4.4 Terrestrial Communities
It is uncertain how many priority species are associated with this habitat. Bog Turtles are known from a bog wetland at a mafc glade in Ashe County. For animal species, mafc glades and barrens are probably best regarded as a minor component. Tere may be land snail and moth species that utilize this habitat type; otherwise, mammals such as Bobcats and Raccoons are expected to utilize this community primarily as a movement corridor. Te Gorgone Checkerspot Butterfy is known in the state primarily from an ultramafc out- crop barren community at Buck Creek in Clay County. 4.4.5.6 Recommendations Tese communities are naturally rare in North Carolina, due to limited availability of suitable habitat. All of these communities are tied to specialized sites, and are unable to migrate. Examples need to be protected and managed appropriately. 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.
• Determine the efects of current drought conditions on vegetated communities.
• Map these sites in a GIS format to facilitate tracking changes over time in the habitat, as well as the associated species and facilitate landscape scale management of this rare habitat.
• Conduct detailed surveys, such as moth trapping, at Buck Creek Barrens, the largest mafc barrens site in the state.
Monitoring. Long-term monitoring is critical to assessing species and ecosystem health over time and gauging the resilience of organisms to a changing climate. Tese eforts will inform future decisions on how to manage species and their habitats. Studies should include identifcation of population trends, as well as assessment of impacts from conserva- tion or development activities. Long-term monitoring sites need to be identifed and moni- toring protocols developed for all priority species. Monitoring plans should be coordinated with other existing monitoring programs where feasible.
• Monitor drought conditions and potential for catastrophic wildfre.
Research. Research topics that facilitate appropriate conservation actions include habitat use and preferences, reproductive behavior, fecundity, population dynamics and genetics, feeding, competition, and food web dynamics. Increased understanding of life histories and status helps determine the vulnerability of priority species to further imperilment, in addition to identifying possibilities for improved management and conservation. All stud- ies should provide recommendations for mitigation and restoration. Formal descriptions
412
2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online