VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO SURVEY REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS

[bach2yoga]

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO SURVEY REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS

Date: 22 Jan 2004
From: "FWLISTS FWLISTS" {FWLISTS@dep.state.nj.us}

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is looking for
dedicated volunteers to assist the Division of Fish and Wildlife's
Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) in collecting important
information on critical habitats for reptiles and amphibians
throughout the state again this spring.

Throughout the winter and early spring, water collects in wetland
depressions in forests and meadows forming temporary pools that remain
through early summer. These seasonal wetlands, known as vernal pools,
are critical habitats for several species of amphibians that rely upon
them for breeding. Due to their temporary nature, vernal pools do not
contain fish, which make them ideal locations for amphibians to lay
their eggs since the larvae can grow and develop with a lower risk of
predation. New Jersey has five species of salamanders and two species
of frogs that breed only in vernal pools. Twenty-one other amphibian
and reptile species will use vernal pools, but can also successfully
reproduce in habitats that contain fish. In addition to serving as
amphibian breeding habitat, vernal pools are a source of forage,
refuge and water for a multitude of mammals, birds, insects and other
wildlife.

The number of healthy, ecologically intact vernal pools has declined
significantly over the past several decades in New Jersey as a result
of the development of rural areas. The loss of this critical habitat
has consequently put the species that depend on vernal pools for
breeding habitat at risk. To prevent the destruction of vernal pools,
the DEP recently adopted regulations that afford them protection under
the State Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act. In short, all activities
within a vernal pool that meet specific biological and physical
criteria are now regulated.

An effort to identify and certify all of the state's vernal pools is
currently underway by the ENSP and a dedicated group of volunteers.
Anyone who would like to volunteer by conducting salamander and frog
surveys at a vernal pool near them should attend one of the upcoming
training seminars scheduled for the last Saturday in February and the
first two Saturdays in March. Seating is limited, so only serious
individuals willing to devote at least 40 hours to surveying should
sign up.

Following are the dates, times and locations of the seminars:

TRAINING SEMINAR 1
Date: February 28, 2004
Place: The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (Classroom B126),
Pomona
Time: 9 a.m. - noon (lecture); 1 - 3 p.m. (field session)
Capacity: 50 persons

TRAINING SEMINAR 2
Date: March 6, 2004
Place: Hackettstown Natural Resource Education Center (located within
the Hackettstown Fish Hatchery), Hackettstown
Time: 9 a.m. - noon (lecture); 1 - 3 p.m. (field session)
Capacity: 80 persons

TRAINING SEMINAR 3
Date: March 13, 2004
Place: Lord Stirling Environmental Education Center, Basking Ridge
Time: 9 a.m. - noon (lecture); 1 - 3 p.m. (field session)
Capacity: 75 persons

Participants may register via email at vernalpools@yahoo.com. Be sure
to include the training seminar you wish to attend, name of
attendee(s), your mailing address and telephone number. An email
containing registration confirmation and driving directions to the
appropriate seminar will be sent back to you. Those without email
capabilities can call 908-735-8975 to register.

For more information, visit the Division of Fish and Wildlife's
website at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ensp/vernalpool.htm

 

[Bobbleton]

This is a really great program--its fun and really very helpful . . . every certified vernal pool gains a certain level of protection from development as it is now considered a wetland (not just a puddle).
This is my second year volunteering for this project and I have to say its a great excuse to spend time looking for animals you normally wouldn't see . . . and if you're not too familiar with herps, its an awesome learning experience.
Its not too late to sign up for this or for the amphibian crossing rescue project . . . just email Brian Zarate at the vernalpools@yahoo.com address.

 

[bach2yoga]

I'm doing it tomorrow up in Basking Ridge.
I have been trying to pick out a few vernal ponds from the map, butI'm having some difficulty pinning down what I want because the maps are aerial when zoomed in. I tried to figure it out with gps coordinates--supposedly the curser is supposed to show the UTM coordinates, but I can't seem to make it do that.
My daughter and I have been doing USGS Frogwatch USA for about 2 years and I thought this would be a great way to expand on that.
Any hints on the mapping?
Renee

 

[bach2yoga]

http://www.dbcrssa.rutgers.edu/ims/vernal/graphics.htm

 

[Bobbleton]

Originally i had the same problems . . . for one thing, when you're looking at the map, make sure you're using internet explorer. Netscape and aol (and whatever else is out there) i've found don't usually give the coordinates on the bottom of the page as consistently as ie. also--they just changed the way you access layers from last year . . . the layers don't even show up as an option anymore if you're not using ie.

Also--if you're trying to use the utm coords, make sure your gps is set to use that type of measurement . . . the conversion is a pain and i've found it just makes life more difficult going into hours and minutes and all that nonsense.

Finally . . . i'm not sure if the map still allows you to do this, but try to eliminate all visble layers at a certain level except for the potential pools and the main roads. I've found i could trace my way from familiar larger roads to the points i've needed fairly easily . . . just think of major routes in reference to towns and it becomes a little more simple . . . once you get the hang of it.

And of course if all else fails, you can email brian and either he or someone else at ensp can help you out with directions to your pools. They've all been very nice and helpful with me in the past and remember--most of the pools on that map have already been field-checked to make sure there's actually a pool there (alot of them by brian himself), so they shouldn't have much trouble helping you find your way back.

Good luck! Keep me updated on how you're doing and I'll do the same . . . and if you have any difficulty w/ identification or mapping or whatever, I'll be glad to help out if i can.