Endangered and Nongame Species ProgramNJ Division of Fish and Wildlife - PDF document

Endangered and Nongame Species ProgramNJ Division of Fish and Wildlife basin basin flowing flowingoutlet.outlet. TYPES OF VERNAL POOLS WOODLAND VERNALPOOLS OPEN-CANOPY EMERGENTVERNAL POOLS SCRUB-SHRUBVERNAL POOLS VERNAL SWAMPS MAN-MADEVERNAL POOLS THE SIZE OF VERNAL POOLS RANGE: 10-square feet --- several acres Highbush blueberry(Vaccinium corymbosum)Cephalanthus occidentalis)Vernal Pool Plant Indicators/AssociatesOther species:spicebush leatherleaf •Wetland that occurs in a confined basin two twocontiguous months between March andSeptember.September. THE VERNAL POOL CYCLEWINTER/SPRINGSUMMER/FALL During fall and winter months, vernal pools become filled by rain, melting snow, and groundwaterdischarge• Under normal weather patterns most vernal pools are filled to capacity by April• As spring gives way to summerair temperatures, andincreased water uptake by plants causes water levels to recede in vernal pools• By July, most vernal pools are dry VERNAL POOLIN OCTOBERVERNAL POOLIN APRIL •Wetland that occurs in a confined basin•Maintains ponded water for two contiguous •Wetland that occurs in a confined basin•Maintains ponded water for two contiguous•Dries up during the year or is otherwise free of Definitions: OBLIGATE &FACULTATIVE SPECIES••Obligatethe successful completion of their life-cycle••Facultative: amphibians AND reptiles that canuse vernal pool habitat for all or a portion of theirlife cycle, but do not necessarily rely on suchhabitats. OBLIGATE VERNAL POOL SPECIES* State Endangered ** State ThreatenedEastern Tiger Salamander*Spotted SalamanderJefferson’s SalamanderMarbled SalamanderWood FrogEastern Spadefoot Toad OBLIGATE VERNAL POOL SPECIES Marbled salamanderSpotted salamanderBlue-spotted salamanderWood frogEastern spadefoot toad Eastern Mud TurtleSpotted TurtleEastern Painted TurtleFowler’s ToadBullfrogCarpenter FrogSouthern Leopard FrogNorthern Gray Treefrog Southern Gray Treefrog*Northern Cricket FrogNorthern Spring PeeperLong-tailed Salamander**Four-toed SalamanderRed-spotted Newt WHY ARE VERNAL POOLSSO IMPORTANT?• High biodiversity - 500 animal species identified in vernal poolswithin the the northeastern U.S.•In NJ there are 7 amphibian species depend exclusively on vernalpools for breeding (obligates), 2 of which are endangered• All 14 of NJ’s frog species use vernal pools for breeding• provide foraging habitat for wading birds, turtles, snakes,mammals; food webs• habitat for rare plants and invertebrates (e.g. fairy shrimp,dragonflies) VERNAL POOL SURVEY PROJECTOVERVIEW OF METHODOLOGYMapping •Rutgers University using remote-sensing WWW.DBCRSSA.RUTGERS.EDU/IMS/VERNALWWW.DBCRSSA.RUTGERS.EDU/IMS/VERNAL Truthing •ENSP Biologists and volunteers inspect determine if vernal or not •Volunteers perform species surveys at verified vernal pools (Feb-June) andData Integration •Data collected on pools integrated into DEP Certified Vernal Pool database andDEP Critical Habitat Mapping (LANDSCAPE PROJECT) nature could be filled with General Permit #6 1. Occurs in a confined basin depression without a permanently flowing outlet. 2. Provides documented habitat for 3. Maintains ponded water for at least September of a normal rainfall year. 4. Free of fish populations throughout the year, or dries HOW TO CERTIFY A VERNAL POOLOBLIGATE SPECIES METHODOBLIGATE SPECIES METHOD1. Document breeding evidence of any 1 of the 7 OBLIGATE Vernal Pool Amphibiansphotos preferred but not requiredtake detailed field notesmap, aerial map, or tax mapGPS coordinates useful4. Submit data sheet, photos, maps, etc. to ENSP for reviewFACULTATIVE SPECIES METHODFACULTATIVE SPECIES METHOD (if you 1. Document at least 2 of the FACULTATIVE Vernal Pool Herptiles; for all amphibians2. Provide evidence that pool is devoid of breeding fish populations and/or dries out completely THE AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF VERNAL POOLS OBLIGATE VERNAL POOL SPECIES MOLE SALAMANDERSFamily: Ambystomatidae• spend much of their time underground (“fossorial”)• emerge to breed, then return to their hideouts, onlyoccasionally venturing forth on rainy nights• predatory larvae SPOTTED SALAMANDER(Ambystoma maculatum) AdultCommunal egg massesBreeds in all types of poolsNational distributionNJ range JEFFERSON SALAMANDER(Ambystoma jeffersonianum) Adult - note blue fleckingAdult - blue speckles fadewith ageUpland woodland poolsNational distribution BLUE-SPOTTED SALAMANDER(Ambystoma laterale) AdultNational distribution Vernal swamps; bottomland pools Blue-spotted salamander Jefferson salamander ONLY FOUND IN FLOODPLAINS AND BOTTOMLAND POOLS PRIMARILY FOUND IN UPLAND DECIDOUS WOODLAND POOL S Blue-spotted X Jefferson salamanderHybrids70% Blue-Spotted 70% Blue-Spotted 70% Jefferson MARBLED SALAMANDER(Ambystoma opacum) AdultAdult with eggsNational distributionNJ range EASTERN TIGER SALAMANDER(Ambystoma tigrinum) Adult tiger salamanderEgg massNational distributionNJ rangeFrequently breeds in abandonedgravel pits STATEENDANGERED LARVAE OF MOLE SALAMANDERS • flat, wide heads• predatory--feed on a More mole salamanderlarvae WOOD FROG(Rana sylvatica) AdultEgg massesjuvenileLays eggs communallyNational distributionNJ range Spotted salamander Wood frog•Irregularly shaped•Clear or milky white•30-200 eggs per mass•Individual or communal•Submerged•Colonized by algae•Globular•Clear jelly; dark embryo•500-2000 eggs per mass•Near surface•Colonized by algaeEGG MASS IDENTIFICATIONEGG MASS IDENTIFICATION EASTERN SPADEFOOT(Scaphiopus holbrookii) National distributionNJ rangeAdultAdult--notice vertical pupilBreeds in all types of pools;will sometimes use puddles FACULTATIVE VERNALPOOL SPECIESSnapping TurtleEastern Mud TurtleSpotted TurtleWood Turtle**American ToadFowler’s ToadBullfrogCarpenter FrogPickerel FrogSouthern Leopard FrogPine Barrens Treefrog*Northern Gray Treefrog Upland Chorus FrogNew Jersey Chorus FrogNorthern Cricket FrogNorthern Spring PeeperGreen FrogLong-tailed Salamander**Four-toed Salamander* State Endangered ** State Threatened AMERICAN TOAD(Bufo americanus) NJ range FOWLER’S TOAD(Bufo woodhousii fowleri) • Three or more wartsusually present in each spot• Occurs mainly in sandy habitats throughout the state; breeds in vernal pools, ditches, and the shallow edgesof lakes and pondsCALL: a short (1-4 seconds), harsh nasal b-w-a-a-a-h NJ range GREEN FROG(Rana clamitans) Adult femaleNJ range ridges unlike bullfrog at water’s edge BULLFROG(Rana catesbeiana) AdultNJ range •Large ear drum•Flat, wide head PICKEREL FROG(Rana palustris) CALL: Like a low, raspy snore; can call while AdultNJ range •Brownish in color SOUTHERN LEOPARD FROG(Rana utricularia) Adult •Blotches round in shape•Greenish above NJ range CARPENTER FROG(Rana virgatipes) AdultNJ range •Yellowish stripesalong body NORTHERN SPRING PEEPER(Pseuadcris crucifer) NJ rangeAdult female with diagnostic pattern •Juveniles bright green•Breeds in vernal ponds,NJ range and meadows, gravel pitsNJ range STATEENDANGERED CHORUS FROGS almost identical indiscernable by thethickness of stripes on• Found in a variety ofditchesNJ rangeNJ range NORTHERN CRICKET FROG(Acris crepitans) Adult maleNJ range PINE BARRENS TREEFROG(Hyla andersonii) Adult displayingundersideRecent metamorphNJ range NJ range Juvenile (red eft) Newt eating wood frog eggs NJ range Prefers highly structured mossy swamp pools NJ range SPOTTED TURTLE(Clemmys guttata) • Turtle most frequently encountered in vernal poolsNJ Range EASTERN PAINTED TURTLE(Chrysemys picta) NJ RangeCan be observed basking alongon egg masses and vegetationcertain that a permanent water body is close by Characteristic patternand coloration COMMON SNAPPING TURTLE(Chelydra serpentina) NJ Range EASTERN MUD TURTLE(Kinosternon subrubrum) • Found occasionally in vernal pools locatedin proximity to floodplains; feeds heavily on invertebrates within vernal pools NJ RangeVernal ‘ditch’ used by WOOD TURTLE(Clemmys insculpta) Adult maleRiparian habitat V ERNAL POOL PHENONLOGY – SOUTHERN NJDECJANFEBMARTiger TigerWood frogWood frogsalamandersalamanderSpotted salSpotted salSpring peeperSpring PeeperChorus fro g A PRMAYJUNESpring peeperSpring peeperSo. Leopard frogPickerel frogGray treefrogPB treefrogGray treefrogSo. Leopard frogGreen frog A merican toadPB treefrogBullfrogFowlers toadGreen frogCarpenter frogBullfrogCarpenter frogAmerican toadFowlers toadSEPTMarbled salamander V ERNAL POOL PHENONLOGY – NORTHERN NJFEBMARAPRILWood frogWood frogSpotted salSpotted salSpotted salSpring peeperSpring peeperSpring PeeperChorus frogChorus frogPickerel frogPickerel frogCricket frogJefferson salJefferson salamanderBlue spotted salBlue spotted salFowlers toadAmerican toadMAYJUNESEPTEMBERSpring peeperGray treefrogMarbled salamanderGray treefrogGreen frogGreen frogBullfrogCricket frog A merican toadFowlers toadBullfro Phenology of Calling Frogs