Flora

The Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) separates plants into three categories:

Vascular plants, plants that grow on a stem which transport nutrients and water. These include notably flowering plants and conifers.

Downy birch Betula pubescens (flowering plant)

Weak arctic sedge Carex supina (flowering plant)

European larch Larix decidua (conifer)

Mosses (which grow in thick carpets) and liverworts (which grow in ribbons or other unusual shapes).

Green moss (unknown species)

Greater whipwort Bazzania trilobata (liverwort)

Algae, which are mostly found in water and include for example seaweed (such as kelp), and phytoplankton (microscopic marine algae).

Kelp (Laminalaries family)

Diatoms (single-cell algae phytoplankton)

Fungi is a group that includes yeasts, molds, lichens and mushrooms. It is the group that includes the mot diversity of species in the arctic but It is hard to study must fungi because they are mostly found underground or are microscopic. Only 2,600 fungi species are known and visible to the human eye in the arctic, but CAFF estimates more than 10,000 species in total. We will focus fungi attributes that can be seen above ground, particularly mushrooms, which are the fruiting bodies of some fungi.

The conical wax cap Hygrocybe conica is threatened in
some arctic regions by human impacts.

Amanita muscaria is well known to be toxic and for its striking appearance.

Lichens are organisms formed by the symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae or fungi and cyanobacteria (microscopic bacteria that use photosynthesis). This means that there is a cooperation between the fungi and algae or cyanobacteria on a microscopic, and both organisms get benefits from the cooperation.

Iceland moss Cetraria islandica is actually a lichen

Arctic finger lichen Dactylina arctica

Plants and lichens are primary producers. This means that they are the organisms that can harvest and use solar energy directly, and this energy is then transferred through the food web.
Plants and lichens use photosynthesis, through which they convert light, water, and carbon dioxide (CO2) into oxygen and energy. Because they store CO2 and produce oxygen, they are important in fighting climate change.
Plants and fungi often define different habitats for animals. A habitat is defined by the resources and physical attributes that are present in a specific area and permit certain species to live, eat, and reproduce there. For example, a boreal forest is a place in the arctic where a lot of trees like spruce, pines and larches grow, and it is a habitat that is perfect for moose. A tundra is a arctic habitat with mostly low shrubs and grasses, and it is perfect for the arctic fox.
Some plant and lichen species are known as keystone species, like reindeer moss in many tundra habitats. This means that this species is extremely important, and that the survival of other organisms depend on its presence.
On the other hand, some plants can become invasive. This happens when a new plant is introduced to a habitat and takes over native species that were there before. The invasive plant is stronger than the native plants and gradually replaces the native plants in some areas, which can change the whole ecosystem.

Check out the examples below of interesting arctic species of plants and fungi!
- Like these examples, it is good to chose species that are widely distributed in the arctic, easily recognizable, and have interesting cultural or ecological characteristics.
Chose the species you want to study and do some research.
- What is interesting about it?
- Is it common?
- Is it native?
- Is it invasive?
- Where can you find it?
- Does it grow tall or low?
- Does it grow single stalks or spread out?
Chose an area where you want to monitor the species and consider what you know about it
- If the species is dispersed or low, it is better to chose a few (3-10) small areas (about 1x1 meters) called quadrats within a larger area where you know the species is present.
  - Try to chose different conditions for the different quadrats (altitude, humidity, amount of rocks, etc)
  - Mark each quadrat with wooden or metal markers so that you can find them again the next year. Take GPS positions.
  - For each quadrat, count the number of individual plants you can see if possible or estimate density (the species takes up 0% of the square to 100% of the square).
  - If the plant is a flower, mark down when you see the first leaves appear every year, as well as the first flowers and first fruits.
- If the species is a very dense and tall plant, it is better to chose a bigger area where it is present. This is especially good for invasive species such as Nootka lupin or Cow parsley.
  - Choose landmarks to remember where the limits of the area are and take GPS points of the landmarks.
  - Each year, estimate the density of the plant (the plant takes up 0% of the area to 100% of the area).
  - Mark down when you see the first leaves appear every year, as well as the first flowers and first fruits