4.3 Wetland Natural Communities
plant associations than for many of the other priority species associated with the seepage habitats.
Some of these communities serve as refugia for species for which the current climate is not suitable. Tey are likely to continue to do so, but warming temperature and changed mois- ture regimes may make some of them less hospitable to some of these species. At the same time, these communities may become refugia for additional species that are currently common, if the regional climate becomes unsuitable for them. Tey may be crucial for the survival of some species in the state. While moisture levels are probably the most important factor in these communities, some species may be directly afected by increased average or extreme temperatures. Warmer temperatures may cause some species to be lost at certain sites, and this may include some of the most unusual and rarest species in these communities. Warmer temperatures may also allow some more southern species to enter these communities, but the small and iso- lated nature of these distinctive environments will limit movement of species. Te species that depend on cool, moist conditions are more likely to be extirpated if warmer tempera- tures (especially combined with drought) reduce the suitable habitat and/or allow other species to invade the habitat. 4.3.10.6 Recommendations In general, protection and restoration of natural composition and function, and protection of surrounding natural areas, under current conditions are the best way to improve the ability of these communities to adapt to climate change. Protection of a large and diverse pool of examples is the best way to ensure that many survive the future stresses. Surveys. Priorities for conducting distributional and status surveys need to focus on SGCN species and those believed to be declining or mainly dependent on at-risk or sensitive natu- ral communities. Monitoring. Monitoring is critical to assessing species and ecosystem health and for gauging the resilience of organisms to a changing climate. Tese eforts will inform future decisions on how to manage species and their habitats. Long-term monitoring 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. Research. Research topics that facilitate appropriate conservation actions include habitat use andpreferences, 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.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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