A foundation of ecology rediscovered: 100 years of succession on the William S. Cooper plots in Glacier Bay, Alaska

A century of ecological succession on the William S. Cooper plots in Glacier Bay, Alaska, reveals profound changes in plant community composition and soil characteristics, driven by initial dispersal limitations and dominant species like Salix. Over 100 years, these plots—representing the world's longest-running primary succession study—showed a near-complete replacement of species, with Salix dominance suppressing later successional species such as Picea. Proximity to seed sources post-glaciation correlated with higher species richness, while soil nitrogen content and carbon-to-nitrogen ratios were best predicted by plot age, though Salix-dominated plots exhibited lower overall nitrogen. The study underscores the roles of contingency and dispersal in community development, providing a rare, long-term perspective on ecological succession.

Buma, B., Bisbing, S., Krapek, J., & Wright, G. (2017). A foundation of ecology rediscovered: 100 years of succession on the William S. Cooper plots in Glacier Bay, Alaska. Ecology, 98(6), 1513–1523. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.1848