Vernal Pool Life

Checking a vernal pool yesterday, and concerned adout the drought that we are having and its effects on Marbled Salamander nest and eggs, I was happy to see three nest of eggs. Two nest were unattended and one had this beautiful female with her eggs, there was another unattended clutch of eggs to the right of her head. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that under most logs it was nice and damp. The larger logs in this pool, that no doubt have a great many other females with eggs, were not disturbed [larger logs are never disturbed, as there is too much danger of bringing harm to these beautiful creatures and their eggs]. Remembering unattended eggs are fine to develop on their own, and counting the days since last being at this pool in early September, these eggs and embryos will almost certainly have reached the hatching stage. All they need is a lot of rain so they [the eggs] become inundated with water which releases an enzyme that dissolves the eggs and hatching can occur. The amazing fall reproduction strategy of Ambystoma opacum. Pa. 10-29-24

Jefferson Salamander embryos on the left and Spotted Salamander embryos on the right, in the middle are Jefferson embryos that did not develop. Tioga County. Pa. 4-6-24

Female Eastern Fairy Shrimp showing eggs developing in her brood pouch. [Eubranchipus vernalis]. Tioga County, Pa. 3-16-24

Female Eastern Fairy Shrimp showing eggs developing in her brood pouch. [Eubranchipus vernalis]

Eastern Fairy Shrimp [Eubranchipus vernalis].

The beauty of Eastern Fairy Shrimp [Eubranchipus vernalis].

The beauty of Eastern Fairy Shrimp [Eubranchipus vernalis]. As we have seen a great food source for Marbled Salamander larvae

Marbled larva [Ambystoma opacum] showing stomach full of Eastern Fairy Shrimp [Eubranchipus vernalis].

Look close to see a Marbled Larva [Ambystoma opacum] in a sea of newly hatched Fairy Shrimp. When Fairy Shrimp first hatch they tend to be this redish color, All the Marbled Larvae that I photographed this day in my photographic tank, their stomachs were swollen red with Fairy Shrimp [Eastern Fairy Shrimp Eubranchipus vernalis]. Video taken by Hunter Kauffman

Female Eastern Fariy Shrimp [Eubranchipus vernalis] with developing eggs in her brood pouch. Pa. 2-6-24

This is the largest Jefferson Salamander that I have ever come across, at 8 inches, a female with a tail as long as her body. Pa. 2-6-24

This week I visited one of only a few vernal pools that I am aware of that has three different Ambystoma species using it for breeding purposes, Jefferson, Marbled and Spotted. The Jefferson were seen as their breeding season has begun, and the Spotted will no doubt be there also in the coming weeks. The Marbled having laid eggs last fall has the jump on the other two species, but I was struck how small these larvae were. Looking like they had only hatched less than a month ago, you can clearly see they still have what is left of their balancers on either side of their heads. Larvae growth does slow down in winter, but I am guessing these didn't hatch until the heavy rains in January filled this pool enough for hatching to take place. Pa. 2-6-24

Female Jefferson Salamander [Ambystoma jeffersonianum]. Pa. 2-6-24

Predaceous Diving Beetle [Dytiscidea]. Coos County, N.H. [above and below]

Mayfly Nymph showing their beautiful gills. Coos County, N.H.

These 30 week old Marbled larvae show all the signs that metamorphosis to land is well under way. The gular fold across the neck and and the more pronounced eye sockets are all more suited to a life on land. Within the month the gills will all but disappear and the larvae will leave their water home to a life on land, never to return to the water again. Pa. 5-19-23 [Ambystoma opacum]

One of the most handsome Marbled larva I have ever photographed. From the mottling on the side of the face to the gold dust flaking on the gills, and an over all beautiful lighter coloration than most Marbled larvae. In another month this 24 week old larva and others like it will be ready to metamorphosis and leave their watery home to a life on land. Pa. 5-9-23

Just a few weeks ago this pool was all but dried up and I feared the worst for the Salamander larvae in it, there are Jefferson, Spotted and Marbled here. After some recent rains the pool is now just about full and larvae were seen everywhere, rain just in the nick of time, what a wonderful sight! Pa. 5-9-23

It is wonderful to get out in nature and learn something new and I have learned a lot on this day. I have always thought that the coal region should be explored for amphibians, to see if these areas, once ravaged and dug, striped for coal long ago, not to mention the damage done to streams and water, are now possibly being used and holding populations of amphibians. I have noticed most of "coal holes" have water at the bottom of these holes or coal stripping's, and I have been very curious about these places. So yesterday was the start of much overdue exploring that I hope to do of these now reclaimed and grown over lands in my own back yard of Schuylkill County. At my very first stop at what was once a "test hole" for coal, I was very excited [I could not believe my eyes!] to see the water teaming with life, from tadpoles to Spotted Salamander egg masses. Most of the egg masses were out of water at this pool, as it was down 4 to 5 feet, thinking these eggs were no longer viable, again I leaned something new, even the egg masses far from water and looking very dried out, were still very much viable and alive as the embryos were seen moving inside the eggs. I rescued all the egg masses that I could find by putting them back in the water and I am sure they have hatched as they were fully developed. So lesson learned, egg masses out of water are not always dead, even eggs out of water for extended periods. Also what a wonderful discovered to find these coal mined lands can and are being used by amphibians, and to find out how resilient and adaptable these creature can be. I did see other deeper coal holes that I could never possibly reach also full of Spotted Salamander eggs and frogs of all kinds [unfortunately tires too]. So when driving through these regions and you think like I did, that there isn't any chance of these places and pools at the bottom of old abandoned mines and coal holes, holding life, think again! My wonder and admiration and respect for the natural world to over come all the damage that mankind has done and continues to do to our planet, is truly remarkable! Schuylkill County, Pa. 4-27-23

Another spring and another bad situation developing here in Pennsylvania. Very little spring rain and a winter with next to no snow leads to devastation like this. This is one of the few vernal pools that I know that contain Marbled, Jefferson, and Spotted larvae. In the small pools there are many large Marbled larvae, large for this time of year having hatched only some 12 weeks ago in early December. But remembering larvae metamorphosis speeds up when pools start to dry up and oxygen levels drop. They are developing fast and their lungs are functioning as they are coming to surface for frequent gulps of air, you can see their tiny ripples on the surface of the drying pools. They, the Marbled, stand a chance of completing their metamorphosis to land but the newly hatch Jefferson and Spotted [egg masses with embryos exposed to the air, [you could see the ready to hatch embryos moving inside their eggs] have no chance of surviving this year once again, unfortunately. Pa. 4-24-23

Male Red-Spotted Newt [Notophthalmus viridescens]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-3-23. Juvenile Red Spotted Newts spend up to five years on land and and are a orange color, this is called the eft stage. After five years they turn a brown color and enter pools never to return to the land again.

Female Eastern Fairy Shrimp [Eubranchipus vernalis] Showing eggs in her brood pouch. Tioga County, Pa. 4-3-23

Eye of the Eastern Fairy Shrimp [Eubranchipus vernalis]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-3-23. I like the way the left eye reflects in surface above.

Unknown Diving Beatle from Tioga County, Pa. 4-3-23. Notice the pocket of air he carries on his back for breathing underwater, amazing! [Dytiscus]

This Spotted Salamander embryo is approximately 14 says old now, in the embryonic stage and and looking from the top you can clearly see gill growth, eye development [even the outline of the eye socket or brow is becoming more pronounced and can be seen], the very beginnings of where balancers will be on the head. The small bud along the side further down the side from the gills is where the forelimb will be located. Pa. 4-3-23 [Ambystoma maculatum]

These Jefferson Salamander embryos are approximately 10 days old. You can see spin development and even ribs coming off the spin [egg on the right]. You can also notice see the head start to take shape and if you look close at the egg in the center you can just start to see the eyes. A truly remarkable process to witness. Pa. 4-3-23 [Ambystoma jeffersonianum]

Female Eastern Fairy Shrimp [Eubranchipus vernalis] Showing eggs in her brood pouch. Pa. 3-6-23. Fairy shrimp eggs are laid in vernal pools, but the eggs must fully dry out and then be inundate by water in order to hatch.

Female Eastern Fairy Shrimp [Eubranchipus vernalis], showing eggs in her brood pouch. Pa. 3-6-23

The elegance and beauty of Eastern Fairy Shrimp [Eubranchipus vernalis] . Pa. 3-6-23

A beautiful female Eastern Fairy Shrimp [Eubranchipus vernalis] notice her brood pouch is now full of eggs and is in constant motion [above and below], as this constant movement is a way of keeping the eggs oxygenated. Pa. 3-6-23.

Fairy Shrimp [Anostraca] with Marbled Salamander larvae.[Ambystoma opacum]. 2-10-23

Close up picture of a Fairy shrimp [Anostraca] with 10 week old Marbled salamander larva [Ambystoma opacum]. Pa. 2-10-23. You can see her brood pouch which appears empty, but if you look close you can just see her tiny eggs developing inside and it won't be too much longer that they will be more visible, as they grow in size.

10 week old Marbled Salamander larva [Ambystoma opacum] with Fairy Shrimp [Anostraca]. Pa. 2-10-23

Notice this Fairy Shrimp is carrying eggs in her brood pouch. Fairy Shrimp [Anostraca] are an important part of a healthy vernal pool ecosystem. Pa.. "They are crustaceans that live only in vernal pools and they filter bacteria, phytoplankton, protozoans and detritus. Female Fairy Shrimp produce several broods of encysted eggs which must dry and be re-submerged before they will hatch. The drought and cold resistant cyst can withstand ingestion by animals, may be blown by wind from a dry pool." From the excellent "Field Guide to the animals of Vernal pools by Leo P. Kenny And Matthew R. Burne. I always carry a copy with me in the field. Available through the Massachusetts Division of Fishers & Wildlife.

The amazing Fairy Shrimp [Anostraca]. Pa. 2-10-23. An excellent food source for many vernal pool creatures, including salamander larvae.