Abstract:

Barrow is located in the northeast of Alaskan coastal plain (71°21' N, 156°40' W),which is encircled by the Chukchi Sea in the west and the Beaufort Sea in the north. Thus, it is considered to be a key region for studying the land ocean interaction related to climatic and environmental changes. Climatically, Barrow is a quite cold area with the mean annual temperature of -12.4°C and the mean winter and summer temperatures ranges between -29°C and 2°C. Mean annual precipitation is less than 250mm/a.Under cooperative arrangement between Chinese Academy of Science and the North Slope Borough, Alaska, Zhang Qingsong and Tang Lingyu, two of the authors of this paper made a four week field investigation at Barrow from May to June, 1998. During the expedition, 31 plants,26 pollen surface samples were collected in the tundra and drilled in Elson Lagoon and small lakes. The persent article deals with pollen morphology of tundra plants from Barrow area . Investigation on pollen grains from 12 species belonging to 12 genera and 11 families shows that 6 types of aperture are found and may be summarized as follows: 3 colpate; 3 colporate; 3 colpoidorate; 6 colporate; Pantoporate and Teraheroporate.