[vernalpool] ecosystem research at vernal pools

Hi all,

I just joined the group and have quite enjoyed reading your emails posted since January. I'm out in the Toledo Ohio area and our timing is definitely different from MA! One message noted gray tree frogs calling in the second week of March; I heard my first one here last week.

I'm also just amazed at all the salamanders you have! Okay, I'm a bit jealous too. We don't have anything like the big crossing nights so many of you mentioned. How I would love to see that some time! We do have lots of salamanders here, but 99%+ of the mole salamanders are hybrids between Jefferson, small mouth, blue spotted with occassional tiger thrown in. Duploids, tetraploids etc. Lots of lead backs and red backs here at some pools.

I've been running a vernal pool survey here in our metroparks for 9 years now lookng at many pools in different habitats. The pool and it's occupants are the main focus every 2 weeks, but we also pay attention to the nearby ecosystem since whatever is near the pool (we go with 30' from the water's edge) can directly impact the pool. For example, the Oak Openings Region has predominantly oaks and we have found very few aquatic worms in those pools. I suspect that tannins must aggravate worm skin in some way. Outside of the Oak Openings we can have 50-100 aquatic worms in each collecting bucket.

So some questions:
- Do any of you do ecosystem research in and around a vernal pool over the 4-6 month season of the pool?
- Are any of you in the general area of Toledo, Oh?
- Does anyone know of any general vernal pool conferences being held on the east coast or midwest this year? I've looked on line with no success.
- Would this forum be a good one to ask about some pond critters that I still can't identify?

Re: the last, I have Leo's book, Merritt's, the new Ohio Environmental Council's book (recommended), several good biology and vernal pool texts, have contacts with OSU biologists and others, and am on the Ohio vernal pool listsrv but my volunteers (52 this year!) keep finding things I can't identify! For example - egg masses that are not frog or salamander related. Has anyone ever seen a book on insect egg masses?

One thing I've loved about teaching vernal pools is the number of volunteers over the years who have told me I've "corrupted" them. Whenever they pass a vernal pool they stop to see what's in it - somewhat to the annoyance of the parents and spouses with them! I take that as a compliment.

Eileen