4.3 Wetland Natural Communities
Tese systems occur mostly in low-lying areas that are unlikely to become extremely dry even in droughts. Sandhill seeps are probably more vulnerable than other community types in this group because they depend on movement of shallow ground water. Droughts would dry them up, perhaps enough for plants to experience water stress. Many species excluded from them at present by wetness may be able to invade with drought. Increased drought conditions and increased thunderstorm intensity may lead to more wildfres. Tese systems depend on fre and are often degraded by lack of fre. An increase in wildfres may allow some occurrences to burn in a way that is ecologically benefcial. However, wildfres in drought may be more likely to be too intense or extensive and to harm some species. If droughts are frequent enough, species of drier communities that are currently excluded by wet periods may be able to establish in them. While species of dry Longleaf Pine com- munities are presumably excluded from wet pine savannas by moisture, most other species are excluded more by frequent fre. Composition is unlikely to change much for sites that can be burned. Longleaf Pines are among the least susceptible trees to wind destruction, and it is unclear how signifcant increases in wind storms will afect them. Pines with nest cavities of the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker frequently snap at the cavity site because much of the internal wood has been removed by the birds. General forecasts suggest an increase in severe storms may cause more wind damage to canopy trees, especially to those with woodpecker nest cavities. Flammability of pocosins varies with season and a change in seasonal phenology that makes them fammable earlier in the season would limit prescribed burning in savannas. Changes in phenology can disrupt pollinator and predator–prey relationships. Warmer temperatures may allow an increase in abundance or rate of spread of Fire Ants and other invasive species. Mild winters, with decreased cold damage, may allow species from the south to move into North Carolina. Tese systems range well to the south of North Carolina. Tey and their component species are well adapted to warm temperatures. Increased temperatures might increase the range of these systems in the northern Coastal Plain and in Virginia. Most plants in these systems have limited dispersal ability even locally, so any infux of native species from the south is likely to be slow. Te widespread conversion of potential sites in this region, the fragmented distribution of examples, and their dependence on fre make natural expansion difcult.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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