Vernal ponds are temporary pools of water lasting at least 2 months which are created by snow melt and spring rains. The name ‘vernal’ is derived from the Latin word ‘Vernalis’ which means Spring. They are also called seasonal or ephermal ponds.
Vernal Ponds are commonly fed by precipitation and lack an inlet for continual fresh supplied water. Their defining trait is that they dry up periodically due to evaporation. In most instances, this happens during the summer and times of drought but not before performing an important function.
The unique environment of vernal ponds provides habitat for numerous rare plants and animals that are able to survive and thrive in these harsh conditions. A vernal pond, because of its periodic drying, does not support breeding populations of fish. Many organisms have evolved to use a temporary wetland which will dry but where they are not eaten by fish. These organisms are the "obligate" vernal pond species, so called because they must use a vernal pond for various parts of their life cycle. Many of these plants and animals spend the dry season as seeds, eggs, or cysts, and then grow and reproduce when the ponds are again filled with water.
Vernal ponds will fill and empty several times during the Winter snow and Spring rain seasons. The specialized plants and animals that make vernal pools unique would not survive if not for the geology, long history of landscape formation and soil development that created the conditions in which vernal pools can exist.
Vernal Ponds are normally basins or depressions with an underlying impervious layer (loam, clay or bedrock). Their size can range from a few square feet to several acres. A pond which is too small and/or shallow may dry too quickly for species which rely on them to complete their lifecycles while one that is too large and/or deep may never dry completely.
This vernal pond is located in the Madison Heights Friendship Woods Nature Center. The Friendship Woods Nature Center is a peaceful oasis in the middle of the City of Madison Heights. It has 1 1/3 miles of paved trails in the 37 ½ acres of natural forest. It opened in October 1996 and operates with full-time and part-time naturalists and many volunteers. The Nature Center trails are open 7 days a week and the hours vary depending on the season, normally from 8 am to dusk.
The listed coordinates will take you to the Friendship Woods Vernal Pond overlook. The requirements to log this cache must be completed as follows. Please do not post your answers to your log. E-mail us with your answers to get credit for this cache. To log this Earthcache, you must complete these tasks:
1) Looking at this pond, describe in your email what is the makeup of the bottom of the pond or the exposed topsoil layer
2) Read the sign here and email us WHO are frequent visitors as they hunt for a meal . Please do not post this answer in your log.
3) Take a photo of your team with your GPSr at the overlook with the Vernal Pond sign in the background and post it on the log page.
PLEASE NOTE: I will not be sending follow up requests for answers. If you do not complete the requirements,your log will be deleted. In order to claim this Earth Cache, you must follow through with the requirements, not just visit the site.
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