Canadian Arctic (Polunin 1948) and the Western 
Taimyr, USSR (Matveyeva et al. 1973). While 
the Prudhoe Bay vegetation is sufficiently dis- 
tant from these other localities within the 
tundra continuum that the present units will not 
be wholly applicable elsewhere, it is our opinion 
that the method would be applicable. 
The Prudhoe Bay vegetation is more diverse 
and contains a richer flora than vegetation at 
Point Barrow. This is the result of a slightly 
warmer growing season (Brown et al., this 
volume), combined with a more varied terrain 
and habitat spectrum. 
Mapping. Mapping landscape units and de- 
scribing their content with a series of symbols is 
a commonly accepted procedure (Kuchler 1967, 
pp. 190-194). It is a very appropriate method in 
these patterned landscapes, and pedologists and 
a geomorphologist (Brown 1969; Carey 1972; 
Everett, this volume), have used it effectively. 
The mapping method is relatively rapid and with 
experience, it is possible to map at this scale a 
square kilometer of moderately varied terrain in 
one man-day. The map appears to represent the 
vegetation of an area quite well, and potential 
users have found the map effective and easy to 
read. 
The tonal shading of a prevalent vegetation 
type on the map is potentially misleading 
because a prevalent or most abundant type may 
Type 6 vegetation of Carex aquatilis and 
Arctophila fulva as emergent aquatic p/ants. 
89 
Table 4 
Correspondence of the soil types recognized in the IBP 
study area (Everett, this volume) and the present veg- 
etation types at Prudhoe Bay. The most frequent veg- 
etation corresponding to a soil type is underlined. 
Soil Type Vegetation Type 
(Everett, (Webber and Walker, 
this volume) this report) 
Number and Name Number 
1. Pergelic Cryoboroll 1 and 10 
2. Pergelic Cryaquoll 1,2,3,and9 
3. Pergelic cryaquept 2,3, and 4 
4. Histic Pergelic Cryaquoll 
(standing water) 4,5 
7. Pergelic Cryaquept 8 
occupy only a very small part of a landscape 
unit. This has not been a serious problem so far, 
but we are considering adding to the formula 
some quantitative assessment of each vegetation 
type within the landscape unit. 
Map Utilization. We have not yet made any 
detailed analyses of the maps. It is our intention 
to complete the series of maps for the entire 
operating area. We will continue to monitor our 
permanent quadrats and analyze any observed 
changes. We also plan to make a 
phytosociological analysis which will elucidate, 
in detail, the environmental factors controlling 
the distribution of plants and vegetation at 
Prudhoe Bay. 
With a reasonably complete understanding 
of the controls and dynamics of the Prudhoe 
ecosystem, we will be able to produce a series of 
derived or secondary maps. These maps may be 
viewed as management tools in the development 
of arctic oil fields. The derived maps will depict 
subjects such as vegetation productivity; distri- 
bution of ground ice and drainage patterns, and 
vegetation susceptibility to such potential 
hazards as future road construction, water im- 
poundment, oil spills, and impact of air pollu- 
tion. After additional areas have been mapped 
for soils, and as the soil/vegetation correspon- 
dences are more firmly established, soils maps 
might be obtained indirectly from vegetation 
maps. This would certainly be faster than direct- 
ly mapping soils, which at the moment requires 
considerable field labor. Maps could be made to 
show wildlife distribution and range utilization; 
such maps could be used to suggest which areas 
could be set aside for wildlife feeding, denning, 
