Citation
Ecological Responses to the 1980 Eruption of Mount St. Helens
TL;DR
Life returned within days of eruption
Comprehensive 25-year synthesis of interdisciplinary research on ecological recovery following the Mount St. Helens eruption. This work documents the actual successional processes described in the chapter's opening - from the arrival of wind-blown spiders within days to the establishment of young forests with 200+ plant species within decades.
The research demonstrates facilitation mechanisms in action: nitrogen-fixing lupines enriching volcanic soil, burrowing gophers mixing organic matter, and herbivores dispersing seeds. These documented mechanisms provide the biological foundation for the organizational succession framework.
Key Findings from Dale et al. (2005)
- Life returned within days of eruption
- Pioneer species modified environment enabling successors
- Nitrogen fixers critical for soil development
- Successional patterns followed theoretical predictions
- Recovery faster than expected due to surviving biological legacies