Lithologic and Periglacial Origins of Vernal Pools influence their Hydrologic Function in the Appalachian Mountain Section of Pennsylvania

Abstract:

Vernal pools are geographically isolated wetlands that provide critical ecosystem services such as amphibian breeding habitat and enhanced biogeochemical processing. Their small size and isolation from other surface water causes many to be overlooked in state and national wetland mapping inventories. We hypothesize that the folded geology of the Appalachian Mountain Section in the Ridge and Valley Physiographic province along with repeated periglacial climate cycles caused vernal pools to form in predictive patterns at regional scales. Geospatial analysis has uncovered a larger number of these features, but many of their hydrobiogeochemical roles remain ambiguous. We seek to answer how the lithologic and periglacial origins of vernal pools influence hydroperiod and aquatic chemistry. This research uses a combination of remote sensing and in-situ monitoring to understand how vernal pool surface hydrology functions among the headwaters.