Mt St Helens Research Paper

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Work How did the eruption effect the natural community? The eruption of Mt St Helens had a major effect on the surrounding natural community, especially on the fauna located in this area. Volcanic matter blasted by the eruption caused 6 million trees to become uprooted and/or flattened. [i] Due to Mt St Helens spewing sideways unlike normal volcanic eruptions many species were eliminated around the blast zone.[ii] In less than 10 minutes the blast had flattened over 500 square km of forest.[iii] Species such as mosses, ferns, shrubs and wildflowers dissipated.[iv] The eruption caused all living organisms to die in the upper North Fork Toutle River as well as destroying 2km of the river itself.[v] According to the Washington State Department of Game more than 12 million animals had died.[vi] These …show more content…

This included other plant species, insects, birds and small mammals. Charlie Crisafulli an ecologist has stated the Lupines alone might have started the flourishing life on Pumice Plains of Mount Saint Helens. Later on Red Alder trees were established in the area, Alders also help with the process of regenerating the land by making the soil more fertile in the process of fixing the nitrogen. Due the rapid growth of the Red Alder trees they create shade and added organic material to the ground surface. This helped plants that have a high shade tolerance to become established. Red Alder is one of the most dominant trees in the Mt St Helens’ forest, 30 years after the eruption. Despite being able to survive the eruption much of the flora and fauna could not survive the new environment. However, some were able to tolerate the new conditions and these were the organisms that allowed the way for new cosu mers. For all these new organisms in the area the ponds and springs created by the eruption became a vital

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