4.4 Terrestrial Communities
4.4.10.2 Location of Habitat Tese communities occur through the lower to middle elevations, the foothills, and are particularly abundant in the escarpment in the Mountain ecoregion. Pilot Mountain, Hanging Rock, and Crowders Mountain State Parks all have examples of the pine–oak/ heath community. Owing to the relatively low-elevations occupied by dry coniferous for- ests in the region, signifcant amounts of this habitat occur in western North Carolina upon state-owned lands (Turmond Chatham, South Mountains, and Green River Game Lands; South Mountains State Park; Dupont State Forest). 4.4.10.3 Problems Affecting Habitats Most dry coniferous woodlands depend on a combination of fre behavior and dry soils, both driven by topography. However, an increase in extreme fres may be detrimental. Increased drought may increase southern pine beetle outbreaks, a major threat to the pine canopy. Fire suppression has caused these habitats to shrink in recent decades. Increased drought may favor pines over hardwoods and allow them to regain some of their lost area even without fre. Increased drought and fre may allow expansion. Tese communities occur in the driest mountain and foothill sites, and increasingly dry climate may allow them to expand into a broader range of topography and to higher elevations. Te structural efects caused by fre suppression and southern pine beetles greatly exceed any efect likely from climate change. Te Hemlock Woolly Adelgid has already impacted some stands of Carolina Hemlock, though not to the devastating efect as seen in Canada Hemlock stands. Restoration of the structure, composition, and, most importantly, dis- turbance regimes of these communities will increase their resilience to environmental stressors. Without fre to promote pine regeneration, increased Pine Beetle mortality could hasten the shift from pines to hardwoods. Warmer temperatures should allow spreading to higher elevation, but the acreage gain is likely to be limited. It may not occur if fres are suppressed. Increased wind damage may increase loss of mature pines and contribute to ongoing encroachment of hardwoods. Because the characteristic plants are drought tolerant as well as fre tolerant, an increase in drought may help them retain or regain dominance. In addition, if drought contributes to an increase in wildfre, this may beneft these communities. 4.4.10.4 Climate Change Compared to Other Threats Te most signifcant threats vary among the diferent community types. Piedmont and mountain dry coniferous forests will likely be resilient to the efects of climate change and may actually beneft from increased fre frequency and drought. Lack of fre is the greatest
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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