4.2 Aquatic Communities
4.2.14.6 Recommendations SAV beds and water column habitats act as nursery areas for most planktivorous larvae and juvenile pelagic species (e.g., Bluefsh, River Herring, Menhaden, Spanish Mackerel) ( NCDMF 2010 ). In addition to fully aquatic species, these habitats are also important foraging areas for sea turtles and migratory and resident pelagic seabirds and waterfowl associated with open water areas. Section 4.2.2 provides recommendations appropriate for all aquatic com- munities, statewide. Actions specifc to the river basins that contribute waters to estuarine aquatic communities 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).
• Facilitate the mapping of signifcant ecological, bathymetric, geologic, demographic, and cultural features ( APNEP 2012 ).
• Conduct surveys of fsh populations, including collecting fsh samples for toxicologi- cal and water quality studies, to evaluate the efcacy of management practices, detect changes in fsh communities, and to identify trends which may be occurring within the fshery resources. 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. • Develop and maintain an integrated monitoring network to collect information for assessment of ecosystem outcomes and management actions associated with the imple- mentation of management actions (APNEP 2012) .
• Facilitate the development of protocols and conduct rapid assessments to determine presence and potential threat of invasive species ( APNEP 2012 ).
• Develop sensors for biological and chemical sensing to determine status and trends, as well as tagging and tracking of wildlife ( NIEPS 2010 ).
• Coordinate and enhance water quality, physical habitat, and fsheries resource moni- toring (including data management) from headwaters to the nearshore ocean. Research. Most species and their interrelationship associated with this habitat are poorly understood. Research topics that facilitate appropriate conservation actions include habitat
308
2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online