Considerations for the Management of Vernal Pool Faunal Communities

The faunal community of California’s vernal pools is less obvious and has been less studied than the floral community but is similarly diverse, endemic, and endangered. Species richness and composition vary between pool types, between pools of a given type, and within individual pools between years and through the season. The physiology, life history, and ecology of the pool organisms contribute to this complexity. Management considerations must take into account a large number of factors including maintaining pool hydrology and water chemistry, avoiding crushing cysts in the soil, avoiding the input of toxins, and maintaining genetic variability. Decisions must be made at the landscape level and focus on functioning communities, not just individual species or single pools.