| Vernal
Pools |
Lee
Frelich |
| Dec
16, 2006 12:23 PST |
Ray:
Most vernal pools in old growth remnants have had gaps form
nearby or
overhead periodically over the centuries (most trees live about
150-200
years and die at different times and fall all different
directions when
they die) and some of those fell into the ponds, leading to more
structural
complexity within the ponds, as opposed to hauling away the wood
that would
otherwise have fallen in. Coarse woody debris in and around
ponds,
including logs that are partly submerged, and partly in the pond
and partly
out, as well as differences in amount of sunlight, are an
important feature
of natural ponds and their use by a variety of animals and
plants. The
ponds that I saw would all benefit from more structural
complexity in and
around them. I would either cut a few trees and let them fall
where they
may or just wait and let nature create these structures. You
should see
some of the ponds in the Porcupine Mountains and Sylvania
Wilderness Areas
in Upper Michigan, as well as the Ridges Sanctuary in Door
County,
WI. They are incredibly complex and really give you an idea of
what to aim
for in pond restoration.
Lee
At 01:25 PM 12/15/2006, you wrote:
| |
Dr.
Frelich, since you have been onsite, how do you feel
about the areas
around the vernal pools/wetlands that we visited, namely
the
effects of them opening a considerable amount of canopy
over them?
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New York Natural Heritage Program Conservation Guide - Vernal Pools
Document http://www.acris.nynhp.org/report.php?id=9902
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