Nov., 1918] Recovery of Vegetation at Kodiak 



53 



The ash fall around Kodiak effectually buried the salt 

 marsh vegetation, and the conformation of the ground is such 

 that the ash layer does not erode away rapidly in such places, 

 but rather has been increased by subsequent deposition. This 

 has not only prevented the revival of the original plants, but, 

 by raising the level of the land, has so altered conditions that 

 considerable areas, formerly overflowed by the tide, are now 

 above its reach. It is to be doubted, therefore, whether 

 salt marshes will become so numerous as before the eruption. 



Photograph by D. B. Church 



A SALT MARSH STARTING ON AN ASH FLAT. 



The plants are mostly Puccinellia amongst which may be seen numerous fragments 



of decaying algae, principally Fucus. (Vegetation Station 47.) 



It is only at a few places that one can look for the stages in 

 their return. In one such place examined, numerous seedlings 

 of Puccinellia AlaskcB, together with A triplex Alaskce, had 

 started, and had reached reproductive maturity. (See cut 

 above). But the plants stood apart from each other and had 

 not made much progress toward the formation of the thick 

 turf characteristic of the original salt marsh. (See page 52). 

 No progress in this direction was shown between 1915 and 

 1916. But this may have been due to the severity of the 

 intervening winter. 



