THE SCIENCE THE POLITICS &YOU Presented by: Debbie Dineen March 25, 2009 Friends of the Assabet River Wildlife Refuge THE BASICS: -Wildlife habitats best known for the amphibians and invertebrate animals who use them to breed (aka ephemeral; autumnal; temporary woodland pond) -Depressions in the ground formed by glaciers (kettle ponds), natural occurrences, agriculture and other human activity; closed or open canopies -Typically fill with water in the autumn or winter due to rising ground water and rainfall; remain ponded through the spring and into summer -Free of fish predators -Used for breeding by obligate and facultative species Me, Too! Hi. Im an Obligate! SAME POOL DIFFERENT SEASONS Late Winter Spring Late Summer OBLIGATE: VERNAL POOL-ONLY BREEDERS Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica): -Adults range from 1.5 to 2.75 inches. Females are larger than males -Estimate: total biomass of wood frogs in 50 acres of forest adjacent to a breeding pool to be over 150 pounds. -Diet of forest invertebrates -wood frogs influence decomposition rates and nutrient cycling in upland forests -Hibernate at shallow forest depths -Accumulate high levels of glucose in the liver and leg muscles which is released into the bloodstream and tissues to act as a natural antifreeze -External fertilization -communal eggs masses 1000+ Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) -6 t 8 in length -deciduous, mixed, and softwood forests -majority of the time is spent below ground, commonly in small animal burrows -feed on forest-floor invertebrates (earthworms, snails, spiders, insects) -Home ranges vary from one square meter up to 40 square meters -Congressing and spermataphores (external) -Number of eggs per mass attached to twigs or plant stems several inches below the surface of the water -color of egg casing clear to milky white, to green from algae - The consistency is like old jello -eggs are dark brown or gray above and lighter below Blue-Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale) -4 6 in length -Upland forests with ample canopy cover, deep, uncompacted leaf litter, and coarse woody debris shading - cool refuge, and a moist environment are requisite -Seek winter cover in burrows -Number of eggs per mass normally between six and 30 attached to stems and twigs or to leaves on pool bottoms -Egg masses smaller than spotted salamanders -State-listed Species of Special Concern Rare Species Observation form Jefferson Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) Jefferson/Blue Spot Complex) -Hybrid complex (breeding) with three other species of mole salamander (blue spot) -Ice age separation of blue and jefferson -Hybrids often result in cloning of female; spermatafore only borrowed with genetic information not incorporated; more than 2 sets of chromosomes -Temperature factor; higher temps produce more clones -Embryonic mortality rates of hybrids are much higher; only 2% of males survive and are sterile Fairy Shrimp Eubranchipus (most common) -1/2 to 1 Crustaceans restricted to vernal pools -Temperature tolerance of 40 to 60F -Eggs persist to the next favorable period -Resting egg (actually a developing embryo) has a dark covering - Able to survive drying, extreme heat, freezing, and ingestion by birds - Re-flooding the following spring stimulates hatching -Summer & Winter eggs Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) -Breeds only in dried up pools, ponds, and ditches in Fall - Lay eggs under the leaves -Females remain with eggs to keep them moist until nests are flooded (fall or spring) -Eggs hatch after the ponds refill -early spring larvae is marbled larvae -MA is northern end of range; none found in Sudbury; several in Bolton Importance to the Environment: Foundation of the Forest Food Web Coyotewading bird Snakesgopher Frogsfairy shrimp FlatwormProtozoa CONSUMERS (80%) (note: predator and prey) algae plants/seeds PRODUCERS Bacteria DECOMPOSERS Detritus DEAD MATTER Importance for Humans -important roles in the organization of many terrestrial and aquatic communities -used as indicators of environmental heath -valuable tools in examining various problems in disciplines such as evolution, ecology, animal behavior, physiology, and genetics -medical research on salamanders to understand the basis for limb and tissue regeneration in vertebrates, the study of genetic disorder inheritance, and research exploring the possible therapeutic value of toxic skin secretions in treating human diseases such as cancer MA REGULATORY PROTECTIONS FOR CERTIFIED VERNAL POOLS -Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act regulations: Pool + 100 jurisdictional IF certified & located within a wetland resource -Title 5 of the Massachusetts Environmental Code: Septic leaching area set back 100 UNLESS groundwater flow is away from pool -Section 404 of the Federal Clean Water Act: No discharge of fill material into a vernal pool -Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards -Section 401: Vernal Pools are Outstanding Resource Waters same as 404 -Massachusetts Forest Cutting Practices Act: 50 buffer strip where no more than 50% basal area may be cut every 5 years -Massachusetts Endangered Species Act No take of state-listed species UNLESS a Conservation Plan is approved These regulations help to eliminate direct impacts to certified vernal pools and to minimize indirect impacts. rr Laws & Regulations DO: Protect the pool itself from direct impacts in most cases- maintains the breeding habitat Laws & Regulations DO NOT : Protect the species who breed in the pools as well as the overall biological functions supporting a diverse food chain Consequences: -Adjacent upland is destroyed. Obligate species spend 50 weeks a year within 15o0 of the pool, not many will be left to breed -Road construction, a major threat, continues between terrestrial habitats and breeding ponds -Temperature, light, wind increases -stormwater runoff, lawn care chemicals alter pool biology -ATVs; invasive species; mosquito control; lack of community interest or knowledge To Certify or Not to Certify? Pro: -Identifies the area as important and has limited value in preventing harm to species populations -May provide the data needed to determine the extent of vernal pool habitat in your Town and encourage the adoption of local protection bylaws and regulations Con: -New certification requirements can result in harm to the pool -If state-listed species are found, it could lead to their delisting (spotted turtle) Natural Heritage Program has certified about 5024 vernal pools as of January Top Ten Towns with the most Certified Vernal Pools: Hubbardston 311 Dracut 196 Westford 102 Boxford 100 Norton 98 Andover 85 Northhampton 73 Groton 67 Middleton 64 Sudbury Kingston 59 N. Falmouth 55 Concord 48 Weston 15 Wayland 13 A) OBLIGATE SPECIES METHOD Biological Criteria Breeding evidence of obligate amphibian species OR the presence of fairy shrimp AND Physical Criteria Evidence of a pool with no permanently flowing outlet (i.e., photo of the pool holding water). B) FACULTATIVE AMPHIBIAN SPECIES METHOD Biological Criteria Breeding evidence of 2 or more facultative amphibian species AND Physical Criteria Evidence of a pool with no permanently flowing outlet (i.e., photo of the pool holding water). AND Evidence that there is no established, reproducing fish population (i.e., photo of the pool dry). YOU CAN: Investigate -Look at topographic maps for isolated wetland areas -Review the Potential Vernal Pool maps from Natural Heritage Identify With landowner permission, visit probable sites Certify -Collect evidence of breeding by Obligate species by photos Protect -Submit evidence to NHESP and local Conservation Commission -Pass Local Wetland Bylaw at Town Meting which protects vernal pools and some adjacent upland