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The role of vernal pools in a landscape context is important to consider! Though small in size, vernal pools play an important role in the quality of the greater forested ecosystem and watershed.
To call out a handful of reasons...
- Vernal pools have higher rates of decomposition than upland forest areas, and thus are hotspots for nutrient cycling within forested ecosystems (Capps et al., 2014).
- Pools serve as critical breeding habitat for certain Michigan amphibians, which play a sizeable role in the forest food web.
- Vernal pools are important for water quality. Often connected to aquifers as recharge zones, the ecological integrity of a vernal pool is important for the health of groundwater systems (Liebowitz and Brooks, 2008). This is significant because groundwater is the primary source of drinking water for communities in northern Michigan.
Despite their contributions to greater ecosystem, vernal pools receive little protection from state and federal wetland regulations. Therefore, protection efforts are largely voluntary!
The MVPP has assembled a list of voluntary measures in order to provide guidance on possible actions that individuals can take to help protect vernal pools.
Thanks to the Land Trust Alliance, these materials are available in print and ready to distribute. The purpose of this handout is to provide...
- A helpful guide to vernal pool protection and management for forest owners who want to manage their forest for non-game wildlife
- An education and outreach tool to help resource managers engage private landowners in vernal pool conservation
- A tool to help advocate for vernal pools near you!
Request copies, here.
Or, read online at mivernalpools.com
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