In plant succession, one plant community replaces another until a stable community develops. Moving inland from the beach, more plant species appear. In 1896, Dr. Henry Cowles of the University of Chicago began bringing his students here to learn how wind, soil, ground temperature, existing plants, shade, and soil moisture all affect the development of a plant community. Today, teachers continue that work by bringing students to the beach to study plant succession and ask whether succession will progress to a beech-maple forest as Dr. Cowles predicted, and what happens if a storm or fire destroys trees. Dr. Henry Chandler Cowles observed the progression from beach to forest all along Lake Michigan, and students have visited West Beach to study plants since 1896.