saarela canadian science writers association meeting 8 june 2013 montreal

Botanical exploration of the Soper River: plant discoveries in the Canadian Arctic

Jeffery M. Saarela

Plant exploration in the Canadian ArcticL'exploration des plantes dans l'Arctique canadien

Parry Expedition | Expédition de Parry1819-1820 Canadian Arctic Expedition

L'Expédition canadienne dans l'Arctique1913-1918

National Herbarium of CanadaHerbier national du Canada

Arctic Field ResearchRecherches sur le terrain dans l'Arctique

MintoInlet

20082008

2010

2009

Sokoloff

Katannilik Territorial Park Reserve – Centered on the Soper Heritage River

VMC

J. Dewey Soper – first botanical exploration of the river

40 collections by Soper (1931)27 collections by Aiken (2002)

Mount Joy

0KM

Google

Sokoloff

Cabin 7

9KM

Sokoloff

Livingstone Falls

20KM

Sokoloff

Big Bend

35KM

Sokoloff

Soper Falls

49KM

Sokoloff

Kimmirut 60KM

Sokoloff

Gillespie

Arctic Field CampCamp de terrain dans l’Arctique

We explore different habitats, searching for plant species

898 collections – ca. 250 vascular plant species

= one collection

Platanthera obtusata – northern bog orchidBull

BullTriglochin palustris – marsh arrowgrass

BullBull

Source: USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. A

Cryptogramma stelleri – slender rock-brake

Salix planifolia – tea-leaved willow

BullSalix planifolia – tea-leaved willowBullBull

Bull

Hordeum jubatum subsp. jubatum – foxtail barley

Arctic Flora of Canada and Alaska

arcticplants.myspecies.info

The Arctic Climate in 2090

Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA), 2004