3.2 Amphibians
3.2.6 Threats and Problems Chapter 5 describes 11 categories of threats the Taxa Team considered during the evalu- ation and ranking process to identify SGCN; information about the expected scope and severity of the impacts from these threats is available in Appendix G. Evaluation results for Metric 9 indicate the most likely threats to create signifcant impacts to amphibian popula- tions in North Carolina over the next 10 years include the following:
• residential and commercial development
• energy production (e.g., drilling, mining, quarrying, and renewal energy production)
• natural system modifcations (e.g., fre suppression, land management activities)
• transportation and service corridors (e.g., habitat fragmentation or being run over by vehicles)
• climate change impacts, especially drought
• disease and pathogens
Research related to these threats and their impacts on certain amphibian species was ranked as a high priority. Anthropogenic impacts that create habitat loss and degradation are one of the most important threats to amphibian populations (Willson and Dorcas 2003) . Amphibian declines may correlate with declines of other species, especially those utiliz- ing wetlands. Amphibians are also indicators for anthropogenic stressors that can have broader health and biodiversity implications to an ecosystem (Lannoo 2005; Bosch and Rincon 2008) . 3.2.7 Additional Information Te USFWS has proposed including the Eastern Hellbender in Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), including live and dead whole specimens, and all readily recognizable parts, products, and derivatives. Listing in Appendix III of CITES would allow for adequate monitoring of international trade in the taxon; to determine whether exports are occurring legally with respect to state laws; and to determine whether further measures under CITES or other laws are required to conserve the species (and any subspecies) (Congressional Record 2011) . Te US Geological Survey (USGS) established the ARMI to document changes in the number of amphibian populations rather than the change in species abundance (Adams et al. 2013) . Te ARMI analysis indicates a trend in amphibian declines that includes common
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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