4.2 Aquatic Communities
freshwater streams and swamps in this community type as some may become brackish or saltwater systems.
Because of the link between freshwater mussels and fsh, phenological disruptions are a possibility, but exact mechanisms or efects are not understood. Freshwater mussel larvae (glochidia) are dependent on a host fsh for transformation into juveniles. Host fsh species are known for some mussel species, but unknown for others. Temperature cues play a large role in the release of glochidia from female mussels and also in the movement and migra- tions of fsh. With changing temperatures predicted with climate change there could be phenological disruptions afecting the reproductive capacity of freshwater mussels. Recent studies have shown that EDCs in treated wastewater can inhibit reproduction and cause feminization of mussels and fsh. Although little is known about the efects of EDCs, additional studies are being conducted to document the levels of EDCs in discharges. Measures are being identifed to reduce or eliminate EDCs from wastewater prior to dis- charge should those discharge studies show increases in EDC levels (Conn et al. 2006; Kim et al. 2007; Kasprzyk-Hordern et al. 2008; Joss et al. 2006; Kolpin et al. 2002; Nowotny et al. 2007) . While this community represents riverine aquatic habitats, there are terrestrial species that utilize this resource. Several priority bird species are threatened by rising sea levels through habitat conversion from saltwater intrusion; loss of nesting, foraging, or cover habitats from inundation; and impacts that reduce prey species found in this habitat. For example, the Little Blue Heron and Wood Stork prefer freshwater pools, inland swamp, or mudfats and usually nest further inland (LeGrand et al. 2012) . Inundation and saltwater intru- sion will reduce habitat quality and availability and potentially displace birds when cur- rently occupied habitats are converted to brackish systems. Most of the listed priority amphibian and reptile species associated with riverine aquatic habitats have limited distributions, or little is known about their distribution, or they are widely dispersed but have small populations. Isolation or fragmentation of particular hab- itat stretches occupied by those species could have signifcant long-term efects upon the sustainability of those populations in North Carolina. Temperature may have signifcant efects on developmental pathways or behaviors infu- encing reproduction and survival. For example, sex determination in hard-shell turtles is largely temperature dependent (Bull 1980, Bull et al. 1982) . Rising temperatures can also afect metabolic and growth rates in insects and other ectotherms (Dukes et al. 2009; Sheridan and Bickford 2011) , resulting in faster development and shorter lifecycles in some cases. Increased winter temperatures and frost-free days may also afect overwinter survival of some insects and pathogens (Dukes et al. 2009) , resulting in increased population sizes that contribute to outbreaks.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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