Vernal Pools: Natural History and Conservation
A key strength of Vernal Pools is its coverage of the diverse invertebrate and vertebrate fauna of these temporary water bodies, including discussions of life history and food chains. Colburn discusses adaptive strategies that are necessary for invertebrates to survive in these ephemeral environments. The detailed, referenced lists of faunal taxa will guide students as they assess these relatively unknown aquatic systems. These chapters not only capture the author's vast experience with vernal pools but also her enthusiasm for sharing their secrets with others. --C Michael Falter, professor emeritus of aquatic ecology and limnology, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho (BioScience, Vol. 56, No. 10, October 2006)Elizabeth Colburn has written a book that should prove to be a valuable resource to a wide group of people, from land managers to scientists to interested landowners. This is a well-organized, well-written, well-illustrated book. As we become increasingly aware of the ecology and importance of vernal pools, Colburn's book should be one that is readily available on the bookshelf of anyone interested in or working on a landscape with vernal pools. --Craig Anderson, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Natural Areas Journal, Vol. 26 (4), 2006)The author spent more than 25 years studying vernal pools and other small wetland areas, and is a noted authority in the field. She has produced a highly needed volume which should be read by every aquatic biologist, herpetologist and anyone interested in our national environment. We highly recommend this interesting volume, and also commend the publisher for publishing this awesome book at such a reasonable price, making it readily available to anyone. --Harlan D. Walley and Theresa L. Wusterbarth, Dept of Biology, Northern Illinois University, for the Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society, March 2006