Yukon ice patches: Bryophyte generation from ancient ice-entombed assemblages

In Southwestern Yukon, ice patches have shown substantial retreat since the Little Ice Age (1600–1900 AD) in response to warming trends. These support unique alpine wetlands that formed habitats for diverse flora and fauna over millennia. With retreat, pristine bryophyte populations are exposed beneath accumulated ancient dung. Given bryophytes been survive extreme conditions including entombment can regenerate from viable cells, emergent margin dung samples Granger Gladstone were assayed regrowth potential under growth chamber conditions. Diaspore (spore/fragment) generation of species found original subfossil material was indicated 68 percent assays, emphasizing cyclical establishment patch vegetation. One oldest samples, dating 4036 calibrated years BP margin, showed remarkable diaspores Yukon form reservoirs cryopreserved biota a critical role maintaining diversity, which provides summer refuge caribou other fauna. fluctuations, bury release through time, part complex revegetation sequence regions has followed deglaciation.