3.8 Reptiles
have increased in numbers since being federally listed under the Endangered Species Act, allowing them to be removed from endangered status in 1987. Trade of this species is still regulated by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, because of “similarity of appearance” to American Crocodiles, which are federally listed as threatened. Recent survey work (2014– 2015) has been conducted jointly between NCWRC and NCSU to determine the status of the species in the state. Results of this research are currently being analyzed. 3.8.2 Comparison of 2005 and 2015 Priority Species Te 2015 evaluation identifed a total of 61 species as conservation concern, knowledge gap, or management concern priorities. Some species are a priority in more than one of the three evaluation categories (see Appendix G). Of the 61 species, 43 were designated SGCN and another 14 were designated research priorities. In comparison, the 2005 WAP listed 43 as priority species, which may have included concerns for knowledge gaps. However, the 2005 Taxa Team evaluations did not identify knowledge gaps or management concerns as separate priorities. Tere have been scientifc advances in direct DNA sequencing methods that enabled tests of previous hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships (Amphibiaweb 2015) . Tis new information has led to suggestions for taxonomic revisions such as those proposed by Frost (et al. 2006) and others. However, newly published taxonomy should not be interpreted as a formal, mandatory change; it is simply an alternative that should be evaluated alongside other such proposals (Amphibiaweb 2015) . Table 3.23 provides a comparison of changes since the 2005 WAP was published. Tese changes do not necessarily indicate a change in the concern status of these species; they are more likely a result of diferent evaluation methodologies from the 2005 process (see Appendix F) or refect an increase in our knowledge base for the species. 3.8.3 Conservation Concerns Te conservation concerns for reptiles are many and are summed up well by Gibbons et al. (2000) . Tis paper notes that although amphibians are often thought of as much more imper- iled, reptiles are also experiencing drastic declines worldwide and face numerous threats to their conservation status. Some of the major concerns that may afect the abundance or distribution of reptile species include habitat loss and alteration, poor habitat management (e.g., lack of appropriate fre regimes), environmental pollution, unsustainable use, emerg- ing diseases, and invasive species.
Most of the reptiles in North Carolina are afected by not one, but many issues related to their habitats. Sea turtles in particular are species that have experienced declines because
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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