4.4 Terrestrial Communities
T ABLE 4.28 Comparison of climate change with other threats to northern hardwood forests
Rank Order
Threat
Comments
Climate Change
1 Expected climate changes include warmer average temperatures, longer growing season, probably more hot spells, more drought, and more intense storms. We do not know the efect on rainfall and fog. Much of the climate in this zone is orographically determined, and may not follow the same patterns as the general regional climate.
Development
2
Fragmentation and increased edge areas can increase predation on forest interior species and increase competition from more common species. Warmer winters and more hot spells may fuel increasing desire for housing development at the higher elevations where these commu- nities occur.
Logging/ Exploitation
2 Logging alters forest structure and composition by removing mature canopy trees and can cause fragmentation in larger stands. Clearcutting negatively afects the availability of mycorrhizal fungi and lichens that are a major part of the Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel diet (as reviewed in Loeb et al. 2000 ). However, cleared areas may provide increased fowering plant food and nesting resources for native bee species (Romey et al. 2007) . In one study, signifcant increases in native bee species diversity, richness, and abundance was a direct response to logging (Romey et al. 2007) .
Invasive Species/ Pathogens
3
Gypsy Moth, Emerald Ash Borer, and other invasive species can lead to local destruction of habitat, which may contribute to changes in animal community composition.
Tere is a major concern about salamanders, as this is a key ecosystem group for rare and southern Appalachian endemic species. On the other hand, the bird species are all more common and widespread farther northward, though a few species may become rare in the state. Te aging of many northern hardwood stands has resulted in closed canopy condi- tions and decreasing habitat for bird species that rely on diverse understory development, such as the Canada Warbler. At least six taxa are endemic to northern hardwood forests in the southern Appalachians; three others may also fall in this category, but have not yet been formally described as separate subspecies. Additionally, one moth appears to be a major disjunct from the north- ern Appalachians and several others are likely to have a similar distribution but are pres- ently too poorly known. All species listed for this ecosystem group are likely to be strongly afected by climate change, as well as the efects of increased fragmentation.
4.4.3.6 Recommendations Although occupying a larger area and probably somewhat more resilient than spruce– fr forests, this habitat group contains a similar high proportion of endemics and major
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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