3.9 Snails
Conservation Programs and Partnerships. Conservation programs, incentives, and part- nerships should be utilized to the fullest extent in order to preserve high-quality resources and protect important natural communities. Protective measures that utilize existing regu- latory frameworks to protect habitats and species should be incorporated where applicable. Land conservation or preservation can serve numerous purposes in the face of anticipated climate change, but above all, promotes ecosystem resilience. • Continue to support programs that limit collection of priority species, including permit requirements, law enforcement oversight, and legislative action that protects species. Implement the state listing process by routinely evaluating conservation status and recommending legislative updates to revise the state species lists.
• Support land trusts and conservation easements as a means to protect amphibian habitat.
• Utilize programs such as the Wildlife Conservation Lands Program and others to pro- tect, manage, and restore habitat on private lands.
• Support citizen science and volunteer eforts to monitor species and habitats.
• Utilize partnerships and research collaborations with local universities and education programs to implement conservation, research, and management actions. • Develop education, outreach, and technical guidance programs for the public. Work with private landowners to promote habitat that supports a high diversity of reptiles.
3.9 Snails 3.9.1 Introduction
Snails are members of the phylum Mollusca and are in the taxonomic class Gastropoda (commonly gastropods). Tis class also includes slugs. With about 40,000 snail species identifed, they are the largest group of living mollusks. Gastropods are protected under state law in North Carolina and the NCNHP program collects data on rare gastropod species. Gastropods have a muscular foot used for movement, and in some species it is modifed for swimming or burrowing. Snails respire using a lung (group Pulmonata) or gills (several taxonomic groups) (Brusca and Brusca 1990; Hickman et al. 2000) . Tey occupy both wetland and dry landscapes as well as fresh and marine waters; however, only freshwater and terrestrial gastropods are addressed in this version of the WAP.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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