The Role of Thermal Regime in Tundra Plant Community Restoration

This study aimed to restore the tundra thermal region in the Arctic regions to assist recovery from mineral extraction activities. Plugs of entire root zone and live tundra plants were transplanted to a disturbed site in Alaska oil fields. The study examined plant responses in the plugs to thermal regime manipulations by means of greenhouse and of single- or double-plug treatments. This small-scale experiment showed that the native thermal regime of a plant community is vital in revegetating a disturbed tundra. This study was conducted with funding from the EPA through its Office of Research and Development.