Vernal pools are small bodies of standing water that form in the spring from melt-water and are often dry by mid-summer or may even be dry before the end of the spring growing season.
Many vernal ponds occur in depressions in agricultural areas, but may also be found in woodlots. Wetland vegetation may become established but are usually dominated by annuals.
Seasonally-flooded depressions also occur in Rhode Island and throughout the Northeast. Though the name vernal pool/pond has long been adopted, the terminology may not be totally appropriate for southern New England, as some ponds fill up with water in the late fall(actually "autumnal" ponds). Furthermore, in the northeast, the geologic factors that determine where on the landscape seasonally-flooded pools occur is poorly understood.
Vernal pools can be rich amphibian breeding areas. In Rhode Island wood frogs, northern spring peepers, gray tree frog, green frog, pickerel frog, American bull frog, and eastern America toads. I see the tiny frogs in the grass at different times of the season.
Spotted salamanders, and the red spotted newt.
In our pools of the 13 species of Rhode Island snakes we have three. Garter snake, ribbon snake and the northern water snake.
Of the 7 species of turtles we have four in our pools. Spotted, painter, snapping and the rare box turtle. I have seen many dig a hole in our lawn and lay their eggs.
Nature figures out a way to let the amphibians know which of the pools do not support fish.
The bullfrog tend to go to the permanent pools but I do have them in my seasonal polls also.
The permanent pools tend to support the fish mainly native brook trout.
I hope the video and photos that I have been taking over the last year clearly show the four stages.
Egg, Aquatic Larvae, Terrestrial Juvenile (eft) and Aquatic adult.
I have removed sections of ice with the amphibians in their winter state, appearing dead but have a chemical that slows their body down. March or April after about three consecutive days of 55-58 degree weather they start to awaken from the winter deep sleep. Some springs the pools re-freeze and you can see them below the ice and then it melts again to resume the cycle.
From my two year research I have found the frogs move in and out and are replaced by new ones every other day and peak at about 2:30pm if is not frosty. Bright days as the pools warm the action is really intensive and on cloudy days the action slows.
The cycle is in order every spring. Melts, then our pair of mallard ducks ( 34 years running)return to mate and build a nest. Then the gray frogs always first, then the others on different days with a different chirp.
Now the parade of predators start. Blue or green herons, red wing hawk, coopers hawk, owls, crows, turkey vultures. raccoon, skunk, fisher, loose domestic Cats and Dogs, bobcats, possum, coyote, fox ( red and silver) . Some eat eggs, some eat pollywogs, some eat the whole amphibian and most go for the mallard duck eggs or if we are having a good year the ducklings. Then it all dry's up !
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| Leopard Frog |
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| Dragon Fly |
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| Red spotted Newt |
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| Rare Box Turtle |
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| Garter Snake |
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snapper |
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| Spotted |
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