Growth and Survival of Plants in the Arctic

A study of plants growing in "fjaeldmark" of the Kangerdlugssuak area of East Greenland was undertaken during 1935-6. Twelve quadrats were laid out and mapped and each plant was recorded with its age. From these maps it is shown that about 50% of the plants under the age of five years die each year and it is inferred that this rate of death continues for probably another equal period. Plants from the "fjaeldmark" were collected, pressed, and have been weighed. It is found that there is only a two-to threefold increase in dry weight each year. An account of the climate of the district is given. In the discussion of these results it is suggested that the primary cause of the slow growth rate and high death rate is that young arctic plants are suffering from a carbohydrate shortage and reasons in support of this are given. The importance of nitrogen shortage is considered in detail and it is concluded that this is not of primary importance. The field work of this investigation was carried out jointly with my wife, who has also given me much help in numerous discussions during the working up of the results. I should also like to thank my brother, L. R. Wager, for discussing problems of arctic vegetation with me on many occasions and for correcting the manuscript.