California's Mediterranean ecosystems include shrubland and grassland
vegetation types that are fire-prone. Dotted within this landscape are
ephemeral wetlands called vernal pools. Since surrounding upland vege
tation is adapted to survive fire, it is expected that vernal pool org
anisms should be able to survive as well. One group of animals common
to vernal pools are anostracan crustaceans that survive the pool's dry
period as encysted embryos. We hydrated anostracan cysts from the soi
l of a recently burned pool and from soil samples intentionally burned
in a prescribed fire. We also sampled burned pools when refilled the
next rainy season. We found that anostracan cysts in the soil can surv
ive fire and that shrimp occur in pools in the first post-burn season.
This information is important from a management perspective concernin
g fire effects, controlled or natural, on vernal pools and their rare
and endangered species.