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7. 2 SOILS <br /> The natural development of a soil is dependent upon <br /> its vegetation community; in fact, if undisturbed , both soil and <br /> vegetation evolve interdependently. Their natural developmental <br /> stages leading to a stable or climax vegetation-soil unit are <br /> governed by the type of soil parent material , general climate, <br /> topographic characteristics of the site (microclimate) , other <br /> organisms and time. <br /> Landscapes within the Climax area have developed soils <br /> most discernably influenced by variation in vegetation and topo- <br /> graphic position. The soil order Histosols have developed both <br /> above and below timberline, but within wet bottom lands domin- <br /> ated by willows . Alfisols occur on the forested slopes, while <br /> Mollisols occur on well-drained meadow lands , both above and <br /> below timberline . Inceptisols and Entisols occur mostly in the <br /> alpine, but are common below timberline . Soil depth within <br /> vegetation communities is indicated on the vegetation/soil map <br /> in Appendix H and at the end of Section 7. 1 , VEGETATION. <br /> Histosols are peat soil in which production of organic <br /> matter exceeds its mineralization because saturation with water <br /> during long periods of time does not permit circulation of <br /> oxygen and slows decomposition rates. Naturally, cold temper- <br /> atures also slow down the rate of decomposition. Some of these <br /> soils are classified in the Great Group level as Borofibrists <br /> and Cryofibrists ( cool and cold peat soils) , and are associated <br /> with the wet willow communities on valley and ravine bottom <br /> lands or alpine bogs. These soils are generally deep and very <br /> suitable for reclamation purposes. <br /> Alfisols are generally forested soils in the Climax <br /> area, one exception being the sites on which timber was cleared <br /> and which presently are dominated by grasses and other herba- <br /> ceous species. The Alfisols have developed under a cold and <br /> acidic environment due to the decomposition of acidic foilage <br /> ( needles) dropped from spruce, fir and pine trees . Fungal <br /> populations dominate the decomposition process and liberate <br /> organic acids which illuviate along with clays to produce a <br /> 7-S <br />