Plant Succession and Soil Development on Gravel Outwash of the Muldrow Glacier, Alaska

INTRODUCTION . 181 Review of succession studies ........ 181 The Study Area 181 Climate 182 Parent Material 182 Physiography 183 Flora 183 Time 183 METHODS 183 Plant collections and identifications ...... ...... 183 Vegetation analysis 185 Soil Analysis 186 RESULTS 186 Stand descriptions 186 Pioneer stage 186 Meadow stage 187 Early shrub stage 189 Late shrub stage 190 Climax tundra .... 191 DIsCussIoN ....... 192 Vegetation changes 192 Pioneer stage ........ 192 Meadow stage .... 192 Shrub stage . 193 Climax tundra .... 193 General trends 194 Soil Development 194 Texture ........ 194 Organic material 196 Nitrogen ......... 196 Soil reaction 197 Permafrost ......... 197 Wind and snow accumulation 198 SUMMARY ....... 198 LITERATURE CITED ........ 198

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