Succession at Mount St. Helens Activity
When Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, the surrounding ecosystem was devestated by heat and ash. Ecologists that first inspected the carnage expected it would take centuries for life to recover. However, succession took place much faster than expected, with many organisms returning within a decade or two. In this activity, students will track the type and number of different species in the years following the eruption, and identify the species as pioneers, intermediates, or climax based on their arrival.
Materials needed: Print off and staple copies of these packets simulating ecosystem sampling.
