4.3 Wetland Natural Communities
T ABLE 4.17 Comparison of climate change with other threats to blackwater foodplains
Rank Order
Threat
Comments
Flood Regime Alteration
1 Efects of changed fooding regime are very uncertain. If foods become more extreme, channels may begin to migrate more. Levee communi- ties, where present, are the forested foodplain community most likely to be afected by changes in fooding regime and channel stability. Increased canopy gaps may result from increased storm wind damage and from food scouring. 1 Logging will remain a large source of altered canopy age and structure. Tis might beneft species that depend on canopy openings. 2 In particular, nutrient loads have the potential to greatly increase with the construction of new poultry processing facilities in coastal coun- ties. Untreated stormwater runof from large cities and towns is a major problem that impacts both aquatic life and terrestrial wildlife associated with foodplain forests.
Logging/ Exploitation
Pollution/Siltation
Groundwater Depletion
2
Increased drought may lead to demand for more water withdrawal.
Chinese Privet , Japanese Stiltgrass , Japanese Honeysuckle, and Asian Dayfower are already problems and are expected to increase with climate change. If not controlled, these species will greatly expand the acreage severely afected, regardless of climate. Canopy gaps could allow invasive species to become established, especially Japanese Stiltgrass. Te efects of rising sea level would be felt only in the lower reaches of the rivers. Large expanses in these areas would shift to tidal swamps. Saltwater intrusion could occur during foods or high storm surge.
Invasive Species
2
Climate Change
3
Loss of old growth characteristics (canopy gaps, vine tangles, hollow trees, dead and downed woody material) and fragmentation of stands is a major concern. A lack of stand- ing dead or older trees has impacted the availability of quality bat and Chimney Swift roosting and breeding sites and nesting productivity for species such as Wood Duck and Hooded Merganser. Removing woody debris from streams after storms has infuenced in-stream habitat structure and food webs. Lack of downed woody debris has impacted a variety of amphibians and reptiles. Fragmentation of foodplain forest stands has contributed to the loss of intact large ripar- ian corridors and the width of many riparian corridors has been greatly reduced. Breeding area-sensitive bottomland-hardwood birds have likely been impacted by the loss of intact woodland systems. Large patches of foodplain habitat are lacking in much of the Coastal Plain. High-grading logging practices have changed plant species diversity and stand vege- tative structure. Logging has reduced colonial waterbird and Bald Eagle nesting areas.
Alteration of hydrology due to dam creation and the draining of wetlands are one of the primary problems afecting species in this habitat type. Te impacts of development
328
2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online