4.2 Aquatic Communities
and the start of withdrawals there in 1968 is believed to have resulted in a reversal of the saltwater zone hydraulic gradient. Since then the front has been advancing and represents what is essentially a permanent decrease in subterranean freshwater storage capacity (Heath and Spruill 2003; USGS 2012b) . 4.2.6.4 Climate Change Compared to Other Threats Comparing climate change to other ecosystem threats helps defne short- and long-term conservation actions and recommendations. While climate change is not the most severe threat to this natural resource, a combination of synergistic efects with other threats could stress these systems to the point of depletion. A comparison to other threats has not been conducted for this natural community type. 4.2.6.5 Impacts to Wildlife Te unique characteristics of species associated with groundwater, springs, and sub- terranean water are referred to as troglomorphy: reduced or absent eyes and pig- ment and elongated, thin appendages (Culver and Pipan 2009; Culver et al. 2012) . Tese obligate subterranean-dwelling aquatic species are considered stygobionts (Barr and Holsinger 1985; Culver et al. 2012) . Obligate cave-dwelling animals are considered to be troglobites and include turbellarians, gastropods, millipedes, arachnids, pseudoscorpions, isopods, amphipods, beetles, fshes, and salamanders (Barr and Holsinger 1985) . Tere has been little research in North Carolina, but research conducted by Kenk (1935, 1972, 1977a, 1977b) and Culver with others (1969, 1971, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010) that focused on subterranean systems in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia provided information that may assist in understanding what type of subterranean species are present in North Carolina. According to Culver et al. (2012) , two tidewater amphipods ( Stygobromus araeus and S.indentatus ) occur frequently enough to have permanent populations in some seep- age springs and hypotelminorheic habitats (small isolated aquifers underlain by clay). One of the amphipods ( S. indentatus ) was included in a petition fled by the Center for Biological Diversity, requesting that the USFWS list the species for protection under the ESA. Te peti- tion lists the species as occurring in North Carolina. Culver et al. (2012) indicate the tidewa- ter amphipod was found in a shallow well in Nash County, North Carolina. 4.2.6.6 Recommendations Groundwater is a valuable resource often used for industry, commerce, agriculture, and most importantly, drinking water (Webbers 1995) . Contaminants in the recharge zone can be transported in waters contributing to springs, wells (including drinking waters),
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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