4.4 Terrestrial Communities
growth of hardwood species (White et al. 2012; Pyle 1984) . Several of the species face outright extinction and others, if lost, are unlikely to ever recover within the region.
Te Blue Ridge Parkway was completed through western North Carolina during the latter part of the 20th century. Te Parkway traverses most of the high-elevation islands of spruce−fr habitat. Te Parkway and its associated development (the motor road, vistas, and visitor facilities) have contributed to fragmentation and had a signifcant impact on the amount of spruce−fr habitat available. In the latter part of the 20th century, the Balsam Wooly Adelgid ( Adelges piceae ) began to have severe negative impacts on Fraser Firs throughout the region, resulting in the death of most of the mature fr of the high-elevation forests (White et al. 2012) . Recent negative impacts include insect outbreaks in several areas including Roan Mountain, the Black Mountains, and the Great Balsam Mountains. Some research has shown that recent increases in acid precipitation in the Mountains of western North Carolina may have impacts on forest health and productivity, particularly in the high Mountains ( Schafale and Weakley 1990; Hunter et al. 1999 ). While some Fraser Firs remain in certain locations, the majority of late successional fr has been killed and often replaced by young fr, mixed northern hardwoods, and open, herbaceous habitats. 4.4.2.4 Climate Change Compared to Other Threats Comparing climate change to other ecosystem threats can help defne short- and long-term conservation actions and recommendations. Balsam Woolly Adelgid, air pollution, and climate change are all major threats; however, this habitat is among the most vulnerable to climate change. Many species are currently excluded from these high-elevation communities because of the extreme climate, with winter cold the most likely cause. Mild winters presumably will lead to invasion by species from lower elevations. Tis will eventually lead to competitive exclusion of distinctive spruce−fr species from the lower parts of their elevational range ( DeWan et al. 2010 ). Te fact that these habitats are so small and isolated from each other could have a negative impact upon genetic health of individual populations, as well as demographic efects upon populations. Table 4.27 summarizes the comparison of climate change with other existing threats.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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