4.4 Terrestrial Communities
boreal conditions support the mycorrhizal fungi that grow in association with the tree roots. Habitat destruction and fragmentation from development, as well as alteration from logging, mineral extraction, pollution, and pest species, has reduced available habitat for the Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel. Te highest quality habitat for the squirrel is the transition zone between spruce–fr forest and the northern hardwood forest, a mix of Red Spruce, Fraser Fir, Yellow Birch, Buckeye, Sugar Maple, and even some beech at elevations above 4,000 feet. Information about Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel can be found in Chapter 3.7 of this document. Spruce–fr communities provide critical breeding habitat for many landbirds of conser- vation concern according to Partners in Flight (Brown Creeper, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-capped Chickadee) that are likely endemic to these high peaks (Pashley et al. 2000; Rich et al. 2004; Johns 2004) . Local relative abundance of many birds and mammals (e.g., the Red Crossbill, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Northern Flying Squirrel) has decreased as the availability of spruce–fr habitats has declined. 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. Many species using spruce–fr forests are fightless, including salamanders and eight species of ground beetles ( Trechus sp.). Weller’s Salamander is at the highest risk of being pushed of the top of the mountain because of climate change. As is generally true for “sky island” species, even those capable of fight (or ballooning in the possible case of the Spruce–fr Moss Spider), they rarely disperse out of their habitat, if at all. All of these species depend on cool, moist microclimates, but the Spruce–fr Moss Spider, ground beetles, and salamanders are particularly susceptible to desiccation and are among the species most likely to be afected by climate change of any in the state. 4.4.2.6 Recommendations Most of the spruce–fr habitat in North Carolina is located on public land, or private lands with permanent conservation easements, with estimates of 90%–95% in conservation own- ership in the southern Blue Ridge physiographic province (North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia) (Hunter et al. 1999; SAMAB 1996) . Since virtually all examples are located on public lands and are already managed to preserve their natural features, implementation of recom- mended interventions should be more feasible than for privately owned lands. Surveys. Distributional and status surveys need to focus on species believed to be declin- ing or mainly dependent on at-risk or sensitive natural communities.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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