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Land-Ocean Systems in the Siberian Arctic: Dvnamics and History
were formed by nivation processes. The vegetation is classified into 3 elements: A) Bedrock
outcrops with crustaceous lichens and sparse (3-5 %) petrophilous herbs (Saxifraga caespitosa,
S. spinulosa, Papaver polare, Hierochloe alpina) on ochric regosols; B) The lowest portion of
microslopes with dry-mesic dwarf shrub-moss and dwarf shrub mountain tundra (30-50 %
cover). Salix polaris dominates at higher elevations, Dryas punctata dominates at lower
elevations; the usual forbs are Lloydia serotina, Arabis petraea s.l., Potentilla uniflora, Draba
alpina et al.; mosses: Hylocomium splendens var. obtusifolium, Tomentypnum nitens; the soils
are Eutri-gelic Regosols; C) Moist depressions at the rear joints of the steps (spring fens) with
practically continuous (cover 90-100%) herb-moss vegetation (Lagotis minor, Carex
arctisibirica, funcus biglumis, Saxifraga cernua, Deschampsia borealis; the moss Bryum
criophilum dominates) on Gelic Regosols.
10 - Surfaces with inclination from 5 to 15°, with separate bedrock outliers and spotty
hummocky alpine tundra
These regions share a similar genesis with the previous ones, but differ by an absence of moist
places with fens. There are 2 vegetation elements: A) Bedrock outliers with crustaceous lichens
and sparse forbs (about 10 % cover) on Dystri-gelic Regosols; and B) Slope surfaces with drymesic hummocky forb-moss mountain tundra (Papaver polare, Myosotis asiatica, Draba
alpina, D. macrocarpa, Saxifraga spsp. et aI., mosses: Hylocomium splendens var.
obtusifolium, Aulacomnium turgidum); cover up to 40 % ; the soils are Dystri-gelic Leptosols.
11- Discontinuous surfaces with bedrock outcrops and irregular nanorelief
These outcrops of auleurolites are distinct from other landscape types only through their weak
nan ore lief development and vegetation. The latter comprises 2 elements: A) Primitive plant
aggregations of petrophilous forbs and grasses (5-15 % cover) develop on the bedrock
outcrops; the soils are ochric regosols; B) -On main slope surfaces - mesic hummocky forbdwarf willow-moss alpine tundra (Salix polaris, Novosieversia glacialis, Deschampsia
borealis, Luzula confusa; mosses: Hylocomium splendens var. obtusifolium, Aulacomnium
turgidum, Tomentypnum nitens) cover up to 70 %; the soils are Dystri-gelic Leptosols.
12 - Small-block sloped surfaces, slightly disjointed by deep erosion hollows
These structures are generally found on the side slopes of small mountain valleys. The deep
erosion hollows are frequently associated with a change in bedrock composition. The
vegetation comprises 2 elements: A) On positive mesorelief features: dry moss-forb spotty
tundra (Papaver polare, Saxifraga spinulosa, Myosotis asiatica et al.) with 30-40 % cover; in
the moss layer: Rhacomitrium lanuginosum and Hylocomium sp1endens var. obtusifolium
dominate; the soils are Dystri-gelic Regosols; B) On negative mesorelief features: subnival,
mesic herb-dwarf willow-moss, with an almost continuous cover (Salix polaris, Saxifraga
cernua, Cerastium regelii, Deschampsia spsp., the moss layer composed of Sanionia
uncinata) on Eutri-gelic Regosols.
13 - Concave inclined slopes with striped nanorelief, complicated by bedrock outcrops and by
outliers of terrace platforms
This area is characterized by a very complicated topography, with moisture levels varying from
extremely dry to moderately moist; landscape elements (except for dellic drainage strips) occur
at irregular intervals. Taken together, however, the elements form a massif defined by this
landscape type. On the bedrock outliers (A), which are frequently used by predatory birds as
nesting and feeding sites, one finds well-developed mesic herb meadow communities with 10-
Land-Ocean Systems in the Siberian Arctic: Dvnamics and History
were formed by nivation processes. The vegetation is classified into 3 elements: A) Bedrock
outcrops with crustaceous lichens and sparse (3-5 %) petrophilous herbs (Saxifraga caespitosa,
S. spinulosa, Papaver polare, Hierochloe alpina) on ochric regosols; B) The lowest portion of
microslopes with dry-mesic dwarf shrub-moss and dwarf shrub mountain tundra (30-50 %
cover). Salix polaris dominates at higher elevations, Dryas punctata dominates at lower
elevations; the usual forbs are Lloydia serotina, Arabis petraea s.l., Potentilla uniflora, Draba
alpina et al.; mosses: Hylocomium splendens var. obtusifolium, Tomentypnum nitens; the soils
are Eutri-gelic Regosols; C) Moist depressions at the rear joints of the steps (spring fens) with
practically continuous (cover 90-100%) herb-moss vegetation (Lagotis minor, Carex
arctisibirica, funcus biglumis, Saxifraga cernua, Deschampsia borealis; the moss Bryum
criophilum dominates) on Gelic Regosols.
10 - Surfaces with inclination from 5 to 15°, with separate bedrock outliers and spotty
hummocky alpine tundra
These regions share a similar genesis with the previous ones, but differ by an absence of moist
places with fens. There are 2 vegetation elements: A) Bedrock outliers with crustaceous lichens
and sparse forbs (about 10 % cover) on Dystri-gelic Regosols; and B) Slope surfaces with drymesic hummocky forb-moss mountain tundra (Papaver polare, Myosotis asiatica, Draba
alpina, D. macrocarpa, Saxifraga spsp. et aI., mosses: Hylocomium splendens var.
obtusifolium, Aulacomnium turgidum); cover up to 40 % ; the soils are Dystri-gelic Leptosols.
11- Discontinuous surfaces with bedrock outcrops and irregular nanorelief
These outcrops of auleurolites are distinct from other landscape types only through their weak
nan ore lief development and vegetation. The latter comprises 2 elements: A) Primitive plant
aggregations of petrophilous forbs and grasses (5-15 % cover) develop on the bedrock
outcrops; the soils are ochric regosols; B) -On main slope surfaces - mesic hummocky forbdwarf willow-moss alpine tundra (Salix polaris, Novosieversia glacialis, Deschampsia
borealis, Luzula confusa; mosses: Hylocomium splendens var. obtusifolium, Aulacomnium
turgidum, Tomentypnum nitens) cover up to 70 %; the soils are Dystri-gelic Leptosols.
12 - Small-block sloped surfaces, slightly disjointed by deep erosion hollows
These structures are generally found on the side slopes of small mountain valleys. The deep
erosion hollows are frequently associated with a change in bedrock composition. The
vegetation comprises 2 elements: A) On positive mesorelief features: dry moss-forb spotty
tundra (Papaver polare, Saxifraga spinulosa, Myosotis asiatica et al.) with 30-40 % cover; in
the moss layer: Rhacomitrium lanuginosum and Hylocomium sp1endens var. obtusifolium
dominate; the soils are Dystri-gelic Regosols; B) On negative mesorelief features: subnival,
mesic herb-dwarf willow-moss, with an almost continuous cover (Salix polaris, Saxifraga
cernua, Cerastium regelii, Deschampsia spsp., the moss layer composed of Sanionia
uncinata) on Eutri-gelic Regosols.
13 - Concave inclined slopes with striped nanorelief, complicated by bedrock outcrops and by
outliers of terrace platforms
This area is characterized by a very complicated topography, with moisture levels varying from
extremely dry to moderately moist; landscape elements (except for dellic drainage strips) occur
at irregular intervals. Taken together, however, the elements form a massif defined by this
landscape type. On the bedrock outliers (A), which are frequently used by predatory birds as
nesting and feeding sites, one finds well-developed mesic herb meadow communities with 10-