4.3 Wetland Natural Communities
small environments and will be unable to migrate as the climate changes. Many may change very little, while a few will shrink, be disturbed by wind or food, or change sub- stantially because of temperature changes or drought. A small net loss of acreage may occur, but more seeps may be temporarily afected by drought. Table 4.24 summarizes the comparison of climate change with other existing threats. 4.3.10.5 Impacts to Wildlife Appendix G provides a list of the SGCN and other priority species for which there are knowledge gap and management concerns. Appendix H identifes SGCN associated with this habitat type. Seepage communities have very limited distribution and availability across the landscape and are one of the most signifcant habitat types of the state for rare plants and animals (TNC and SAFC 2000) . Several animal species that are state-listed or rare are associated with seepage habitats, including the Bog Turtle, Mole Salamander, Four-toed Salamander, Long-tailed Salamander, Seepage Salamander, Alder Flycatcher, and the common Gray Treefrog. Te priority amphibian associated with mountain bogs are all salamander species, though there certainly are a much larger number of amphibians found in mountain bogs. Tese salamanders (e.g., Mole, Four-toed, Marbled, Tree-lined, and Spotted Salamanders) for the most part require pools of water (preferably fshless) for breeding purposes. Te com- munity association is less related to the system being spring fed, muddy, or with specifc
T ABLE 4.24 Comparison of climate change with other threats to upland seepages and spray clifs
Rank Order Comments
Threat
Groundwater Depletion
1 Droughts may cause seeps supplied by shallow ground water to dry up. If drought increases wildfre, it might be of beneft to some examples, but fres are generally easy to control in the uplands around seeps. 1 Spray clifs may be subject to scouring if intensity of foods increases. Some low elevation seeps are on the edge of foodplains, and increased intensity of rainfall events might increase fooding of them. 1 Development may not have direct impact, but may increase access (and there- fore trampling) or lead to utility easements (e.g., sewer lines) that cross seepage habitats. 1 Climate change may pose a signifcant threat, but no more than these other problems. 1 Tese communities are susceptible to invasive species, which may be exacer- bated by climate change.
Flood Regime Alteration
Development
Climate Change Invasive Species
374
2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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