|
 Report Amphibian Crossing Data
Help this spotted salamander and other amphibians by reporting amphibian migrations at road crossings. Click here or on the salamander. Linking Landscapes is an effort by the MA Department of Transportation, the MA Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program and the Vernal Pool Association to locate amphibian crossings and roadkill hot spots. Click on "home" on the salamander page to view the other crossing data being collected. (Photo from Suzanne Niles [www.frog-shots.com] who monitors amphibians in her backyard vernal pool.
Amphibian Migrations Continue (3/22-24/2010)
Another storm has coaxed more amphibians from hibernation to migrate to vernal pools. Migrations take place on many rainy nights in spring, not just on one night. Wood frogs are abundant in vernal pools and in many pools have finished breeding and are or will be leaving the pool to head to the uplands for the rest of the year. Mole salamanders are just beginning to reach pools in large numbers. In the hill country of western Massachusetts and in much of ME, NH, and VT, migrations are yet to begin.
Spring Amphibian Migrations Begin in the Northeast (3/12-15/10)
The heavy rains the second week of March have brought out woodfrogs, salamanders, and other amphibians to migrate to vernal pools and other wetlands. From Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, we have been getting reports of animals crossing roads and being seen in vernal pools.
Mole salamanders and woodfrogs migrate from their wintering sites in the uplands to vernal pools for breeding when the conditions are right. The ideal conditions are thawed ground, air temperature in the 40's, rain, little wind, and darkness. Early migrations such as this past week often are light in numbers of animals. More and larger migrations are yet to come.
If you go out on a rainy night to observe migrations, do be careful. Drivers will have trouble seeing "salamander people" on the road. Resist the urge to stop traffic to save amphibians. Don't become a statistic. If you find a location with significant roadkill, work with local authorities for road closings in future years.
Once mole salamanders and wood frogs reach their vernal pool, breeding activities commence. For spotted salamanders, this means the males lay down spermatophores from which the females pick up sperm. After a few days, the females lay egg masses attached to submerged vegetation as in these photos. (Thanks to Jen Carlino for the underwater salamander photos.)
MA Certification Guidelines (3/1/2009)
As of March 1, 2009, new guidelines by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program are in effect for the certification of vernal pools in the state. Download the guidelines (pdf) here from the NHESP website. Changes include new numbers of obligate species which must be documented, a reduction of facultative species, and the elimination of the "dry pool method". Go to the VPA Certification pages for brief version.
 Want to know what creatures are in your vernal pool? Check out our Field Guide to the Animals of Vernal Pools. This guide covers the identification and natural history of most of the vertebrates and invertebrates found in New England vernal pools. The guide is useful for other areas of the country as well. View a sample page (in pdf format) and then order your own copy from the Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program. VPA does not sell single copies.
Classroom Sets of Field Guides!
Classroom Special on Field Guide to the Animals of Vernal Pools.
Our popular field guide was reprinted in June, 2009. We have set aside a quantity of field guides to be sold at a substantial discount for use in classrooms. These "educational copies" are marked "not for resale" and available only to educational institutions. Cost is $5 each (plus shipping) for 20 or more copies. Shipping for 20 copies is $10.70. Order from VPA, PO Box 2295, Peabody, MA 01960.
Big Night for Salamanders by Sarah Lamstein
On March 1, 2010, a new vernal pool themed book aimed at the younger set (5-9) was released. It is written by Sarah Lamstein and illustrated by Carol Benioff. The book is the story of a young boy and his efforts to protect salamanders on a migration night, Big Night, as they migrate from the woods to cross a road to get to their vernal pool. More information is at Sarah's website. It is available from Amazon and other locations.
More children's books are suggested at the end of our Resources page.
 Our T-shirts are once again available online!
A team of VPA members has taken over online sales of our popular vernal pool T-shirts. Click on our new wood frog T-shirt to go to www.vernalpool.com/. We have several designs in a multitude of colors. Your purchase of these shirts helps to support our mission.
Please consider donating to the Vernal Pool Association by becoming a contributing member. Your support helps us to continue our mission of educating the public, agencies, and law makers to the significance of vernal pools and their associated organisms to the ecosystem.
More information here.
|
