4.4 Terrestrial Communities
prevent most fres from spreading very far. Te central parts of granitic fatrocks are unlikely to burn even in droughts. Fire could afect the dry woodlands that form the edge zone of the fatrocks. However, most fatrocks occur in fragmented landscapes where fre is unlikely to spread. Tey are likely altered by lack of fre. Increased temperatures could increase demand for water, a limited resource in these sites. Phenological shifts (earlier bloom periods, emergence from hibernation, nesting and breeding) in seasons may occur in a warmer climate. Exotic plants readily invade favor- able microsites on many outcrops. Increased disruption of adjacent forests may bring seed sources closer to many outcrops. Dense woody vegetation around edges may become more open. Increased drought or fre might produce benefcial structural changes. Some outcrops have been altered by fre sup- pression and these changes may help return to more natural composition. Others will lose characteristic mesophytic species. Te efect may be severe in a small number of outcrops. Some dry outcrops may expand into adjacent forests, while heath blufs may shrink. 4.4.8.4 Climate Change Compared to Other Threats Comparing climate change to other ecosystem threats can help defne short- and long-term conservation actions and recommendations. Granitic fatrocks are tied to specialized sites and cannot migrate. Communities will change in situ but it is uncertain how much. As with high-elevation rock outcrops, the two major problems most associated with the low-elevation rock outcrops include development and recreational impacts. For animals associated with cool, moist slopes or clifs, particularly in relict situations, climate change represents the most signifcant threat, particularly in the Piedmont where their popula- tions are typically small and highly isolated. For the plants associated with this theme, climate change is not expected to be a major threat. Development and changes caused by fre suppression are the most severe threats. In some areas, excessive deer browse is also a major threat. Table 4.33 summarizes the comparison of climate change with other existing threats. 4.4.8.5 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. Many wildlife species utilize the rock outcrop habitat without regard to arbitrary eleva- tional distinction (e.g., Peregrine Falcon), and others will utilize only high-elevation rock outcrop habitats, at least according to what we currently know (e.g., Rock Voles and Rock
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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