Woodland Vernal Pools

1. Woodland Vernal Pools Research-based Rapid Assessment Tool for Conservation Erik D. Lindquist - M.S., Ph.D. David K. Foster - M.S., Ph.D. Jeffrey S. Erikson - M.S., M.E.P.C. Department of Biological Sciences Messiah College

2. The Woodland Vernal Pool

3. Definition (Colburn, 2004) • Woodland context • In or adjacent to • Isolation • Confined basins • Size • Small and shallow • Hydrology • Seasonal, with maximum water volume in spring • Complete drying annually or every few years • Biological Community • Lacking established fish populations • Supporting animals adapted for significant water drawdown

4. Pennsylvania • Seasonal pools identified as a priority by the PA Game Commission in their “Pennsylvania’s Wildlife Action Plan” (PA-WAP) PART IIB • Interagency coordination identified • Pennsylvania Game Commission • Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission • Department of Conservation and Natural Resources • Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

5. Pennsylvania In the PA-WAP, the following prioritized implementation actions Level 1 • Develop criteria for the identification of seasonal wetlands • Develop list of indicator species • Map and classify vernal ponds • Build an inventory and database to manage location information Level 2 • Propose practical field techniques to enable land managers to recognize and identify seasonal wetlands • Encourage public and private land managers to enter locations of seasonal wetlands in statewide database(s)

6. South Mountain Study • Rapid Assessment Protocol • Public Outreach Materials Results from our research activities will directly assist agencies in reaching Level 2 objectives.

7. South Mountain Landscape Geographic Uniqueness • Represents the northern terminus of the Blue Ridge physiographic province, extending over 600 miles southward.

8. South Mountain Landscape Geographic Uniqueness • May have served as a historically important biological/genetic corridor for a variety of species (e.g. Eastern Spadefooted Toad, Scaphiopus holbrookii). • One Notable Feature • Abundance of vernal pool • complexes within its forest of • over 15,000 acres. • Historically estimated at ~600.

9. Study Objectives • Examine trends in biological diversity among herbaceous and woody plants, macro-invertebrates, amphibians, and reptiles with vernal pools and immediately adjacent forests. • Construct ecological models from data collected in this study. • Anticipated that various anthropogenic, biotic, and abiotic factors would be identified as indicators of habitat integrity.

10. Study Objectives 2) Assist The Nature Conservancy and PA-DCNR in the development of a site conservation plan for South Mountain vernal pool complexes. 3) Educate and train on the importance and assessment of vernal pools (college and high school students). 4) Disseminate results to professionals and public.

11. These studies represent a community-based approach to vernal pools, the first of its kind in the state of Pennsylvania. Study Methods • 20 vernal pools • 8 upland controls • Botanical Aspect • Herbs • Ferns & Allies • Shrubs • Trees • Zoological Aspect • Macroinvertebrate • Amphibians • Reptiles • Physical Aspect • Water Chemistry • Volume, Area, & Perimeter

12. Study Methods • Identified vegetation, macroinvertebrate, and vertebrate species • in each vernal pool and within 1 m of the shoreline. • point-quarter sampling to 50 m from pool edge. • Noted canopy closure and DBH of canopy trees found within the vernal pool and adjacent forest. • Dip net sampling (not at upland sites).

13. What did we find?

14. Results (April – August)Physical & Chemical

15. Results Botanical Herbs • Herbs - 76 spp. (VP): 34 spp. (U) • Ferns & Allies - 7 spp. (VP): 7 spp. (U) • Shrubs - 33 spp. (VP): 18 spp. (U) • Trees - 27 spp. (VP): 20 spp. (U) Zoological • Macroinvertebrate - 35 spp. (VP) • Amphibians - 15 spp. (VP): 6 spp. (U) • Reptiles - 9 spp. (VP): 1 spp. (U)

16. Vegetation In general, greater species richness was found in vernal pools than in upland sites,especially with respect to herbs and shrubs.

17. Herbaceous Plants • The model R2 is 0.6511 (65.11% of variability • explained) with just average NO3 and pH of • the pools, and amphibian richness for the • site. Golden Club Orontium aquaticum

18. Macroinvertebrates • The model R2 is 0.5509 (55.09% of variability explained) and the P-value for the overall model is 0.0127 (significant). • Woodland vernal pools could be viewed as freshwater mudflats with season tides. • Perfect breeding conditions for specialist invertebrates.

19. Region 1 Federal Indicators No seed dormancy

20. Amphibians Important Factors • Invertebrate Richness • Seedling Richness • Pool Volume Interesting Negative Correlations

22. Raising Public Awareness • Vernal Pool Walks at King’s Gap Environmental Center • Forest Pools Preserve at King’s Gap • Dissemination through Posters and Booklets • Future plans to develop educational modules for middle and secondary school students

23. Coordination with State Agencies • Developing the Woodland Vernal Pool Rapid Assessment Model to work effectively within Pennsylvania state agency frameworks. • Encourage state legislators to have woodland pools that fit the model, protected by law. • Increase cross-agency communication regarding pool assessment, registry, and conservation.

24. Expertise and Assistance Funding Provided by Professionals: Samuel Wilcock & Charles DeCurtis Students: Ashley Beck, Michael Currie, Jarrod Derr, Grace Diehl, Scott Forbes, Rebecca Kern, Alyssa Poplaski, & Brooke Reeve. Photos Michael Redmer, Leo Kenney, Igor Siwanowicz, Bill Summers, Gary Emberger, Michael Currie & Jarrod Derr