commonecoregionsofalaska(version2-usgs（17页）.docVIP

Narrative Descriptions for the Ecoregions of Alaska and Neighboring Territories G. Nowacki (USFS), P. Spencer (NPS), T. Brock (USFS), M. Fleming (USGS) and Torre Jorgenson (ABRI). FINAL DRAFT 6-1-00 Map Contributors: Lee Anne Ayers (USFWS), Keith Boggs (AHNP), Dennis Demarchi (BCMELP), Charles Roots (GSC), Mary Beth Cook (NPS), Lois Dalle-Molle (NPS), Bill Eichenlaub (NPS), Penny Knuckles (NPS), Danny Rosenkrans (NPS), Sara Wesser (NPS), Mark Clark (NRCS), Darrell Kautz (NRCS), Scott Smith (PAFRC), David Banks (TNC), Dean Davidson (USFS), Rob DeVelice (USFS), Connie Hubbard (USFS), Beth Schulz (USFS), Michael Shephard (USFS), Ken Winterberger (USFS), Jonathon Hall (USFWS), Janet Jorgenson (USFWS), Fran Mauer (USFWS), Ken Rice (USFWS), Susan Savage (USFWS), Mike Vivion (USFWS), David Brew (USGS), Alisa Gallant (USGS) and Mark Shasby (USGS). GIS Work: Gary Fisher (USFS) and Kari Youkey (USFS). 1) Ahklun Mountains This coastal group of rugged steep-walled mountains spans two extensive wetland complexes (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and Bristol Bay Lowlands) along the southern Bering Sea. Here strongly deformed sedimentary and volcanic rocks are cut by great northeast-trending faults, including portions of the Denali fault. Here mountain glaciers coalesced during the Pleistocene and carved many broad U-shaped valleys. On the south side of the mountains, these valleys subsequently filled with water forming large “finger” lakes. These lakes have resident rainbow trout and nurture abundant runs of sockeye (red) salmon during the summer. Mountain soils have formed in very stony and gravelly colluvium over bedrock, whereas valley soils have formed in glacial till. Dwarf shrub and lichen tundra dominates mountain crests and upper slopes where permafrost is discontinuous. Shrubs (willows, birches, and alders) become progressively more abundant and robust at lower elevations as permafrost becomes more fragmented. In valleys, shrublands are punctuated by sedge-tu