Slides
1a - 6
7 - 14
15 - 22
23 - 30
31 - 38
39 - 46
47 - 54
55 - 62
63 - 70
71 - 78
These pages have 80 slides accompanied by a description. This is not a slide program but rather a collection of slides and information. If you would like to view a slide program assembled from these slides, go to the slide program index.
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71. Field photography of small organisms. Small aquatic creatures can be a challenge to photograph in the field. A simple device consisting of two sheets of glass or plastic clamped on either side of a piece of vinyl tubing is inexpensive and works well. Binder clips, 1/2' tubing and 4x4" sheets of plastic work well for a pocket model. Use plastic rather than glass when in the field. Broken glass at a vernal pool would be very dangerous. |
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72. Redback salamander. The redback salamander is not a vernal pool species. It is not aquatic at all. It spends its entire life on the forest floor even laying eggs in small nests under logs and litter. Many people think of this organism when salamanders are mentioned as it is the most abundant vertebrate in the New England forest. |
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73. Certification resources. In Massachusetts, vernal pools may be "certified" with the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program. Certification does not provide protection in itself. Certification means that the pool is known to exist and it must be considered when projects take place at or near the pool. Two useful resources for those unfamiliar with certification are Certified, edited by Betsy Colburn, Massachusetts Audubon Society, and Wicked Big Puddles, by Leo P. Kenney. |
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74. Certification. The documents required for certification include: 1. NHESP Field Form, 2. USGS topographic map with pool site marked, 3. assessor's map with pool location sketched in, 4. other map, such as sketch map with compass bearings and distances to two permanent landmarks, aerial photograph, or professional survey. 5. photographic evidence showing pool and evidence of breeding by obligate species or presence of fairy shrimp. |
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75. Color infrared aerial photograph. A color infrared aerial photograph (CIR) is useful for locating vernal pools. In a CIR, the color red indicates actively growing vegetation, green is wetland vegetation, black is open water. On the right is Middleton Pond. The vertical light stripe is a power easement. The horizontal light stripe near the top is a gas line easement. Numerous small black areas would be potential vernal pools. Two are circled. |
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76. USGS topographic map. Vernal pools may sometimes be found by using a USGS topographic map. They would appear as either small areas of blue, blue stripes, depressions, or depressions with water. Since most vernal pools are small and temporary, they do not appear on these maps. |
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77. Assessor's map. An assessor's map is a Town land ownership map. The pool is unlikely to be shown and you will have to use other landmarks to help you find the pool's location and then draw it on the map. |
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78. Sketch map. A sketch map, also called "metes and bounds", requires compass bearings and distances from at least two permanent locations. It should be drawn to scale and have sufficient detail so that the pool can be found by someone unfamiliar with the area. |
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