Bryophytes of the Taltson River Region, N.W.T.

Abstract

Fifty-three species are reported from a region south of the eastern arm of Great Slave Lake where the bryology was previously unknown. While studying the winter range of barren ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) in the Taltson River region during 1962, the author made a small collection of bryophytes. It is believed that bryophytes have not been collected in this region previously. This paper lists the 139 bryophytes, including 53 species, collected. The study area is located in the Taltson River Region of the Northwest Territories and extends from 60050'N to 620N Lat. and from 1090W to lll W Long. These sites are south of the eastern arm of Great Slave Lake. Bryophytes from north of the eastern arm have been reported previously (Scotter 1962). The forests of the region are dominated by black spruce (Picea mariana) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana). White spruce (Picea glauca) is common on eskers and white birch (Betula papyrifera) is found along drainage areas and in some recently burned-over forests. Small clusters of aspen (Populus tremuloides) were found along the Taltson River. The physiography of the region has been described by Camsell (1916). The area has undergone intense glaciation with little glacial deposition. Rocks of the region are reported to be Precambrian. The terrain consists of small but rather rugged hills with numerous muskegs and lakes. The vascular flora is known from collections by Harper (1931) and by Raup (1936). The study area is also included in Raup's (1947) study of the flora of sputhwestern Mackenzie. The original set of specimens identified by Dr. H. A. Crum has 1 Canadian Wildlife Service, 742 Federal Building, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.45 on Fri, 02 Sep 2016 06:03:17 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 70 THE BRYOLOGIST [Volume 66 been deposited in the National Museum of Canada and I have kept the duplicates.