What can you tell us about the secondary seccession that occurred after the eruption of Mt. St. Helens?

7th graders from Byron, IL

Dear 7th graders,

Succession has not followed a pattern (like a relay), like mosses followed by grasses, followed by small shrubs, followed by decidious trees and climaxed by a coniferous forest. What we have found at Mount St. Helens is that succession begins at all stages - climax species, decidious trees, mosses and grasses. This was pretty surprising to all scientists.

On the pumice plain, where 1600 degree pyroclastic flows covered the landscape, the land was sterilized. Now, amazingly, there is a small coniferous forest waist high with the spacing you would find in a 300 year old forest. This is called initial floristiscs.

Succession at Mount St. Helens is a combination of relay floristics and initial floristics. Come to Mount St. Helens, bring you camera and see the plants in action!

Jim Gale Chief Naturalist with Jon Nelson Education Rep.

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