We visited sixteen locations along the 2000 km transect (Table 2, Fig. 2). Sites were selected using the following criteria:

1) they should be located in each of Yurtsev's (1994) five phytogeographic subzones,

2) they should be logistically accessible,

3) each site should have a range of accessible undisturbed habitats (topographic positions and moisture conditions), and

4) each site should be representative of regional climatic and substrate conditions.

Sampling areas were selected using air photos and topographic and vegetation maps when available. Sampling was designed to supplement existing knowledge of vegetation in the region and to provide a springboard for discussion of the concepts of zonal vegetation in the Canadian Arctic and the circumpolar region.

Our transect included a set of four stops with logistic support (Daring Lake, Cambridge Bay, Resolute, and Eureka) with day travel to our sampling areas. Vascular, lichen, and bryophyte floristic surveys were conducted at each of the sixteen sites. Sampling at eight intensive sites involved conducting relevés along a complete mesotopographic gradient (Figs. 3, 4) with the goal of describing the range of representative vegetation and soils in 1) dry, 2) mesic-zonal, 3) wet, 4a) early snowbed, 4b) late snowbed, and 5) riparian environments.

Data from each intensive site include location, general site description, site photographs, site vascular species list, relevé vegetation data including presence and abundance of vascular, bryophyte, and lichen species, relevé soils data including depth of horizons, active layer depth, USGS classification, a “B” horizon soil sample for data on texture, pH, mineral analysis (Ca, N, P, K, Na), volumetric/gravimetric soil moisture, color, and % organic matter.