4.4 Terrestrial Communities
threat to the majority of remaining pine–oak/heath. Not only will these forests not be able to reproduce themselves without fre, but those stands at higher elevations which are not regularly burned often develop dense Mountain Laurel/rhododendron understories that shade out other shrubs and herbaceous plants, thus lowering the habitat quality and diver- sity of wildlife which could utilize the area. Management eforts by multiple agencies to increase prescribed fre in fre adapted communities, including dry coniferous forests, are already positioning these communities for greater resilience. Table 4.35 summarizes the comparison of climate change with other existing threats. 4.4.10.5 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.
T ABLE 4.35 Comparison of climate change with other threats to dry coniferous forests
Rank Order
Threat
Comments
Fire
1 With the suppression of fre, many examples have disappeared or have become degraded by a lack of pine regeneration and invasion by hardwoods and shrubs. Suppression of fre has caused severe alteration and loss in pine–oak/heath. 2 Development can lead to fragmentation and disrupt connectivity between patches for most wildlife except birds. Road crossings can lead to mortali- ties, especially for reptiles and amphibians. Development in or adjacent to this habitat often leads to a signifcant problems using prescribed fre as a management tool due to the proximity of residential or other development. Construction activities and other extensive removal of plant cover can make steep slopes prone to mud and/or rock slides, causing loss of topsoil and potentially causing property damage and threatening human safety. 2 Logging is a threat to unprotected examples, particularly on pine–oak/heath and White Pine forest. 3 A major factor in loss of pine dominance is southern pine beetle outbreaks, which are often triggered by droughts. Tere are numerous native and exotic pests that can impact coniferous trees in this habitat (e.g., Southern Pine Beetle, Tip Moth, Pine Webworm, Schweinitzii root and bud disease, and red heart of pine disease). Localized and nonlethal infestations can be benefcial for wildlife by creating snags, a food source, and habitat diversity. However, extensive lethal outbreaks can dramatically shift the composition of the tree community, with implications for conifer-specialists like the Brown-headed Nuthatch. Control of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is crucial for the Carolina Hemlock bluf communities. Without control, most or all of these communi- ties may be lost in the near future. 4 Climate change will act somewhat counter to existing threats rather than exacerbating them. However, these benefts are far from certain.
Development
Logging/ Exploitation
Invasive Species
Climate Change
438
2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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