In campus vernal pools, student researchers search for life in winter’s remains

The smell of fresh rain hung low, like the fog that had recently cleared. The snow had finally retreated — late, as it often does in Maine in April — but, among the tangle of weeds and conifers, a small team of fledgling scientists was more interested in the water it left behind. 

The group of student researchers set out into the University of New England’s 363-acre research forest, their boots sinking into the muck as they worked their way through the bramble, eyes scanning for clusters of jelly-like eggs beneath the surface waters of the forest’s vernal pools. These temporary wetlands are born each spring and serve as breeding grounds for frogs, fairy shrimp, and salamanders, species whose presence forms a critical part of the food chain and is an indicator of broader ecosystem health.

By mid-June, most of these pools will be dry, but the lives they nurture now — the salamanders, the frogs, and the promising careers of these young researchers — will endure.

This spring, a new cohort has taken up the mantle, wading through chilly waters, counting egg masses, tracking water depth and temperature, and recording the delicate clues of seasonal change.

“It’s not always glamorous,” said Pam Morgan, Ph.D., professor in the School of Marine and Environmental Programs at UNE, who has guided students in the monitoring effort since 2011. “Sometimes it’s cold and rainy or even snowy. But this team has pulled on their waders and gotten out there every week since the pools first started to melt. They’ve done a fantastic job with no complaints — only smiles.”

The work extends beyond counting egg masses. Students test water samples, log pH and conductivity, and track subtle differences across the pools over time. 

They’re not just learning about science — they’re contributing to it.” — Professor Pam Morgan, Ph.D.

The data helps reveal which environmental factors support thriving populations of indicator species like the wood frog and spotted salamander — and which pools show signs of stress.

“This work allows us to see which characteristics allow for a healthier, more functional vernal pool,” said Madelyn DiPietro, an environmental science major from Amesbury, Massachusetts, who will graduate this coming December. “I love this type of field work because it is extremely hands-on. You feel connected with nature."

Clockwise, from top left: Madelyn DiPietro and Rachel Lee document salamander egg masses (pictured at top right); students prepare water quality samples; Dr. Morgan guides the day’s field work; tadpoles emerge at the water’s surface.

For Rachel Lee ’26, a third-year environmental science major from New Hampshire, the experience has deepened her appreciation for wetland ecology. 

“This type of learning is more intriguing than exclusively learning in a classroom setting,” she said. “We’re so fortunate to have these learning opportunities right in our backyard.”

Located just steps from campus, UNE’s 363-acre forest — part of the Biddeford-Kennebunkport Vernal Pool Complex that is recognized as ecologically significant in Maine — serves as a natural classroom and open-air laboratory. It is here where students can feed their innate curiosities while participating in research related to woodland birds, wildlife, plants, climate change, and more.

The vernal pool research here is also rooted in ecological responsibility, Morgan said. The pools here were preserved, in part, Morgan said, as mitigation for development on campus years ago, giving students a chance to monitor not only natural cycles but human impact.

We’re so fortunate to have these learning opportunities right in our backyard.” — Rachel Lee ’26

For many students, the field work has shaped their professional aspirations, translating learning outcomes into meaningful careers.

Across the semester, the students’ steady footsteps have traced familiar routes through the woods, their observations adding to a growing body of knowledge that links UNE’s campus to broader efforts to safeguard biodiversity. 

Their work is measured, methodical, and quietly hopeful — a reflection of the delicate balance they are helping to protect. And, as the pools begin their slow fade into summer, the students will move forward too, carrying with them a deeper understanding of the natural world and their role in caring for it. 

(Left): Salamander eggs float ethereally along the surface of a vernal pool. (Right): Students examine a separate egg mass. 

“The data our students have collected over the years is helping us to better understand the impact of development on vernal pool habitats and the amphibians that rely on them,” Morgan said. “But beyond the research, I’m so happy to see them taking full advantage of the field experiences we offer here at UNE. 

“They’re not just learning about science — they’re contributing to it,” she said.