NHESP Guidelines for Certification

Documentation Evidence
for Certification by Obligate Species

Obligate vernal pool species are those organisms which breed or live only in waters free from permanent populations of fish. Because they require vernal pools, we refer to them as obligate species.

In Massachusetts, the obligate species are the spotted salamander, blue-spotted salamander, Jefferson salamander, marbled salamander, wood frog, spadefoot toad, and fairy shrimp. Breeding activity by any of these amphibians or the presence of fairy shrimp indicates a vernal pool.

Documentation of a vernal pool by obligate species requires 1) a photograph of the vernal pool holding water and 2) photographs or breeding activity (mating adults, eggs, larvae, or emergents) of the amphibians or photographs of fairy shrimp from the pool.

Provide the following evidence:

A photograph of the pool holding water. The pool photograph (or photographs) should show that the vernal pool has no permanent outlet. This is not always easy to document in photographs. However, your pictures should establish that the pool is isolated from other bodies of water and not just a small area of a large wetland. Label them on the back with location, date, direction being viewed and sign them. If you use a digital camera, print out the images,annotate them and sign the printout.

Photograph of obligate amphibian breeding or of fairy shrimp.
The photographs below would each individually be sufficient evidence to show amphibian breeding or presence of fairy shrimp. Pictures of egg masses should show two or more egg masses of the same species. If the eggs are not located close together, use multiple photographs. On the back of each photograph (or beside it for printouts of digital images), indicate the pool at which the picture was taken, the subject in the picture, the date, and then sign it. If you find more than one obligate species using the pool, record as many as you can.