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Manuscript Report 136
Larter,
Nicholas C., and John A. Nagy.
2000. Annual and Seasonal Differences in Snow Depth, Density, and
Resistance in Four Habitats on Southern Banks Island, 1993-1998.
23 pp.
ABSTRACT
Between November 1993 and May 1998 we
collected 5200 measurements of snow depth (cm) and resistance (kg·cm),
and >1600
measurements of snow density (g/cm²) from fixed transects in four
different habitats on southern Banks Island.
Measurements were taken during early (November), mid- (February),
and late-winter (April) in areas of low and high muskox density.
Snow depth and density increased (P<0.001)
as winter progressed in all habitats.
Resistance peaked in mid-winter and was intermediary in
late-winter. Snow depth was
greatest in low-lying wet sedge meadows and least in windswept stony
barrens. Snow density and
resistance were greatest in upland barrens and hummock tundra.
Snow depth, density, and resistance were lowest (P<0.05)
in winter 1997-98 than other winters; depth and density were greatest (P<0.01)
in 1994-95. Snow was deeper
in the low muskox density area; the difference in depth between areas
increased throughout the winter. Snow conditions in 1997-98 were the least
severe of the study period.
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