Cathy Connor, Dr. Clair Connell, Dr. Anne Glauser; Dr. Donald Walker and Dr. Dave Murray for helpful discussion of field sampling techniques and design. Finally, thanks go to the Philanthropic Educational Organization and the PEO Arizona chapter, the American Alpine Club and Dr. Bill Isherwood, Dr. Richard Keen, Dr. Naresh Kumar, Dr. N. Kahlequazzaman, Dr. Paul Bischoff, the University of Georgia Graphics Department; Monica Petrokowski of the UGA Science Library Reference Desk; Dr. Alicia Lesnikowska; Jim Case, Lisa Matlock, and Ellen Anderson of the U.S. Forest Service, Tongass National Forest; Steve Henrikson and Donna Baron of The Alaska State Museum; Ginny Blackson of the Stratton Library of Sheldon Jackson College; and Joe Liddle for statistical analysis software. Most helpful too have been the library and archives of Sheldon Jackson College and the University of Washington, as well as the University of Idaho Library, and the research library of the Glaciological and Arctic Sciences Institute. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................................................v LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................................... xi LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... xiii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................1 Overview........................................................................................................................1 Research Hypotheses .....................................................................................................1 Site Description..............................................................................................................3 Data................................................................................................................................8 Expected Results..........................................................................................................10 2 BACKGROUND .........................................................................................................11 The Diversity and Origin of Alpine and High Latitude Plant Species ........................11 Island Biogeography and Vascular Plant Species........................................................11 Perspectives on Climate Change and Vegetation .......................................................13 Climate Change and Alpine Plant Species...................................................................16 The Nunatak Hypothesis and Tabula Rasa ..................................................................20 Ptarmigan Ridge Geobotany........................................................................................23 viii 3 METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................24 Methodological Background........................................................................................24 Phytosociological Analysis..........................................................................................28 Partial Table Sorting ....................................................................................................31 Tabular Analysis and Sorting in JUICE and SAS .......................................................33 Sequential Steps Taken in Relevé Analysis.................................................................33 Line Transects..............................................................................................................38 Species-Area Curves ...................................................................................................39 Modeling Principles.....................................................................................................39 Hypothetical Models ...................................................................................................40