Aquatic Study Programs
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Stream and River Explorations
Most stony-bottom streams and rivers of the Pocono and Catskill Mountains are home to a tremendous diversity of aquatic life. In this program, participants use nets to collect aquatic insects and salamanders from stream-bottom and streamside habitats. Program wraps up with an up-close look at organisms collected - unique adaptations, ecological roles, identifying field marks and what the organisms collected tell us about stream health are covered. Conducive to team work. A more advanced level can incorporate the watershed concept, “biomonitoring” (monitoring aquatic life as a measure of water and habitat quality and overall stream health), and making the connection between people, land use and community water resource protection. |
 Stonefly nymph |
 Green frog |
Lake Adventures
Lakeside exploration with nets for aquatic animals, including frogs, tadpoles, newts, aquatic insects, and fish. This program is best suited for lakes and ponds that support aquatic plants growing in shallows, along shore. Animals caught are held temporarily so participants get a close-up look at unique features and adaptations of aquatic life of lakes and ponds. A more advanced version can incorporate lake ecology concepts including lake food webs, the watershed concept and connecting people and community water resources. |
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Wicked Big Puddles!
Spring or “vernal” pools are fascinating yet often overlooked wetland ecosystems that form when spring rain and snowmelt collect in low-lying depressions in the forest. A myriad of unique animals converge on vernal pools to breed, including mole salamanders, wood frogs, fairy shrimp and fingernail clams. Life histories of these and other vernal pool inhabitants, dependent on these ephemeral woodland pools for their survival, are covered. Amphibian egg masses, adult salamanders and wood frogs, salamander larvae and wood frog tadpoles, as well as other unique vernal pool denizens that are present are given a close look to reveal adaptations and field marks. Time frame for this program is early spring (late March to early April), when wood frogs and spotted salamanders lay eggs in pools, through mid- to late summer, depending on the amount of rainfall received in the spring and summer seasons, which determines how early pools dry up in a given year. |
 Marbled salamander |
