Biodiversity of the Vascular Timberline Flora in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada

A survey of vascular timberline flora along a 600-km stretch of the Canadian Rocky Mountains in Alberta reveals that rare species are concentrated in transition zones, particularly at Plateau Mountain and Waterton National Park. These areas likely served as refugia during the Late Wisconsin glaciation, preserving arctic/alpine endemics that form part of the Middle Cordilleran endemic flora. The study quantifies vegetation distribution across six specific locations, building on prior work by Argus, White, and Gould, while noting an increase in documented rare taxa as more species are identified. This suggests that isolated nunataks, such as Plateau Mountain, played a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity during glacial periods.

Harris, S. A. (2019). Biodiversity of the Vascular Timberline Flora in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. Mountain Biodiversity, 49–57. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429342585-4