Conservation

Van Atta Associates. Photo by Saxon Holt

“The sooner we can lose the mythology that “nature” will come back one day, the sooner we can get to the real work of creating entirely artificial, native landscapes that perform essential ecological services.” Thomas Rainer 2010

This photo shows a vernal pool that was reintroduced to it's original state from a parking lot. The issue of urbanization is a problem but this is an example of how it can be solved. We can reconstruct this ecosystems by introducing native plants and through extensive care. This is a great solution that can be used to restore vernal pools like California that have lost 90% of the original pools, but it is not a reasonable one because of the cost and maintenance required.

Massachusetts has created this associations the educates the community on vernal pools and provides options to protect it. They've established this process where anyone can go out and if they identify a vernal pool all they have to do is map out it's location and sign a release form to share their discoveries. Once this has happened the vernal pool are then certified and considered as "existing". This classified existence means that it cannot be disturbed in any way. 

Works Cited: http://www.vernalpool.org/macert_1.htm

http://landscapeofmeaning.blogspot.com/2010/08/is-ecological-restoration-just.html

Human Impact

"http://www.profimedia.si/picture/box-turtle-crossing-road/0017632035/"

 Many of the native vernal pool species are impacted by urbanization. The environment that they need is being replaced by human developments and the urban landscapes are introducing lethal dangers to the wildlife of vernal pools. For example, amphibians and other creatures encounter roads and buildings during their migration for forestry. The encounters present a high mortality rate of the species because of the hazardous cars on the roads. Also, there are amphibians that tend to stay away from the human productions and are therefore presenting the issue of genetic isolation and are increasing the chances of inbreeding. The need to expand land as human population grows is inevitable and the vernal pools are being removed or being intruded by the development of housing and industries.    

"http://www.vernalpool.org/sly_2.htm"

This vernal pool mostly consist of shallow cattail march without any other plant variation.It was disturbed by an urbanization project that did not consider the pool and the harms that there productions caused.This photo displays the direct impact of urbanization. Timber harvesting also plays a part of the elimination of vernal pools because the lack of trees results in change in the amount of sunlight, leaf fall and alternation of the depression in the ground.

Creatures of VP's

Fairy Shrimp

Mole Salamander

Fairy Shrimp are small crustaceans that spend their lives in vernal pools. (life span of only a few weeks) The female produces spawn and the eggs settle to the bottom of the pool. The eggs go through a series of freezing, drying and then hatching in early spring when the water returns in particular temperatures. (about 60 degrees, the fairy shrimp cannot live in a temperature warmer)

The mole salamander travels to the vernal pool to mate and lay its eggs. They are upland creatures that migrate mostly on rainy nights from burrows on the forest floors. The eggs develop in the pool and are ready to travel upland to continue their live as a terrestrial  creature. 

The presence of these two species in an ecosystem is an indicator of a vernal pool. 

Works cited: http://www.vernalpool.org/vpinfo_1.htm
fairy shrimp image- (Gary Meszaros 2011)
Mole Salamander- (Camazine 2011)

What is a Vernal Pool?

Mail Tribune Photo / Jamie Lusch

Vernal pools are temporary bodies of water that offer habitat for various wildlife species. “Vernal” means spring and the term describes the ecosystem perfectly because many of the pools consist of spring rains and snow melt. Vernal pools are dependent on the resources that spring offers because small bodies of water dry during the hot months of summer. The fact that this ecosystem is not an annual habitat means that it cannot support a dominant species for very long. Certain species like the fairy shrimp, the wood frog and the mole salamander benefit from an ecosystem such as the vernal pool for two major reasons; one reason is that the temperature change promotes the development of the spawn and the other being that temperature change does not support the presence of large predators. The ability to have a healthy habitat such as vernal pools that is free of predators is essential for the survival of emerging species.

"https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=
tbn:ANd9GcRzR6-T5VPfjNDaCAT7RMbpkx_J129J2vQ_qH-oy2CVW1p9a3mA"

"http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/images/num_cvp_bytown.jpg"

I originally picked this ecosystem because I knew of vernal pools near my home in Northern California. Through my research, I discovered that Massachusetts holds a greater amount of vernal pools where mostly every town in Massachusetts has a vernal pool ranging from 0-60+. I decided to study the vernal pools in Massachusetts when I noticed the great efforts the residents take to sustain the ecosystem. I found their actions commendable and I was intrigued to learn about the measures they take in order to protect the vernal pools and the wildlife that depends on the habitat of this ecosystem.