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Vernal Pool Certification Wetlands types of wetlands • swamps • marshes • bogs • vernal pools importance of wetlands • flood control • water purification • biological productivity • migratory rest-over • breeding and nursery area • high biodiversity Vernal Pools • temporary ponds that fill with water in spring as a result of snowmelt, spring rains, and/or elevated groundwater levels • an increasingly rare type of wetland • devoid of the effects of fish predation – why? • the breeding strategies of some amphibians have evolved to rely exclusively on vernal pools • VP’s are the only type of wetland defined by their animal populations rather than their plant populations Physical Characteristics • temporary contained basins • no permanent outlets • VP’s completely dry up or water quality becomes unsuitable for fish Biological Characteristics of Vernal Pools • obligate species – animals who must use VP’s for breeding purposes; mole salamanders, wood frogs, fairy shrimp • facultative species – animals who may use VP’s for breeding purposes; other frogs, toads, turtles, snakes, insects Vernal Pool Certification Obligate Method • Physical Evidence – contained basin, no permanent outlet • Biological Evidence – – fairy shrimp – their mere presence is sufficient proof for obligate amphibians, proof of breading is required … wood frogs • chorus recording, “ruck, ruck” • pairs in amplexus • egg masses – minimum of two • tadpoles mole salamanders • adults “congressing” • egg masses • spermatophors • salamander larvae other data to collect • pool length, width, depth, area, compass orientation • substrate composition • canopy description • in-pool vegetation • surrounding vegetation • air temp., water temp., pH • observations of facultative species compass and map work • • • • field sketches and notes compass orientation estimating distances using pace topographic maps necessary for locating pools • metes and bounds map distance and direction from two permanent landmarks
