State of Ohio’s Vernal Pools

Mick MicacchionOhio EPAWetland Ecology Group

Vernal Pools

• Forested and shrub depressions in a forested landscape

• Isolated hydrology – primarily surface and ground water

• Seasonal hydrology – ephemeral – at least late winter (Feb/March) to early summer (June/July)

• Free of predatory fish• Provide important

amphibian breeding habitat

Amphibian Habitat Needs

• Seasonal hydrology - March-June• Fish-free – bass, sunfish, pike, bullheads• Leaf litter/ woody debris• Microtopographic features• Woodlands – especially important within

200m radius• Other breeding pools nearby

Amphibian Monitoring Sites

Amphibian Species SensitivitySalamanders: Smallmouth 4 Streamside 5 Unisexual hybrids 5 Jefferson 6 Eastern newt 6 Spotted 8 Marbled 8 Tiger 9 Four-toed 10 Blue-spotted 10

Frogs and Toads: Green frog 1 American bullfrog 2 American toad 2 Northern spring peeper 3 Fowler’s toad 4 Western chorus frog 4 Northern leopard frog 4 Cope’s & Gray treefrogs 4 Mountain chorus frog 5 Northern cricket frog 7 Wood frog 7 Pickerel frog 7 Eastern spadefoot 10

Spotted Salamanders and Wood Frogs

• Two species that are excellent indicators

• Only found in relatively intact systems

• Require large percentage of forest in surroundings

Amphibian Index of Biotic Integrity Metrics

• Amphibian Quality Assessment Index (AQAI)

• Number of species of pond breeding salamanders

• Relative abundance of sensitive species

• Relative abundance of tolerant species

• Presence of spotted salamanders or wood frogs

• 10pts.each (0, 3, 7, 10), 50 pts. total

Urban Vernal Pools – Central Ohio

• Randomly selected 200 urban wetlands – NWI and OWI (out of 649)– Tree or shrub dominated– Isolated depressions - SW and GW fed– Inundation through amphibian breeding season– No predatory fish

• Monitored 14 wetlands (vernal pools) for amphibians 14/200 = only 7% of central Ohio wetlands provided amphibian community breeding habitat– 3 – Poor quality – 3/200 = 1.5%– 9 – Fair quality – 9/200 = 4.5%– 2 – Good quality – 2/200 = 1%– 0 – Excellent quality

Urban Vernal Pool

Mitigation Bank Study

Monitored 33 subareas at 12 wetland mitigation banks

Total = 999.2 acres (404.4 hectares)

Amphibian data collected with deployment of 1040 funnel traps (24,960 trap hours)

Species Composition of Wetland Mitigation Banks

• Abundant– Green frog. Rana clamitans

38%– Toads, Bufo sp. 22%– Leopard frog, R. pipiens

19%– Bullfrog, R. catesbeiana

12%– Spring peeper, Pseudacris

crucifer 5%

• Absent or extremely rare– All Ambystomatid

salamander species <1%– Red-spotted newt,

Notophthalmus viridescens– Spotted salamander,

Ambystoma maculatum – Wood frog, R. sylvatica

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

Limitations of Wetland Mitigation Projects to Amphibian Usage

• Landscape placement - narrow or no buffers and intensive surrounding land uses

• Presence of predatory fish – stream hydrology• Permanent vs. seasonal hydrology• Steep slopes and lack of vegetation – vegetation present

is emergent class• Large sizes minimizing edge habitats

Limitations on Amphibian Communities with Urban Vernal Pools

• Intensive surrounding land uses

• Lack of buffers

• Isolation from other patches of habitat

Urban Vernal Pools– Why they are development targets

• Often are present as wetlands in landscapes that are otherwise dominated by uplands

• Generally small

• Often are dry much of the year and may not be recognized as wetlands at those times

• Surrounding development has lowered their quality

• Last impediment to complete development

State of Vernal Pool Habitat in Ohio

• A habitat that is disappearing at alarming rates

• Many species that rely on this habitat are becoming rare

• Those habitats that are remaining need to be protected

• Development of additional habitat is critically needed to help reverse the trend

Thank You!!!