Jökull - 01.12.1969, Síða 152

Fig. 3.
Distribution
map of
Pinus cembra
and
Pinus sibirica.
(Critchfield and }
Little 1966).
Fig. 4.
Distribution
nrap of
Pinus sylvestris.
(Critchfield and
Little 1966).
therefore, have been brpught to Iceland with
ice or the Polar current (Fig. 3). The drift-
wood also contains a good deal of Pimts syl-
vestris, which has probably reached Iceland
from North Europe, or Asia, these being the
main regions where it grows (Fig. 4), (Critch-
field and Little 1966). In this manner a con-
siderable number of the Icelandic flora species
may have arrived by way of ocean currents.
And their bridgeheads may be found at loca-
tions which are open for the currents. This
variation in the dispersal route, as well as the
difference in annual temperature ancl other
environmental factors, may be responsible for
148 JÖKULL 19. ÁR
the restricted distribution of some species of
the Icelandic flora (Fig. 5).
SEA ICE AND FAUNA
Perhaps sorne of the invertebrates have also
been carried in this way, as well as the two
species of mammals belonging to the original
Icelandic fauna: the fox and the polar bear.
There are many tales about the arrival of
polar bear on sea ice-floes or land-fast ice,
and in the present century alone there is men-
tion of at least 16 polar bears that have reach-