Vernal pools contribute to the biodiversity of healthy forest ecosystems . The pools fill up each spring with melting snow and rainfall and dry out as the weather gets warmer and dryer. This cycle of filling and drying loads the pools with nutrients and prevents fish predators from settling in. For this reason, vernal pools support a variety of life that is tightly adapted to temporary waters including fairy shrimp, certain species of amphibians, and some types of caddisflies. In the early spring, vernal pools brim with life while other areas of the forest are quiet. They provide food for birds, mammals, reptiles, and other amphibians spring through fall.
Climate change means changing temperatures and precipitation patterns: this may affect when the vernal pools fill and when they dry out. We need your help to understand where vernal pool species are now so we can track how climate change might affect them. Join our project by searching vernal pools in your area and reporting which species you do (or don't) find. Contribute to this project in the spring when vernal pools are full. Be careful not to disturb the precious and fragile vernal pool habitats!
Learn more:
- Watch the 2022 Vernal Pool Challenge Launch Meeting and learn about our lead scientists' questions and observations about vernal pools and climate change.
- Explore the project data to spot emerging trends or patterns. Email Abigail at [email protected] to get an export of the data.
- Read published student research articles about vernal pools from the middle school journal, Findings From the Field.
- Educators: Find curriculum to support student learning through participation in this project on the Gulf of Maine Research Institute's Learning Resource Hub.
