Citation
Thirty Years of Permanent Vegetation Plots, Mount St. Helens, Washington
TL;DR
Lupine sprouted through ash by 1981 (1 year post-eruption)
Roger del Moral's four-decade study of Mount St. Helens recovery provides the most detailed documentation of succession after catastrophic disturbance. The study showed recovery took decades, not centuries - lupine by 1981, willows/alders by 1983, Douglas firs by 1990, diverse forest by 2000.
This research demonstrates that succession can be faster than expected when 'soil legacy' remains, directly applicable to business recovery after crisis.
Key Findings from del Moral (2000)
- Lupine sprouted through ash by 1981 (1 year post-eruption)
- Willows and alders appeared by 1983
- Young Douglas firs establishing by 1990
- Diverse forest with 100+ species by 2000
- Secondary succession faster than primary due to soil remnants