Abstract
A renewed survey of the flora of Bjemeya (74" 31") has yielded a total of 54 native vascular species. Details of their distribution are provided by local maps and vertical frequency tabulations. Soil preferences of species and various plant communities are outlined. The general climate and microthermal conditions of the prevailing vegetation place Bjørnøya as a pronouncedly maritime part of the Svalbard archipelago, supporting mainly hygrophilous and chionophilous plant communitites and species. Only half of the island's vascular species persist at elevations above 200 m a.s.l., corresponding to a heat sum of July and August below approximately 190 Degree-Days. Ice-cored peat mounds coated by Rharomitrium lanuginosum were discovered on plateaux above 400 m elevation. The impact of the Vistula glaciation is discussed in view of Quaternary evidence from the Barents Sea area. Probably only one third of the present vascular flora could endure full-glacial conditions in possible ice-free cliffs on the coast of Bjørnøya.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
