Lydia Kifner, MS Researcher, University of Maine; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering What makes a vernal pool form in the landscape? Like any other landscape feature, geologic history is a very important factor in understanding a vernal pool’s origins. […]

Orono, Maine — Ecologists and conservationists have long recognized that keystone species have major ecological importance disproportionate to their abundance or size. Think beavers, sea stars and prairie dogs — species that keep a ecosystem balanced. […]

We recently had a question from a concerned follower: Question: “This morning I just discovered 20 dead tadpoles at the edge of my backyard vernal pool. They appear to be green frogs but I can’t say for sure. I also found 3 live ones swimming around them. Also 4 full [...]

Abigail Kaminski, Research Associate, Clark University Vernal pools are important landscape features (see our posts about their importance here and here. Decisions that lead to the preservation of vernal pools and the lands that surround them are made at an individual level (landowners make decisions about what to do with their property), and on a [...]

Carly Eakin, Graduate Researcher, University of Maine The past three summers I have surveyed wood frog tadpoles and spotted salamander larvae in over 30 vernal pools around Bangor, Maine, collecting data on their population status and individual body conditions. This means handling a lot of tadpoles and larval salamanders: Between me [...]