4.2 Aquatic Communities
4.2.12.6 Recommendations Priority should be placed on protecting the remaining undeveloped, unprotected natural lakes and controlling invasive species on those that are protected to promote resilience. Section 4.2.2 provides recommendations appropriate for all aquatic communities, state- wide. Actions specifc to the Coastal Plain portions of river basins that contain natural lakes are provided in Section 4.5. Surveys. Distributional and status surveys are needed for aquatic snails, crayfsh, mussels, and fsh (in order of general need). Monitoring. Monitoring of aquatic taxa is critical to assessing species and ecosystem health and gauging the resilience of organisms to a changing climate. Tese monitoring eforts will inform future decisions on how to manage aquatic species. Long-term moni- toring is needed to identify population trends and to assess performance of conservation actions. Monitoring plans should be coordinated with other existing monitoring programs where feasible. Research. Research topics that facilitate appropriate conservation actions include habitat use and preferences, reproductive behavior, fecundity, population dynamics and genet- ics, feeding, competition, and food web dynamics. Research must also be conducted to determine vulnerability of priority species to specifc threats and studies should provide recommendations for mitigation and restoration. Aquatic species propagation is an area of current and ongoing research. Developing techniques for propagation of aquatic species is critical for preserving those species and their genetic stock, particularly those that are rare, at high risk of extinction or extirpation, and difcult to propagate in a laboratory setting. Management Practices. Management practices that reduce impacts and work synergis- tically with other conservation actions are needed to enhance the resilience of natural resources. Particular needs include preserving biodiversity, protecting native populations and their habitats, and improving degraded habitats. Conservation Programs and Partnerships. Conservation programs, incentives, and partnerships should be utilized to the fullest extent to preserve high-quality resources and protect important natural communities. Protective measures that utilize existing regula- tory 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, it promotes ecosystem resilience.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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