4.4 Terrestrial Communities
4.4.14.5 Impacts to Wildlife Appendix G provides a list of SGCN and other priority species for which there are knowl- edge gaps or management concerns. Appendix H identifes SGCN that depend on or are associated with this habitat type. Tese habitats are important breeding and migration stopover points for many migratory birds, and key breeding areas for populations of the Eastern Painted Bunting (Hunter et al. 2000; Johns 2004) . Tese communities are also important for some snake species for which we have little status, distribution, or demographic information. Te presence of dense cano- pies are a key habitat element in maritime forests; many maritime forest-associated her- petofauna, and their prey, are adapted to survive under particular sun and shade regimes (Bailey et al. 2004) . Tere are feral animal impacts (horses, goats, cows, pigs, cats) on some of the barrier islands (e.g., Shackleford Banks and Brown’s Island). Wood et al. (1987) reported that graz- ing by ungulates can inhibit expansion of maritime forests. Feral horses have been shown to alter the composition of entire communities through grazing and trampling, though trampling may be the greater impact because it degrades soil structure (Turner 1987; Jensen 1985; Porter et al. 2014) . In addition, egg predators such as Raccoons and foxes that typically did not inhabit most of the Outer Banks are now widespread because of the increased amount of food available now that people inhabit the area. Te Buxton Woods White-footed Mouse might be the only animal essentially limited to this habitat type. Te Dukes’ Skipper occurs mainly in ecotones of maritime forests and adjacent marshes. All guilds linked to this group are associated with other ecosystems that provide greater acreage of habitat. 4.4.14.6 Recommendations Most of the remaining maritime forests and swamps on the barrier islands are under con- servation, as are many of the estuarine fringe communities. Substantial opportunities to protect additional examples are limited. Tere is value in protecting additional examples in the broader, more stable parts of barrier islands such as Kitty Hawk Woods, where these communities have the best chance of surviving. Tere is value in protecting estuarine fringe examples where there is opportunity for them to migrate inland. 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.
• Determine the status and distribution of amphibians and reptiles in maritime communities.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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