Just thought I would share some observations from vernal pools in the Blue Hills Reservation in Quincy/Milton and also from Smithfield RI where I live:
(1) First wood frogs and spotted salamanders observed in open canopy pools on March 13. Wood frogs breeding on March 13 is 3 days earlier than last year (March 16).
(2) In open canopy pools, wood frog eggs hatched in 10-12 days this year, which is well short of the normal 3-4 week average timeframe as observed and read in the literature. Certainly due to the high temperatures. Eggs laid on March 13 and hatched by March 23-25.
(3) American toads chorusing and laying eggs between March 23-27. In 2011, they didn't start breeding in the same pools until April 26.
(4) There has been far less activity in fully or partially closed canopy pools in the Blue Hills than in open canopy pools. In a pool where we counted 500 spotted salamander egg masses last year, as of a week ago, there were only about 50. However, we have seen spotted salamanders in the pool at night. Also, wood frogs have been present, but slow to breed in this pool.
(5) Fairy shrimp presence is highly variable from year to year, but I have seen them in as many pools this year as I did last year. Anyone else making the same observation?
Aloha and Malama ka 'aina,
Jonathan E. Twining, Assistant Professor of Biology
Eastern Nazarene College, 23 E. Elm Avenue, Quincy, MA
Phone: 617-745-3552
Email: Jonathan.Twining@enc.edu
Web Page: www.enc.edu/environmental_science<http://www.enc.edu/environmental_science>
P Please consider the impact on the environment before printing this e-mail
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