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Dr. Aram Calhoun will give a talk on Vernal Pool Ecology and the new legislation for Significant Vernal Pools on Thursday, May 24th 2007, at 7:00 pm in the Commons building at the CCLC. She will present the latest information on vernal pools (from over 10 years research at the University and in other parts of the east). Dr. Calhoun is Associate Professor of Wetland Ecology at the University of Maine at Orono and co-author of an upcoming book on Vernal Pool Science and Conservation from CRC Press due for release in June. This event is free of charge. Donations to the CCLC are always appreciated. For more information on vernal pools, visit the Maine Audubon website.

What are vernal pools and why should we study them?
Vernal Pools are very special habitats, defined as temporary to semi-permanent wetlands, without predatory fish, that provide breeding habitat for fairy shrimp, salamanders, and/or wood frogs. Vernal pools are also used for feeding and resting by a diversity of other animals, such as spring peepers and gray tree frogs.

In addition to being vital habitat for local plants and animals, vernal pools are important landscape features. If we think of them as wetland islands in a sea of upland forests, we see that groups of pools form stepping stones of hospitable habitat along which wetland-dependant wildlife may travel.

Many vernal pool species in northeastern North America are already on state endangered and threatened species lists. At present, vernal pools have little protection-we need more information to justify special protection.

 

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