4.4 Terrestrial Communities
T ABLE 4.33 Comparison of climate change with other threats to low-elevation fatrocks, clifs, and rock outcrops
Rank Order
Threat Mining Invasive Species
Comments
1 Surface mining (e.g., gravel pits) would efectively eliminate this community. 2 Tere are signifcant problems with invasive plants, at least in edge zones. Climate change will probably not make invasion worse, but drought dis- turbance of surrounding woodlands and edges may make them more sus- ceptible. It is possible that some of the invasive species, such as Japanese Honeysuckle, Wineberry, and Asian Dayfower, will be harmed by drought more than the native species. Clifs and rock outcrops have some problems with invasive plants, which can invade edge zones and more favorable soil pockets. Cogon Grass may not already be present but is likely to increase with climate change. If climate change increases disturbance of adjacent forests, it may allow invasive plant seed sources to develop closer to rock outcrops that are now remote from them. 2 Development on granitic fatrock communities may involve blasting or other fracturing methods to remove rock. Development of adjacent landscapes is likely to introduce pollution and sediment through stormwater runof. Tere may also be increased opportunity for invasive species to disperse into this habitat. Development can have both direct and indirect impacts that severely threaten many unprotected examples. Improved access may increase recre- ational use that leads to trampling and poaching of rare plants. 2 Trampling from hiking and recreation activities, trash dumping, and other damage could occur from human disturbance. Where granitic fatrocks occur within forested habitats, timber removal can disturb vegetation on fatrocks. 3 Tese species tolerate drought at present, or grow in the moist early growing season. It is unclear if they are at the margin of their tolerance, or whether they could withstand longer or more severe droughts. More southerly fatrock species could fnd their way to our fatrocks. 3 It is unclear how much climate change will change fre frequency in the frag- mented landscapes of the Piedmont and lower Mountains. Fire suppression has been a major factor degrading some of these communities. Fire may allow dry rock outcrops to expand, while mesic clif and heath bluf communities could be harmed by intense fres. Fires during severe drought may be too intense and may cause damage to the characteristic plants and the shallow soils as well. 4 Land ownership patterns, proximity to markets, accessibility, and other fac- tors infuence short-term habitat alterations like forestry operations.
Development
Human Disturbance
Climate Change
Fire
Logging/ Exploitation
Shrews). However, many wildlife species and even more plant species (Schafale and Weakley 1990) are either associated with high-elevation rock communities or low-elevation rock communities. Te elevation limits for each species, however, are quite variable. Many low-elevation rock outcrop species of plants and animals are restricted to ranges outside high-elevation areas (e.g., Crevice Salamanders are only found in and around the rela- tively low-elevation Hickorynut Gorge). Still other wildlife may occur in both high- and
427
2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online