Alpine Plant Communities of the Presidential Range, New Hampshire

A number of alpine plant communities occur above 1500 m in the White Mountains, and they are distributed along environmental gradients of temperature, moisture, and wind exposure.

“A number of alpine plant communities occur above 1500 m, and they are distributed along environmental gradients of temperature, moisture, and wind exposure (Antevs, 1932;Bliss, 1963;Harries, 1966).”

Bliss (1963) recognized nine alpine plant communities in the White Mountains: exposed windswept sites, dwarf shrub heath-rush, dwarf shrub heath, snow banks, sedge-rush-dwarf shrub heath, sedge-dwarf shrub heath, sedge meadow, streamside, and bog.

“Bliss (1963) recognized nine communities: (1) exposed windswept sites with little or no winter snow, Diapensia lapponica L. prominent, (2) a widespread dwarf shrub heath-rush community associated with variable snow cover and on soil with good drainage, (3) dwarf shrub heath in areas of deeper snow, (4) snow banks (snow persisting until summer), (5) sedge-rush-dwarf shrub heath, (6) sedge-dwarf”

The Presidential Range has the most extensive alpine zone in the White Mountains, approximately 20 km2, including Mount Washington (1917 m), the highest summit in northeastern United States.

“The Presidential Range (Fig. 1) has the most extensive alpine zone, approximately 20 km 2 (Bliss, 1963), including Mount Washington (1917 m), the highest summit in northeastern United States.”

The modern boundary between tundra and subalpine fir forest at ~1450 m is determined by both temperature and wind.

“The modem boundary between tundra and subalpine fir forest at :::.1450 m is determined by both temperature and wind (Antevs 1932, Daubenmire 1954, Bliss 1963, Harries 1966, Reiners and Lang 1979).”