March 21, 2009

Vernal Pools Earl Plato

Where did everyone go? The Spring 2009 edition of Vernalis gives us some answers. To the north of Marcy Woods pond there are a series of vernal pools. They dry up come summer. However, Marcy’s pond shrinks but remains a viable pool. The Painted mud turtles will temporarily occupy those vernal pools to forage for food. Come winter they will seek deeper more permanent pools like the Marcy pond. They bury themselves in the mud on the bottom and remain dormant until spring.
Many snails burrow themselves into the sediment when freezing occurs. They make their homes in the mud, It provides them with enough humidity to survive. They also secrete a mucous membrane over their shell opening to help lock in the moisture, Come spring these snails will emerge from the mud and continue with their life,
Don’t forget the wood frogs, eh.