4.4 Terrestrial Communities
T ABLE 4.38 Comparison of climate change with other threats to dry Longleaf Pine communities
Rank Order Comments
Threat
Development
1 Longleaf Pine stands are very desirable areas for housing developments and golf courses. Development within this habitat can lead to fragmentation that disrupts connectivity between patches for most wildlife except birds. Road crossings can lead to mortalities, especially for reptiles and amphibians. Tese systems occur on some of the highest lands in the outer Coastal Plain, where development may become even more concentrated as sea level rises. 2 Intensive pine straw raking impacts understory habitat by removing under- story grasses and forbs, preventing their growth, and sometimes creating an almost bare sandy forest foor. Slow reproductive rates may limit regrowth once Longleaf Pines have been removed. 2 Te threat of agricultural conversion has reduced in recent years (having greatly reduced habitat historically), but pine plantation conversion continues. Genetic improvements to planting stock have resulted in getting longleaf to gain height growth quickly, with most trees coming out of the grass stage within three years. However, these trees clearly have a less developed root system and are more susceptible to wind throw. 2 Prescribed burning is crucial for retaining these systems in both the present and the expected climate. Inadequate fre is an ongoing threat at many sites. For small, isolated habitat remnants, wildfres can cause permanent extirpation of insect and other animal populations. Tis is a problem at most unprotected examples and is the greatest threat to protected examples. Much of the plant diversity in these habitats is found in the transition zones between the Longleaf Pine communities and other adjacent wetter sites. Traditional use of plowed fre lines in these transition zones has resulted in the eventual deterioration of these transition zones. 3 Industrial timber operations will be likely candidates for conversion to biomass production. It will be important to consider competing resource needs as alter- native energy production increases the demand for biofuel products (DeWan et al. 2010) . 3 Fire Ants are a threat to many terrestrial animals, especially amphibians. Tere are numerous native and exotic pests that can impact coniferous trees in this habitat (e.g., Southern Pine Beetles, Red-headed Pine Sawfies, Tip Moths, Pine Webworms, Schweinitzii root and bud disease, red heart of pine disease, etc.). Early detection and control of invasive exotic species (such as Cogon Grass) will reduce the ecological damage caused by invasives and the cost of controlling them. Preventative measures such as forbidding sale and transport of invasive species will help reduce the risks and cost.
Logging/ Exploitation
Conversion to Agriculture/ Silviculture
Fire
Biofuel Production
Invasive Species
Climate Change
4 Climate change will likely exacerbate some of these problems.
4.4.13.5 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.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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