Freshwater Crab
A nice example of how tropical rainforest ecosystems are equally complex underwater in rainforest streams as they are in the actual forest – no species exists in a vacuum. Note how an impressive number of hydras has found a cozy home on this freshwater crab… Photographed by RTPI President Twan Leenders for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project.
Read MoreUnderwater Rock
While surveying for Eastern Hellbenders, we sometimes utilize technology to get a better view of potential crevices that might be used as an entrance point for the salamander to get under a rock. Using a waterproof camera, I snapped this shot to see how far back the opening went and if any hellbender faces were poking out of the darkness. Although it didn’t seem to be a long enough crevice for a hellbender to use, it still turned out to be an interesting view! Elyse Henshaw Conservation Technician
Read MoreProductive Vernal Pools
Have you ever wondered what might be hiding just beneath the water’s surface in these temporary pools that crop up in early spring? This little clip reveals a productive vernal pool that has a number of spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) egg masses nestled within the leaf litter of the pool floor. These pools are an important breeding area for several amphibian species, as you can see, because they provide a safe fish-less environment for the eggs and eventual tadpoles to...
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