vernal pools are basically like tidal pools of the woods. they fill up with water in the spring when the rains are heavy, allowing lots of amphibians to lay eggs that hatch before summer comes and the water dries up. they are the perfect breeding ground for invertebrates too, because usually there aren't fish populations to eat em! technically, there are not supposed to be fish in vernal pools. sometimes humans introduce them though, if the pool is big enough.
at the first pool, there were TONS of toad eggs, but not much salamander activity. i did find this guy running around the edge of the pool though.
he's a polydesmid millipede, and pretty harmless. millipedes are decomposers while centipedes are carnivorous hunters. millipedes really won't bite, while centipedes have a pretty gnarly venemous bite...kind of like a flesh rotting bee sting.
i'm always a little hesitant to grab up most millipedes because some species of them excrete a fluid from their exoskeleton as a defense mechanism when they are threatened. this fluid can be really aggrivating to the skin and some people have more abrasive reactions to it.
there were some snakes and turtles to be seen...even some fish. but finding no salamanders, we just tanked on.
the next pool offered up immeadite signs. lots of egg masses, already hatched!
the egg masses feel like jello. dunno why they were green, algae accumulation from ferilization nearby?
wading around, i wasn't finding much until i started scooping up water in the tupperware collection tubs.
then next thing you know....
larvae!
even found some larger ones in a different area of the pool.
overall a good day!
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