The Three Phases of Vernal Pools

  • Photo by David Rosen, Wildside Photography
    Photo by David Rosen, Wildside Photography
  • Photo by David Rosen, Wildside Photography
    Photo by David Rosen, Wildside Photography
  • Photo by David Rosen, Wildside Photography
    Photo by David Rosen, Wildside Photography

Vernal pools have three distinct phases: the wet phase, the flowering phase, and the dry phase.

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Patient, little bees

Solitary Bees generally only collect pollen and nectar from a single species of plant (or from a few closely-related plants). Researchers have discovered that vernal pool Solitary Bees can hibernate underground for up to four years, waiting for the 2-3 weeks when their host plant is in bloom.

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Meet Christopher Rogers, Invertebrate Zoologist

Christopher Rogers is an Invertebrate Zoologist, which is a scientist who studies animals without backbones. Specifically, he studies the invertebrates that live in vernal pools. He has travelled all over the world looking for new species in new places.