Plant communities and plant production in the western Queen Elizabeth Islands

A study of soils, plant communities, and net annual plant production was conducted with 41 stands at 3 sites on 3 arctic islands. Twelve additional sites were studied in less detail on Ellef Ringnes, King Christian and Melville islands and on four other islands. Through polar ordination five groupings were recognized. Alopecurus and Puccinellia barrens on sand to silty soils and on silty soils, high in sodium salts respectively. Species richness averaged 2.6 ± 2.0 and total plant cover 6.8 ± 2.7%. The Phippsia barrens occur on sheet eroded surfaces and in gulleys with deep winter snow. Species richness was 9.8 ± 5.0 and total plant cover 14.8 ± 9.6%. The graminoid steppes on sandy soils averaged 7.6 ± 2.4 species and total plant cover 40.0 ± 2.8%. Eight stands were dominated by moss‐graminoids, mostly on loam soils. Species richness was 24.9 ± 3.4 and total plant cover 77.7 ± 16.1%. Plant producion was 8.0 g m −2 in a Puccinellia barren and 9.4 g m −2 in a Luzula confusa graminoid steppe. Net annual production ranged from 18.8 to 58.7 in 6 other stands. The 13 stands within the cryptogam‐herb community complex occur on sandy loam to clay‐loam soils. Species richness averaged 26.3 ± 6.2 and total plant cover 61.2 ± 24.7%. Mosses and lichens play a significant role in the establishment and maintenance of communities with a greater species richness and plant production of vascular plant species. The ability of mosses to hold moisture and the presence of limited bluegreen algae that fix nitrogen appear essential to the maintenance of greater species richness, plant cover and plant production compared with the barren polar deserts that are often nearby.