PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XVIII, April 1964 
120 
from Kodiak Island were tabulated along with 
each of the other subregions in which the 
species have also been recorded. This resulted 
in determining the total number of plant species 
on the Kodiak Island Group and in what other 
parts of Alaska the same species occurred. In- 
terpretation of these data needs qualification 
in order to allow for a discontinuous distri- 
bution or for a hiatus in distributional records. 
A situation of this nature arises because only 
intra-Alaska distribution was considered. To 
illustrate: if a species was not recorded from 
the southeastern region but was found in the 
remainder of Alaska, it would appear that the 
species in question was a northern form, but 
this species could range along the British Co- 
lumbia or Washington coasts. Thus, an errone- 
ous conclusion could result from considering 
only intra-Alaskan ranges. However, for con- 
sistency, distribution outside of Alaska and the 
southwestern part of Yukon was not considered 
in the compilation of the subregional plant lists. 
PHYSICAL FEATURES 
Geologically, the Kodiak Archipelago is a 
continuation of the Kenai Peninsula 40 miles to 
the northeast. Separating the islands from the 
Alaska Peninsula on the northwest is the 20-30- 
mile wide and 600-plus-ft-deep Shelikof Strait. 
Fourteen islands larger than 7 sq miles make up 
the 4,900 sq miles of land in the archipelago. 
Kodiak is much the largest with 3,588 sq miles, 
and Afognak, with 700 sq miles, is second. This 
Island Group extends for approximately 180 
miles in a northeast-southwest direction (Fig. 
1 ). 
The oldest rocks are Triassic and Jurassic, 
but overlying these are thick series of slate, gray- 
wacke, and conglomerates of late Mesozoic Age. 
More recent are deposits of sandstones and shales 
(Capps, 1937). The area was a center of extreme 
glaciation as local glaciers pushed seaward from 
all directions and as extremities of Peninsular 
and Kenai glaciers reached the Island Group. 
An intricate fjord coastline resulted from this 
glaciation. 
Relief is irregular, with peaks rising to 4,000 
ft on Kodiak Island and 2,200 ft on Afognak 
Island. 
The temperate climate is uniformly cool, with 
a well-distributed annual precipitation of ap- 
proximately 60 inches. Maximum air tempera- 
tures are in the low 80’s and minimums seldom 
go below 0° F (Capps, 1937). 
A layer of volcanic ash from the 1912 erup- 
tion of Mount Katmai covered much of the 
Island Group with up to several inches of pu- 
mice. Griggs (1915, 1918) and Wilcox (1959) 
discussed the influence of this and subsequent 
volcanic ash falls on vegetation. 
VEGETATION 
The Pacific Coastal Forest reaches its most 
northwesterly extension on Kodiak Island. Shu- 
yak and Afognak islands are discontinuously 
forested at elevations below 700 ft. Outliers of 
this coastal forest extend north and south across 
Kodiak Island from Uganik Bay to Ugak Bay. 
To the immediate northward, along the base of 
the Alaska Peninsula, there are also small sec- 
tions of coastal forest. 
Dominating the forest is Picea sitchensis 
(Bong.) Carr., the only conifer on the archipe- 
lago. The open understory consists of V actinium 
ovalifolium Smith, Oplopanax horridus (Sm.) 
Mig., and Ruhus spectahilis Pursh. 
There seems to be little doubt but that Picea 
