4.4 Terrestrial Communities
4.4.9.6 Recommendations Tese communities occur in specialized microsites and are unlikely to migrate. To reduce the possible impacts from climate change, conservation or restoration of landscape con- nections to allow migration is most important. Tese sites often occur adjacent to ripar- ian areas and foodplains, and protection of these sites will be dually benefcial to nearby streams. 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. • Direct initial eforts toward surveys to determine the current baseline distribution and status of species mainly associated with mesic forests (especially those that are state-listed or believed to be declining) for which that information is lacking.
• Focus secondary eforts on conducting surveys to understand current status, from which we can measure future population changes over time.
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. • Enhance current monitoring systems and protocols (e.g., MAPS and BBS) to better cover certain species not well covered by current monitoring eforts.
• Establish long-term monitoring for small mammals and bats following initial surveys.
• Conduct general long-term herpetofauna monitoring to track the efects of the loss of old growth characteristics in this habitat type. 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 for known or putative undescribed species and investigations aimed at resolving taxo- nomic status are needed.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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