The value of Surtsey for ecological research

Ecological research on Surtsey spans over 40 years of measurements, including monitoring of individual plants early on and later establishment of permanent plots with estimates of vegetation cover. in this paper we discuss the value of these studies for primary succession and the importance of strict control of access to the island. The long-term data set from Surtsey contains detailed demographic data, and they provide the opportunity to address aspects of species interactions, island biogeography, and nutrient dynamics. We conclude that Surtsey is unique for primary succession because the study provides a thorough census of an entire island since it was created, combined with minimal human influence because of the restricted access to the island.