Description of Study Locations

Happy Valley

The location (Figure 4) is located just west of the Dalton Highway in the foothills of the Slope approximately 82 km (52 mi) north of , at an elevation of about 320 m. Within the five subzones of the circumpolar Arctic, Happy Valley is found in subzone E. Traveling north, green mile marker 334 is positioned just before the turn-off to the site. Turn left to the parking area for the site, which is along the short road to the old Happy Valley Camp. The sites are located on the hill across the creek. Three 10 x 10-m grids Figure 1. Happy Valley, Alaska is the southernmost (Figure 5) are at this site. See appendix A for GPS Biocomplexity site. coordinates of grids, relevés, climate station, soil pits, transects, and heave meters at each location.

Figure 2. Happy Valley 10 x 10-m grids: (a) hillcrest, (b) midslope, and (c) footslope.

Sagwon Moist Acidic Tundra (MAT)

Sagwon MAT (Figure 6) is located 1.5 km south of Sagwon MNT at an elevation of 300 m. The site is found in subzone E at the northern edge of the Arctic Foothills overlooking the Arctic Coastal Plain. Traveling north from Fairbanks, green mile marker 353 is positioned right before the gravel pit turnoff of this site. A tall climate tower is located directly uphill Figure 3. Sagwon MAT is located in subzone E of the from the site. One 10 x 10-m grid is circumpolar Arctic. located at this site.

1 Sagwon Moist Non-Acidic Tundra (MNT)

Sagwon MNT, seen in figure 9, is located 1.5 km northwest of the Dalton Highway at an elevation of 300 m. Found in subzone D of the circumpolar Arctic, the site can be accessed at a gravel pit on the left hand (west) side heading north on Dalton Highway just past green mile marker 353 as you head up a small pass. Two 10 x 10-m grids (figure 10), MNT1 and MNT2, have been established, along with fifteen relevés, numbering 29, 55, 58- 61, 63-65, and 67-72, two 50 m transects, and two soil pits, designated Figure 7. Sagwon MNT is located in subzone D of the circumpolar Arctic. 207 and 207a.

Figure 8. Sagwon MNT 10 x 10-m grids: (a) MNT1 and (b) MNT2.

Franklin Bluffs

At an elevation of 90 m, Franklin Bluffs (Figure 9) is located in Subzone D about 1 km west of the Dalton Highway across from the pipeline access road APL/AMS 130 near green mile marker 375. This access road provides parking at the site. Three 10 x 10-m grids (Figure 10), designated dry, moist, and wet, have been Figure 9. Franklin Bluffs is one of seven established at the location. Biocomplexity study sites.

Figure 10. Franklin Bluff 10 x 10-m grids: (a) dry,2 (b) moist, and (c) wet. Deadhorse

The Deadhorse location is found in Subzone D at an elevation of 15 m (Figure 11). Traveling south on the Dalton Highway from Deadhorse, Alaska, turn onto a road on the east side of the highway just past green mile marker 411 to locate the site. One 10 x 10-m grid is at this location.

Figure 11. Deadhorse is located in Ssubzone D.

West Dock

The West Dock location (figure 12) is located in one of Alaska’s North Slope the oil field at Prudhoe Bay and requires permission from the oil field for operator’s access. The site is adjacent to the coast at an elevation of 1.5 m. To get there, exit out of Arctic Oilfield Parking Lot and make a right onto Spine Road. Follow Spine Road until you come to the oil field entrance guard station, which you will pass through, drive straight past two roads on the left-hand side, and then turn left when the road hits a T-junction where you are forced to go either left or right. Follow this road until after the AGI site, then take a left on Lisburn/Pt. McIntyre and go over a bridge. You will see a climate tower after approximately 1 mile on the left. The West Dock site is on the opposite side of the road. One 10 x 10-m grid is at this location. Figure 12. West Dock is located at Prudhoe Bay in Alaska's North Slope oil fields. Howe Island

Howe Island (Figure 13) is located northeast of the Prudhoe Bay oil fields at sea level. The site can only be accessed by helicopter or boat. One 10 x 10-m grid is at this location.

Figure 13. Howe Island is the northernmost Alaskan Biocomplexity site.

3

Happy Valley Sagwon Franklin Bluffs Deadhorse Betty Pingo West Dock Howe Island