4.4 Terrestrial Communities
4.4.1.4 Climate Change Compared to Other Threats Comparing climate change to other ecosystem threats can help defne short- and long-term conservation actions and recommendations. While climate change is not the most severe threat, a combination of synergistic efects with other existing conditions could stress these systems to the point where several species are unable to persist. Te Southern Blue Ridge Ecoregional Conservation Plan identifes recreation as the greatest threat to cave and cave species conservation (TNC and SAFC 2000) . Communities and species associated with cave and mine habitats are likely to be afected by changes in temperature and mild winters associ- ated with climate change. Table 4.26 summarizes the comparison of climate change with other existing threats. 4.4.1.5 Impacts to Wildlife Appendix G provides a list of the SGCN and other priority species for which there are knowledge gaps and management concerns. Appendix H identifes SGCN that depend on or are associated with this habitat type. Subterranean aquatic communities are described in Section 4.2.6.
White-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that afects hibernating bats, is reported to be caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Blehert et al. 2009; Frick et al. 2015) , formerly
T ABLE 4.26 Comparison of climate change with other threats to caves and mines
Rank Order Comments
Threat
Pathogens/Disease
1 White-nose syndrome (WNS) has devastated bat populations roosting in caves in the northeastern states, including North Carolina, over the past 5–10 years. Several bat species have declined in the state by over 95% due to the death caused by this fungus. 2 Disturbance from human intrusions can disrupt normal animal activi- ties (hibernation, roosting) and introduce contamination from other sites (fungal spores, disease). Most accessible caves or mines experience some level of human visitation by caving and rock climbing enthusiasts. 2 Caves are at risk of being developed into tourist attractions, often with light- ing, tours, gates, etc. Tese activities result in detrimental impacts to habitat conditions for cave-dwelling animals, as well as disrupted normal behavior patterns, efectively eliminating habitat for many cave animals. Linville Caverns is the only cave complex that has been commercially developed as a recreational destination in the state. 3 Caves and mines provide unique microclimates that some species require during key phases of their life history (e.g., bat hibernation). Even slight increases in temperature can change the humidity in these environments and increase the potential for fungal and bacterial growth. Evidence of tem- perature variability is the increased occurrence of WNS in winter hibernat- ing bats.
Recreation
Development
Climate Change
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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