Vernal Pools: Natural History and Conservation [Paperback]

Elizabeth A. Colburn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2004

This is first book-length synthesis of the natural history, ecology, and conservation of the seasonally wet pools that occur throughout the formerly glaciated region of eastern North America - essentially the Great Lakes Basin, New England, and adjacent areas of Canada and the United States. Introductory chapters define vernal pools; provide overviews of their formation and physical-chemical-hydrological characteristics; and present data critical for assessing, regulating, and managing pool ecosystems. The chapters that immediately follow the introduction explore the biology of microscopic life forms such as bacteria, algae, and fungi and the great variety of higher plants associated with vernal pools. The next chapters delve into the descriptions, distributions, habitat requirements and life-history strategies of pool animals, and the ecological processes and patterns associated with the composition and dynamics of pool communities over time. A final chapter discusses research needs and conservation considerations that are a part of the ongoing effort to recognize, understand, protect, and manage vernal pools as viable elements in the landscape of eastern North America. An extensive appendix identifies all animals that have been reported from vernal pools of the region and describes their habitat requirements, geographic distribution, and life history characteristics. Technical terms related to vernal pools are defined in a glossary. An extensive bibliography contains a vast listing of published literature, websites, and unpublished reports.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Elizabeth A. Colburn, Ph.D., is an aquatic ecologist who has spent much of the past twenty-five years studying, teaching about, and working for the protection of vernal pools and other small wetlands in the formerly glaciated northeastern United States. She worked for Massachusetts Audubon for eighteen years, and presently is on the staff of Harvard Forest in Petersham, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 426 pages
• Publisher: McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company (October 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0939923912
• ISBN-13: 978-0939923915
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #494,753 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A compendium of superbly organized information, January 8, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vernal Pools: Natural History and Conservation (Paperback)

A "vernal pool" is a small, transient, biologically dynamic pond that appears in low-lying areas (especially in spring) and then typically dries up as the seasons of the year progress. The focus of Vernal Pools: Natural History And Conservation by aquatic ecologist Elizabeth A. Colburn (formerly with the Massachusetts Audubon for 18 years and currently a staff member of Harvard Forest in Petersham, Massachusetts) is upon the formerly glaciated region of eastern North American, but the detailed information is applicable to vernal pools and ponds anywhere else they appear in North America. A compendium of superbly organized information about vernal pools and their habitats, and their role as freshwater resources and in the promotional support for biological diversity, Vernal Pools is a core addition to academic library Environmental Studies reference collections, and especially commended to the attention of land owners, conservationists, land-use policy makers, and environmental protection activists.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book on vernal pools., May 28, 2005

By 

"naturefriend2" (Longueuil, Quebec Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vernal Pools: Natural History and Conservation (Paperback)

This is a very good book on vernal pools ecology. I have studied vernal pools in the university a few years ago and it's a shame that this book wasn't there at that time.

The author describes different aspects of vernal pools: their origin, hydrology, the inhabitants, vernal pools conservation and many more.

The book is well written in a language easy to understand for everybody. If you have not study at the university, don't worry because it is very easy to understand.

A five-stars.

Stephan
Longueuil, Québec, Canada

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review: "Vernal Pools: Natural History and Conservation", August 20, 2009

By 

Alex Hall (Arlington, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vernal Pools: Natural History and Conservation (Paperback)

Review first posted on my blog: [...]
"Vernal Pools: Natural History and Conservation" by Elizabeth A. Colburn is by far the most comprehensive and easy-to-understand account of the worlds's vernal pools.

What are vernal pools, you ask? Vernal pools or ponds are seasonal pools of water characterized by completely drying up seasonally. Filling up with early spring rains, snow melt, or ground water, most vernal pools dry up with summer heat.

Why care? Due to completely drying out seasonally, vernal pools are distinctly devoid of any fish species. Fish are common predators for many plants and animals, and when fish are absent, certain fauna are able to dominate. My interest is obviously centered around the fantastic breeding opportunities vernal pools offer amphibians. Because most amphibians (frogs, salamanders, newts, etc...) must lay their eggs in fresh water, lakes with fish who would eat the eggs just don't cut it. Instead, vernal pools or similar pools of water provide the stability and protection necessary for eggs to develop into tadpoles, and eventually adults.

VP methodically devotes reasonable amounts of text to each aspect of vernal pools based on their importance to the ecosystem. This was a particularly important point to me, showing Colburn's successful attempts to reduce her innate authorial biases.

This book has chapters on the following topics: Introduction to Vernal Pools; Hydrology; Vernal Pools in the Landscape: Origins, Landscape Positions, and Habitat Characteristics; Bacteria, Protists, Algae, and Fungi; Vegetation; Life History Strategies of Pool Animals, Non-Arthropod Invertebrates; Crustaceans; Insects; Water Mites and Miscellaneous Other Arthropods; Amphibians; Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals; Energy Flow, Seasonal Cycles, and Variations in Community Composition; Protecting Vernal Pools; and a nice Afterword.

Overall: 5/5 - Great and current science writing.