Plant Reproduction in a High Arctic Environment

Studies of flowering, germination, and seedling survival were conducted in various stable and unstable soil (surface scraped and surface tilled) sites on King Christian Island, N.W.T., Canada. Although most species flowered, few set seed in 1973 or 1974. Germination was slow (3 to 6 wk), occurring only after spring snowmelt or summer rains when there were thin films of standing water. Field germination percentages of nine species varied between 0 and 40% over 2 yr. Controlled environment tests suggested that low temperatures and slow imbibition were responsible for poor field germination. Annual seedling survival varied between 0 and 96% depending upon species, site, and year. Most seedling deaths appeared to result from summer drought. Reproduction by seed is a rare event in these polar semidesert environments, yet vegetative reproduction is also uncommon. Most seedlings become established in moss or lichen mats and desiccation cracks where summer moisture is more constant.