4.4 Terrestrial Communities
Loss of habitat and fragmentation of landscapes are the most signifcant threats to this eco- system group. While development of yet more intensive agricultural and silvicultural prac- tices, and loss of still more areas to development, would continue even in the absence of climate change, these impacts are likely to be exacerbated both directly and indirectly by the efects of climate change. Climate change will contribute to the loss of the large blocks of habitat or fragmentation that creates barriers between blocks that are critical for the sur- vival of species in this group. Development of habitat has become the limiting factor for pri- ority species utilizing this habitat. Across the state more generally, increased exploitation of wild or semi-wild lands for energy production is likely to be the most important indirect efect of climate change on this group. Table 4.41 summarizes the comparison of climate change with other existing threats. 4.4.17.5 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. Upland Communities. Te quantity of early successional habitat is generally not lacking but the quality is often questionable for most species of wildlife. Species found in suc- cessional communities occur widely throughout the state, although there are also some regional variations (e.g., Henslow’s Sparrows are restricted to the Coastal Plain and Vesper Sparrows breed only in the Mountains). Changes in plant species composition may also have strong impacts on the composition of insect species, since many have narrow host plant preferences. Te vertebrate fauna may show far fewer efects, however, since most, if not all, do not depend on a particular composition of plant species. Two species associated with early successional habitats, Bewick’s Wren and Regal Fritillary, are believed extirpated from North Carolina. Several other species are declining, with Eastern Henslow’s Sparrows, Golden-winged Warblers, Appalachian Cottontails, and Grizzled Skippers listed as Federal Species of Concern, and a number of additional rare species tracked by NCNHP. Many of the species associated with this community type that are of conservation concern are primarily northern species and are likely to be signifcantly afected by the efects of climate change. Species in this habitat group are completely dependent on their ability to disperse from one habitat patch to another: their habitats themselves are normally very transient and the species associated with them need to keep constantly on the move to keep up with their shifting landscape. Although many of the species associated with successional habitats are quite mobile, small mammals, reptiles, and at least some birds and insects are less mobile and highly vulnerable to the efects of habitat fragmentation. At least some of the declines
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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