According to Bishop, although the founder effect might not mean much for Mount St. Helens, it could be more important on a larger scale. These places are like islands of habitat for this plant, it isn't found on most smaller mountains in-between these volcanoes. Currently Bishop is also researching why there are no herbivores in the center of the lupine patch. At the edge of the patch, where the number of lupines thins out, more herbivores are found. This may have to do with the addition of new trophic levels as new plant and animal communities form.
Lupine embodies the first trophic level, which brings life through revegetation.
Caterpillars feeding on the lupine make up the second trophic level, while birds, wasps, ants, spiders or anything eating the caterpillars make up the third trophic level. During the summers, Bishop makes a two-day trip to Mount St. Helens about every 10 days. He logged about 20 to 30 days on the mountain last year. Students in WSU Vancouver's biology, environmental science and natural resource science programs, have the opportunity to participate in Bishop's field research. He had six student helpers last summer.