Southeastern Alaska is the wettest and coolest area of North America.  The region is almost entirely composed of steep and tall mountains, and includes the mainland of North America as well as numerous large and small islands.  Due to the well-drained nature of the hillslopes the area is largely covered by productive conifer forest in the lowlands and extensive alpine tundra in the highlands.  However in valleys and flats, soils may remain waterlogged for long periods of the year, and extensive peat accumulating wetlands occur.  Included are both ombrotrophic raised and blanket bogs and sloping minerotrophic fens.  The vegetation of fens ranges from forests to scrub and herb dominated communities.   Forested and scrub dominated peatlands are populated by the same tree species as dominate the upland well drained forests, western hemlock, Sitka spruce, and mountain hemlock.  In addition, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) that dominates dry forests throughout western North America occurs primarily in bogs and some fens, and is absent from the upland forests.  Dr. Sarah Bisbing conducted her research program, sponsored by the US Department of Defense’s Cold Regions Research and Experimental Lab.  The overall project goals are to understand how species can occur in both upland and wetland environments.  Sarah is also studying the genetics and ecology of lodgepole pine throughout its range in North America.