4.2 Aquatic Communities
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.
• Support research on adapting to impacts associated with climate change and sea level rise (APNEP 2012).
• Facilitate risk assessments of targeted personal care and pharmaceutical products in the aquatic system (APNEP 2012) .
• Facilitate risk assessments of heavy metals and other toxic contaminants in sediments (APNEP 2012).
• Assess the impact on fsheries productivity from changes in estuarine habitats due to climate change (NIEPS 2010) . 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. • Planning and locating wastewater treatment facilities to areas above sea level will mini- mize or eliminate risks (APNEP 2012). • Restore areas capable of supporting SAVs. Tis will require study of efective restoration techniques, bathymetric mapping, water quality monitoring, and other eforts (APNEP 2012) .
• Develop and refne ecological fow requirements for each major river (APNEP 2012) that drains to estuarine waters.
• Reduce potential water pollution by protecting critical bufer areas of upstream drain- ages, sound planning, adopting low-impact development (LID) criteria, and other best practices. • Establish contaminant management strategies for waters not meeting water quality standards. Strategies that address pathogens, toxics, and nutrients are needed, not just the traditional total maximum daily load (TMDL) plans which primarily manage indus- trial point sources and municipal stormwater (APNEP 2012) .
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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