Puddles are a sign of life in spring

By Jim Thornton

Ohio certified volunteer naturalist

There is much to look forward to in spring: longer, warmer days; birds singing; flowers blooming; everything turning green; and really big puddles.

Huh – puddles? Yes, puddles, also known as vernal pools.

If you are interested in frogs, salamanders and much of the wildlife we celebrate in the spring, vernal pools are a key habitat for them.

So what is a vernal (or sometimes called ephemeral) pool? There is no absolute, universal answer, but in general, they are temporary ponds of water that are not fed by a stream and that occasionally dry up.

These pools usually result from spring rains and snowmelt lasting for a few months.

Key to them being productive is not having a population of fish that would eat the eggs and young of the species that use the pools for breeding.

They are most productive if located within 200 feet of an upland wooded area.

Some animals are “obligate” or dependent on vernal pools and other species just take advantage of the benefits of the pool, but can breed elsewhere.

Some obligate species in our area are the wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus), spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) and fairy shrimp (Anocostraca).

A few of the optional users are the spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer), northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens), midland chorus frog (Pseudacris triseriata), red-spotted newt (Notophtalmus virdescens virdescens), and various insects, including dragon and damsel flies.

Given that Ohio has lost the vast majority of its wetlands, vernal pool numbers are a fraction of what they once were.

Like other wetlands, these pools have other benefits besides hosting so much wildlife (keeping in mind how many insects the wildlife mentioned eat). The benefits include filtering and improving water quality and controlling flood waters. Water is better in a vernal pool than in your basement.

There are many groups of vernal pool enthusiasts with websites or Facebook pages which are happy to tell you about salamander migrations or help to identify species. For instance, in Ohio we have the Ohio Vernal Pool Network.

Just a word about safety for you and the pools. For people who want to explore these pools, a partner is suggested. If you wade into the pool you could get stuck in the soft bottom.

Also for the health of the pool, when traveling from one pool to another, you should clean your boots and gear to keep from spreading alien species or diseases.

The term vernal is derived from the Latin for “of the goddess Venus,” the goddess of love. So it follows that if you love spring and learning about nature, you will love vernal pools.

Visit http://go.osu.edu/vernalpools to learn more about this part of nature in your backyard.