4.3 Wetland Natural Communities
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 SGCN and other priority species to specifc threats and studies should provide recommendations for mitigation and restoration.
• Determine minimum upland bufers required to sustain at-risk amphibian populations.
• Explore management strategies to eradicate undesirable species, such as bullfrogs, from wetlands.
• Study the efcacy and practicality of “toad tunnels” and other wildlife crossings that allow passage under roadways and help maintain connectivity between wetland metapopulations. • Investigate minimum hydroperiods needed by priority amphibian species that utilize ephemeral pools and wetlands. Results can be used to determine when supplemental measures or intervention is needed to support breeding periods and metamorphosis during drought periods. 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. • Employ hydrological restoration methods such as plugging ditches where ditches are afecting the hydrology of the pools. • Promote the adoption of agricultural and forestry best management practices (BMPs) that reduce run-of, erosion, and pollution. Te federal Farm Bill and other cost share programs provide incentives for land stewards to adopt these practices. Conservation Programs and Partnerships. Conservation programs, incentives, and partnerships should be utilized to the greatest extent possible to preserve high-quality resources and protect important natural communities. Protective measures that utilize existing regulatory 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 overall it promotes ecosystem resilience. • Make every efort to maintain continuous gradients between wetland and upland sites; roads, agriculture, or forestry operations between complimentary sites may render them inefective at supporting amphibian and reptile populations (Bailey et al. 2004; NCWRC 2005) .
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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