4.4 Terrestrial Communities
Tere are many potential and realized impacts by imported Gypsy Moths and other non- native insects, Kudzu, and other non-native pathogens, plants, and animals. Gypsy Moths are the most destructive defoliating insect attacking Northern Red Oak, Chestnut Oak, and White Oak. Tis insect repeatedly defoliates trees and has killed oaks in a wide area of the northeastern United States. Rare invertebrate species associated with this ecosystem group occupy habitats at the dry to xeric extreme, with some occurring only on a few isolated monadnocks in the Piedmont. Moth species include Barrens Dagger Moth ( Acronicta albarufa ), Herodias Underwing ( Catocala herodias ) and Faded Gray ( Stenoporpia polygrammaria ), Northern Hairstreak ( Fixsenia ontario ), Rare Spring Moth ( Heliomata infulata ) and an unnamed moth ( Hemeroplanis n. sp.), Mottled Duskywing ( Erynnis martialis ), Brown Elfn ( Callophyrs augustinus ), Frosted Elfn ( Callophyrs irus ), and a noctuid moth ( Ptichodis bistrigata ). 4.4.11.6 Recommendations Tese communities occur in a fragmented landscape and migration may be problematic. Conservation of remaining examples and restoration of degraded sites and landscape-level connections would allow for adaptation in the future, as well as provide protection and pro- mote the ecosystem viability under the current climate. 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. • Conduct surveys to document priority and common species in areas poised for develop- ment (edge of urban expansion) to establish baseline populations and identify problems before development expands. • Determine the current baseline distribution and status of species mainly associated with oak and mixed hardwood/pine forests (especially those that are state-listed or believed to be declining) for which that information is lacking. 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.
• Initiate long-term monitoring for breeding neotropical migrants (especially ground-nesters and cavity-nesters), bats and small mammals (e.g., moles, shrews,
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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