Synthesizes Decades of Research on Vernal Pools Science
Pulling together information from a broad array of sources, Science and Conservation of Vernal Pools in Northeastern North America is a guide to the issues and solutions surrounding seasonal pools. Drawing on 15 years of experience, the editors have mined published literature, personal communication from professionals working in the field, unpublished reports and data, and other sources to present the latest information and practical application of this knowledge. They synthesize decades of research on vernal pools and pool-dependent biota as a foundation for presenting the necessary tools for conserving these ecosystems.
The book introduces vernal pools as a keystone ecosystem in northeastern forests of North America. This landscape approach is the common current flowing throughout the chapters. Section I reviews the physical parameters that demonstrate how vernal pools function differently from other wetland systems and where they are found in the landscape. Section II provides an overview of the diversity and natural history of their unique biota, focusing on plants, invertebrates, amphibians, and other pool-associated vertebrates. Finally, Section III synthesizes the best-available science from peer-reviewed and unpublished sources relevant to conserving vernal pools in human-dominated landscapes. The book also highlights the significant role that educators and citizens have in effecting local conservation, and in ensuring a permanent place on the landscape for seasonal wetlands.
An impressive cadre of scientists contribute knowledge and expertise on how to conserve vernal pools, its species, and its flora and fauna. Acknowledging the physical and biological connections between upland and aquatic systems, the authors provide a landscape-scale approach to conservation that is equally applicable to all isolated wetlands.
Valuing and Conserving Vernal Pools as Small-Scale Ecosystems. Physical Setting: Classification, Hydrology, and Identification. Classification of Vernal Pools: Geomorphic Setting and Distribution. Hydrology and Landscape Connectivity of Vernal Pools. Remote and Field Identification of Vernal Pools. Biological Setting: Principal Flora and Fauna. Flora of Northeastern Vernal Pools. Diversity and Ecology of Vernal Pool Invertebrates. Ecology and Conservation of Pool-Breeding Amphibians. Population and Genetic Linkages of Vernal-Pool Associated Amphibians. The Importance of Vernal Pools to Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals. Conserving Vernal Pools in Human-Modified Landscapes. Vernal Pool Conservation Policy: The Federal, State, and Local Context. Chemical Contamination of Vernal Pools. Conserving Vernal Pool Wildlife in Urbanizing Landscapes. Conserving Vernal Pool Amphibians in Managed Forests. Conservation Planning for Pool-Breeding Amphibians Using Spatial Tools: An Application of the Landscape Species Approach. Vernal Pools as Outdoor Laboratories for Educators and Students. Conserving Vernal Pool Habitat Through Community-Based Conservation. Index.
Aram J. K. Calhoun, Phillip G. DeMaynadier
Reviews for Science and Conservation of Vernal Pools in Northeastern North America: Ecology and Conservation of Seasonal Wetlands in Northeastern North America
This nicely illustrated handbook is designed for a wide audience, from scientists to the general public. ...Recommended. - C. Leck, The State University of New Jersey, writing in Choice, January 2008 This book is an excellent resource for the study of seasonal pools, and pulls together information from a diverse variety of sources. - John Elliot and Keith Goldfarb, in Northeastern Naturalist, 2008, Vol. 15, No. 3 . . . includes a clear explanation of the science that leads directly to the policy and management recommendations presented in the book. For managers and policy makers in Northeastern North America the volume will be quite valuable; those working in temporary wetlands outside of Northeastern North America may also find examples and case studies applicable to their systems. - Joel W. Snodgrass, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, in Phyllomedusa, Dec 2007, Vol. 6, No. 2 This book is a valuable resource in the identification and ecology of seasonal pools which support many amphibians, insects, and invertebrates... the most comprehensive work I have seen to date. It is well researched, carefully prepared and a valuable resource for conservationists. -Jim O'Neill, Can Field-Naturalist, 2007, Vol. 121, p.448
