Geostatistical analyses and spatial distribution patterns of tundra vegetation in Council, Alaska

Abstract

The arctic tundra is an important ecosystem in terms of the organic carbon cycle and climate change, and therefore, detailed analysis of vegetation distribution patterns is required to determine their association. We used grid-sampling method and applied geostatistics to analyze spatial variability and patterns of vegetation within a two-dimensional space, and calculated the Moran's I statistics and semivariance to assess the spatial autocorrelation of vegetation. Spatially autocorrelated vegetation consisted of moss, Eriophorum vaginatum, Betula nana, and Rubus chamaemorus. Interpolation maps and cross-correlograms revealed spatial specificity of Carex aquatilis and a strong negative spatial correlation between E. vaginatum and C. aquatilis. These results suggest differences between the species in water requirements for survival in the arctic tundra. Geostatistical methods could offer valuable information for identifying the vegetation spatial distribution. © 2014 The Ecological Society of Korea. All rights are reserved.