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Bryophytes from Tuxedni Wilderness area, Alaska

January 1, 2002

The bryoflora of two small maritime islands, Chisik and Duck Island (2,302 ha), comprising Tuxedni Wilderness in western lower Cook Inlet, Alaska, was examined to determine species composition in an area where no previous collections had been reported. The field study was conducted from sites selected to represent the totality of environmental variation within Tuxedni Wilderness. Data were analyzed using published reports to compare the bryophyte distribution patterns at three levels, the Northern Hemisphere, North America, and Alaska. A total of 286 bryophytes were identified: 230 mosses and 56 liverworts. Bryum miniatum, Dichodontium olympicum, and Orthotrichum pollens are new to Alaska. The annotated list of species for Tuxedni Wilderness expands the known range for many species and fills distribution gaps within Hulte??n's Central Pacific Coast district. Compared with bryophyte distribution in the Northern Hemisphere, the bryoflora of Tuxedni Wilderness primarily includes taxa of boreal (61%), montane (13%), temperate (11%), arctic-alpine (7%), cosmopolitan (7%), distribution; 4% of the total moss flora are North America endemics. A brief summary of the botanical exploration of the general area is provided, as is a description of the bryophytes present in the vegetation and habitat types of Chisik and Duck Islands.

Publication Year 2002
Title Bryophytes from Tuxedni Wilderness area, Alaska
DOI 10.18968/jhbl.92.0_91
Authors Wilfred B. Schofield, Stephen S. Talbot, Sandra L. Talbot
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory
Index ID 70024353
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Alaska Science Center
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