VEGETATIONAL CHANGE AND ICE-WEDGE POLYGONS THROUGH THE THAW-LAKE CYCLE IN ARCTIC ALASKA

Britton's thaw-lake cycle hypothesis is examined and modified in light of new observations on ice-wedges and revegetation following drainage of lakes in the wet coastal tundra of arctic Alaska. Two thaw-lakes which were artificially drained in 1950 provided base-line data for the ages of basin surfaces. Sizes of clonal colonies of Eriophorum angustifolium and Carex aquatilis were used in an attempt to age older, naturally drained lake basins. The floristic composition of the vegetation through

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