Ecology and Life Cycles One advantage of a temporary pool is avoiding predators. Predators like fish cannot survive, because the pool eventually dries up. It is a safe place for eggs and larvae. The tradeoff is that vernal pool animals must adapt to dry conditions or leave the pool before it dries up. Some invertebrates like fairy shrimp and clam shrimp leave eggs at the bottom of the pool. The eggs can withstand drying out in summer and freezing in winter. Amphibians like salamanders and frogs can survive in aquatic and terrestrial habitats at different life stages. Adults spend the summer, fall, and winter in nearby uplands. There the adults find food, shelter, and overwintering sites. Amphibians migrate to vernal pools after spring rains and lay eggs. Larvae or tadpoles have gills and must grow quickly after hatching. Tadpoles metamorphose into adults and leave the pool before it dries up. Adult Salamanders Larvae Egg Mass Stages of Metamorphosis www.fishandboat.com Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2021 49http://www.fishandboat.com