Abstract
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The debris-avalanche deposit is one of the most disturbed areas created by the 1980 eruption of Mount St.
Helens, with little survival of a few plant fragments and primary succession mostly being initiated by the
seeds dispersed onto the newly emplaced material. Vegetation changes on the debris-avalanche deposit during
the first 30 years post eruption are analyzed considering the role of non-native species and potential future
vegetation patterns on the deposit. We found that the aerial distribution of largely non-native seeds on a subset
of plots at Mount St. Helens in 1980 has had a pronounced and enduring effect on subsequent vegetation
communities.