Premium
COLONIZING PLANTS ON THE PUMICE PLAINS, MOUNT ST. HELENS, WASHINGTON
Author(s) -
Wood David M.,
Moral Roger del
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1988.tb08837.x
Subject(s) - biology , pumice , ecology , species richness , biological dispersal , thicket , seed dispersal , moss , botany , habitat , paleontology , population , demography , volcano , sociology
Initial colonization on the devastated Pumice Plains on the northern flank of Mount St. Helens, Washington, was monitored in two large grids seven seasons after the eruptions of 1980. The Pumice Plains is composed primarily of deep pumice, but contains a few large mudflow channels and numerous small erosion gullies. Over 45% of 1,600 10 by 10 m quadrats (Willow Spring site) and over 35% of 875 quadrats (Lupine Patch site) were devoid of vascular plants. The most common species were the weedy natives, Anaphalis margaritacea and Epilobium angustifolium , as well as Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii , a native with poor dispersal usually found at subalpine elevations. The first two species invaded by long‐distance dispersal; a few individuals of the latter somehow established by 1981 from surviving rootstocks or seeds, and dense populations have developed from these survivors. Other species are typically found at low densities in favorable microsites. Species richness averaged 1.03 per 100 m 2 at Willow Spring and 1.82 at Lupine Patch. There are 32 species at Willow Spring and 26 at Lupine Patch. Species richness was concentrated in sites with high soil moisture and where topographic irregularities permitted accumulation of seeds. Colonists are an unusual mix of natives, drawn from an array of open habitats, and introduced weeds originating in fields and clearcuts at lower elevations. Colonizing species are primarily herbaceous, perennial, and wind‐dispersed, though seedlings of woody “climax” species occur. Three distributional patterns are recognized: hydrophiles, found near streams; facultative hydrophiles, concentrated in wet sites but successfully colonizing upland sites; and species distributed at random or in xeric sites. We predict that the course of succession will continue to be slow and herbs‐dominated. Patches of Lupinus lepidus at present do not appear to facilitate colonization. Colonists will continue to be rare and be confined to favorable microsites for several years.