Why are Vernal Pools Important?

Vernal pools provide habitat for many species of wildlife. Certain species are specifically adapted for life in a vernal pool and cannot complete their lifecycle without a vernal pool. Many of these species cannot withstand predation by fish and require a fish-free environment to survive. The disappearance of vernal pools and associated upland habitat areas would result in the extirpation of vernal pool-dependent species. All four amphibian species listed as rare in Massachusetts use vernal pools. In addition, two state-listed turtle species and three state-listed crustaceans use vernal pools.

Rare Species

The following 9 rare (MA state-listed) species may be found in vernal pools:

Obligate Vernal Pool Species

The following amphibian species are considered OBLIGATE vernal pool species. These species require vernal pools for a portion of their life cycle (i.e., breeding and larval development).

In addition, fairy shrimp (freshwater invertebrates related to brine shrimp) are considered OBLIGATE vernal pool species. Fairy shrimp are found only in vernal pools. As the vernal pools dry up, the fairy shrimps' adult life cycle ends; however, their eggs withstand desiccation, and a new crop of fairy shrimp is hatched the following season. Three species of fairy shrimp (listed below) are known to occur in Massachusetts.

Facultative Vernal Pool Species

Many species of wildlife utilize vernal pools as habitat but are not dependent on vernal pools for their existence. These species may use other habitat areas such as ponds in place of vernal pools. Such species are known as facultative vernal pool species. The following amphibian species frequently use vernal pools and are considered "facultative vernal pool species" for the purposes of vernal pool certification.

Vernal Pool Protection

Certification

Vernal pools are certified by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Program (NHESP). However, any citizen may document the presence of a vernal pool to get it certified.  NHESP's Guidelines for Certification of Vernal Pool Habitat were revised in March 2009 and are available at http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/vernal_pools/pdf/vpcert.pdf.  Under the current guidelines there are two methods that can be used to document a vernal pool.

Method of Documentation	Requires Evidence of
Obligate Species Method	1. a confined basin depression with no permanently flowing outlet 2. at least one breeding obligate amphibian OR presence of adult fairy shrimp.  Note: if egg masses are being used to document a vernal pool under this method, then at least one egg mass of a state-listed rare salamander species must be present and photographed OR at least five egg masses of non state-listed obligate amphibian species (any combination, regardless of species) must be present and photographed.
Facultative Amphibian Species Method	1. a confined basin depression with no permanently flowing outlet 2. an absence of an established, reproducing fish population 3. two or more facultative breeding amphibian species.  Note: One egg mass may be used as breeding evidence for a facultative amphibian species.

For more information about certifying a vernal pool, and to obtain an application for vernal pool certification (a Vernal Pool Field Observation Form) go to http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/vernal_pools/vernal_pool_cert.htm. 

Protection

Certified vernal pools receive protection under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (310 CMR 10.00) and other state laws and regulations.  Regulations providing protection to vernal pools are summarized in NHESP's Guidelines for the Certification of Vernal Pool Habitat.

References:
 

Green, Scott. 2009.  The Vernal Pool Association.  Fairy Shrimp.  Available from http://www.vernalpool.org/inf_fs.htm.  Accessed March 2009.

Kinney, L.P. and Burne, M.R. 2000. A Field Guide to the Animals of Vernal Pools. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program & Vernal Pool Association. May.

Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program. 2009. Guidelines for the Certification of Vernal Pool Habitat.  Mass. Div. Fish. Wildlife. March.  Available from http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/vernal_pools/pdf/vpcert.pdf.

Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program. 2008.  Massachusetts List of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species as published in the Code of Massachusetts Regulations. Mass. Div. Fish. Wildlife. August 8.  Available from http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/species_info/mesa_list/mesa_list.htm.

Updated: 3/30/2009

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