Vernal Pools

5. Any organism that is able to live both on land and in water
8. The study of water movement and distribution
9. An animal without a backbone, such as insects or worms
11. The natural environment where an organism lives
12. The soil or surface layer that prevents water from draining, helping to retain water in the pool for a longer period
13. Temporary or seasonal nature of water bodies in vernal pools
16. Small aquatic organisms found in vernal pools, especially during reproductive stages
18. A habitat saturated with water, supporting aquatic plants and animals
19. The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem
20. Occuring at specific times of the year, often linked to environmental changes

1. An area of land that is periodically flooded, potentially forming vernal pools
2. Organisms that rely on vernal pools (temporary, shallow wetlands) for their survival and reproduction, unable to complete their life cycle anywhere else
3. Species are those that can utilize vernal pools for part or all of their life cycle, but are not solely dependent on them and can also successfully reproduce and survive in other types of wetland or aquatic habitats
4. A community of living organisms interacting with their environment
6. When an area is full soaked with water, such as during the rainy season in vernal pools
7. The process by which species evolve to better suit a specific environment
10. Wetlands that fill up annually but typically dry out during part of the year.
14. A small body of water, often seasonal, that can serve as a vernal pool
15. Contamination of the water or environment, which can threaten the life in vernal pools
17. An animal with a backbone, like frogs and salamanders