4.4 Terrestrial Communities
Many species (e.g., Black-capped Chickadees, Green Salamanders, Seepage Salamanders, Crevice Salamanders, and Wehrle’s Salamanders) have such a small range or clumped distribution within North Carolina that they are more susceptible to stochastic or genetic population declines or local extirpations than anticipated climate change impacts. Timber Rattlesnakes and other snake species are also subjected to persecution, which is an imme- diate threat. Many neotropical migrant birds may also be experiencing winter range habitat loss. Since there is such abundance and diversity of species associated with oak forests, we may not know the exact habitat or life history requirements of individual species that are limiting factors to their population stability. 4.4.12.6 Recommendations Because oak forest habitat remains abundant and widespread, the most critical conserva- tion activities revolve around gathering information about the wildlife species that utilize it and the habitat itself. We must foster eforts to understand and implement appropriate management techniques (e.g., prescribed fre or thinning) for the beneft of the broadest array of oak forest-dependent wildlife, while taking into account specifc needs of wildlife with more restrictive requirements (Artman and Downhower 2003 ; Ford et al. 2000) . 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. • Give priority to gathering baseline information regarding the current distribution and status of oak forest-associated species that are rare or declining (e.g., Black-capped Chickadee, Eastern Fox Squirrel, Wehrle’s Salamander, Timber Rattlesnake, and several bat species). • Expand surveys to include species for which we know very little about current status and distribution (e.g., Whip-poor-will, weasels, moles, shrews, bats, certain salaman- ders, and reptile species such as the Eastern Box Turtle). 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.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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