state of ohio vernal pools m. micacchion
TRANSCRIPT
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!!!