4.4 Terrestrial Communities
T ABLE 4.29 Comparison of climate change with other threats to cove forests
Rank Order Comments
Threat
Invasive Species
1 Exotic species represent a growing threat, including the hemlock wooly adelgid, Gypsy Moth, and beech scale, as well as several nonnative plants. Te Hemlock Wooly Adelgid has already caused widespread devastation in hemlock forests. Emerald Ash Borer and several other destructive insects represent large poten- tial threats. Invasive plants are a serious and growing problem in lower elevation examples, particularly in those that are disturbed by logging or that occur near developed areas. Invasive plants, such as Garlic Mustard and Oriental Bittersweet, are likely to increase regardless of climate change. Oriental Bittersweet is already a signifcant problem in some cove forests in the Mountains and has greatly altered vegetation composition and structure. 2 Logging causes more drastic alterations to structure and composition than expected from climate change. Timber harvesting and conversion to other forest types (White Pine) or other uses on private lands in certain areas can also decrease the availability of this habitat in the future. 2 Development can cause indirect efects as well as outright destruction of these communities, creating an edge efect and developing seed sources for invasive species. Residential development in mountain coves often difers from develop- ment in other habitats of the region, in that homes and associated spaces are often interspersed within the forest. Te result may be that direct habitat loss as a result of the houses and associated structures may be more limited than other types of development. However, the reduction in quality of the habitat by virtue of being bisected by roads and driveways, other infrastructure, and domesticated plants and animals can certainly have signifcant impact upon the wildlife species of the forest (Rosenberg et al. 2003) 3 Climate change poses several threats, including loss of area in more marginal sites, alteration by increased wind, food, and fre disturbance, and increased problems with invasive plants. For some protected examples, this is the most severe threat.
Logging/ Exploitation
Development
Climate Change
4.4.4.5 Impacts to Wildlife Appendix G provides a list of SGCN and other priority species for which there are knowl- edge gaps and management concerns. Appendix H identifes SGCN that depend on or are associated with this habitat type. Appalachian cove hardwood forests represent some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world outside of tropical zones (Hunter et al. 1999) . An amazing assortment of trees and herbaceous vegetation, coupled with topographic, microclimatic, and soil characteristics combine to provide an extremely productive habitat for numerous mammals, amphibians, and birds. High numbers of endemic salamanders are present (Petranka 1998) , and population densities of these animal groups in cove hardwood forests make these extremely important habitats.
Problems of individual species associated with cove hardwood forests include isolation or extremely limited ranges of populations (e.g., Cerulean Warblers, Crevice Salamanders,
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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