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Dr. Brooks studies the ecology of ephemeral or "vernal" pools of
northeastern forests. These pools occur commonly in northeastern
forests. Vernal pools are hydrologically isolated from other wetlands,
streams, or lakes. Pools are principally expressions of weather,
with precipitation being the main source of pool water and most
water is lost through evapotranspiration. Potential changes in temperature
and precipitation patterns due to global climate change could have
serious impacts on pool hydroregimes. The hydroperiod or wet phase
of these pools is typically seasonal in duration. The pool's ephemeral
occurance provides pool fauna refuge from fish predation. The absence
of fish predation has resulted in vernal pools being the preferred
breeding habitat for some amphibian species such as wood frogs (Rana
sylvatica), Ambystoma salamanders and numerous invertebrate
species. However, the highly variable annual hydrology of vernal
pools makes each year's breeding effort a gamble against time, as
the pools inevitbly dry as spring progresses into summer. In the
northeast, vernal pools are recognized as important and valuable
habitats in the region's forests and are being given regulatory
protection. In Massachusetts, forestry Best Management Practices
(BMPs) and Conservation Management Practices (CMPs) have been developed
for vernal pools and vernal pool fauna. The effectiveness of these
regulations for protecting pool-breeding amphibians and other pool
fauna is the focus of Dr. Brook's vernal pool research. Dr. Brooks
has recently begun a study of the bat community on the Quabbin Reservoir
watershed in central Massachusetts. The first phase of this work
uses acoustic surveys to characterize the species composition and
relative activity patterns in 10 habitats on the Quabbin. Future
work will focus on the effects of timber harvesting on roosting
behavior of the northern (long-earred) myotis (Myotis septentrionalis).
CURRENT PROJECTS
- The effectiveness of Massachusetts forestry Best Management
Practices and Conservation Management Practices for vernal pools
and vernal pool fauna
- Projected climate change effects on the hydrology and ecology
of vernal pools
RECENT SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- Brooks, R. T. 2005. A review of basin morphology and pool hydrology
of isolated ponded wetlands: implications for seasonal forest
pools of the northeastern United States. Wetlands Ecology and
Management 13:335-348.
- Brooks, R.T. 2004. Weather-related effects on woodland vernal
pool hydrology and hydroperiod. Wetlands 24:104-114.
- Brooks, R.T. 2004. Early regeneration following the presalvage
cutting of hemlock from hemlock-dominated stands. Northern
Journal of Applied Forestry 21:12-18.
- Brooks, R.T. 2000. Annual and seasonal variation and the effects
of hydroperiod on benthic macroinvertebrates of seasonal forest
ponds in central Massachusetts, USA. Wetlands 20:707-715.
- Brooks, R.T., and M. Hayashi. 2002. Depth-area-volume and hydroperiod
relationships of ephemeral ("vernal") forest pools in southern
New England. Wetlands 22:247-255.
OTHER LINKS
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