How 24 Hours of Gophers on Mount St. Helens Changed Ecosystems: Astonishing Discoveries After 40 Years

When Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, the landscape changed dramatically. Lava, ash, and debris covered much of the area, leaving it barren. Recovery seemed like a long shot. But a team of scientists had an unexpected idea: send gophers to help.

The soil around the mountain was damaged. Although the top layers were destroyed, deeper soil still held vital bacteria and fungi. These microorganisms are crucial for nutrient cycling, helping plants grow even in rough conditions. Michael Allen, a microbiologist from the University of California Riverside, noted that most plant roots alone struggle to absorb enough nutrients. They rely on fungi for support.

Two years after the explosion, local gophers were taken to the affected area. These little guys were placed in enclosed spaces, where they dug into the pumice. Surprisingly, just one day of gopher activity led to significant changes. Six years later, over 40,000 plants flourished in the spots where the gophers had worked, while much of the surrounding land remained empty.

Researchers revisited the area 40 years later and found incredible results. The sites with gopher activity had more diverse bacterial and fungal communities compared to nearby old-growth forests.

Allen reflects on the experiment, stating, “Who would have predicted you could toss a gopher in for a day and see a residual effect 40 years later?”

The real hero of this story, though, is fungi. After the eruption, scientists feared that nearby trees wouldn’t survive the ash. Instead, some woods rebounded nearly immediately. Emma Aronson, another researcher, explained that the trees had their own fungi, which helped them absorb nutrients from the fallen needles.

A comparison to nearby clear-cut forests showed stark differences, as those areas struggled to recover. Aronson remarked, “There still isn’t much of anything growing in the clearcut area.”

This research highlights the importance of both gophers and fungi in recovery processes after disasters. Their roles remind us that sometimes, the smallest creatures and organisms can have the most significant impact.

This study has been published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiomes. It serves as a reminder of the resilience of nature and how interconnected life can be.

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