This page is designed to help students, scientists, policymakers, and citizens find relevant information about vernal pool-related experimental or observational information, sampling methods, conservation and management, and policy needs/implications.
Research on vernal pools can range from species-specific investigations, to population dynamics of predators, prey and relate organisms, to complexes of wetlands, to landscape scale assessments of hydrology, chemistry, nutrient and energy flow, phenology, and organism survival, movement, reproductive success, disease transmission and other metrics. Research may be spatial, temporal or both.
References|
Comer, P., K. Goodin, A. Tomaino, G. Hammerson, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, and K. Snow. 2005. Biodiversity Values of Geographically Isolated Wetlands in the United States. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
Mushet, D. M., A. J. K. Calhoun, L. C. Alexander, M. J. Cohen, E. S. DeKeyser, L. Fowler, C. R. Lane, M. W. Lang, M. C. Rains, and S. C. Walls. 2015. Geographically Isolated Wetlands: Rethinking a Misnomer. Wetlands 35:423–431.
-
A student samples for algae in a vernal pool. Credit: Stacy McNulty, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Adirondack Ecological Center
-
Clarkson researchers sample vernal pool sediment and invertebrates for mercury. Credit: Stacy McNulty, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Adirondack Ecological Center
-
Forest harvest near a vernal pool may change water temperature, chemistry, light availability and introduce novel organisms. This research area near a harvested forest provides long-term data on changes in the vernal pool community. Credit: Stacy McNulty, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Adirondack Ecological Center
