4.4 Terrestrial Communities
• Initiate genetic and morphological studies to clarify taxonomic status of plethodontid salamanders. • Study habitat use by rock outcrop salamander communities, including movements in and among rock outcrop habitats (e.g., Green Salamander metapopulations). Management Practices. Management practices that reduce impacts and work synergis- tically with other conservation actions are needed to enhance the resilience of natural resources. Particular needs include preserving biodiversity, protecting native populations and their habitats, and improving degraded habitats.
• Protect these habitats through active management to remove invasive species.
• Burn around open, dry outcrops that naturally burned to restore more natural structure around the margins, and favor species that will tolerate drought and wildfre better. • Maintain biologically signifcant areas, including Peregrine Falcon nesting areas, rep- tile den sites, and signifcant salamander occurrences. • Assign appropriate management schemes to rock outcrops on conservation lands to minimize negative impacts from human activities, including recreational use and development. Conservation Programs and Partnerships. Conservation programs, incentives, and part- nerships should be utilized to the fullest extent in order to preserve high-quality resources and protect important natural communities. Protective measures that utilize existing regu- latory frameworks to protect habitats and species should be incorporated where applicable. Land conservation or preservation can serve numerous purposes in the face of anticipated climate change, but above all, it promotes ecosystem resilience. • Protect remaining examples and surrounding forests. Sites should be protected from human disturbance, including locations that are already protected through conser- vation measures. Tis may be through closure during particular times of the year or permanently prohibiting use of the site. • Given the relative rarity of low-elevation rock outcrops across the state, measures need to be taken to conserve as much of this habitat as possible. Tis includes preservation measures, as well as conservation/management measures to ensure that species that rely upon these outcrops continue to be aforded the desired variety of habitat condi- tions into the future.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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