3.2 Amphibians
species for which there has traditionally been low conservation concern and these declines are occurring on lands protected and managed for conservation. Another online database is the Carolina Herp Atlas, developed by the Davidson College Herpetology Laboratory. Tis program tracks county-level distribution information for native species in North and South Carolina and is available online at http://www. carolinaherpatlas.org. Davidson College also maintains an online identifcation and infor- mation guide, Amphibians and Reptiles of North Carolina (http://www.herpsofnc.org). Information on habitat management for herp species can be found in the Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) technical publication on habitat management for amphibians and reptiles in the Southeast (Bailey et al. 2006) , available online here: http:// separc.fles.wordpress.com/2013/04/se-hmg.pdf. Important conservation measures that beneft amphibian species include protection and restoration of ephemeral ponds and wetlands on the Sandhills and Holly Shelter game lands and within Croatan National Forest. Encroachment by woody shrubs and invasive plants in areas not subject to prescribed burns had reduced the number and quality of ephemeral pools. Vegetation removal and maintenance of these areas has resulted in addi- tional breeding sites being available and has improved the condition of existing breeding habitats. Success of these restoration projects has been demonstrated by the increase in number and diversity of species of amphibians using these sites after restoration work was fnished. Taxonomic classifcation and agreement on naming conventions for some species is likely to be unsettled until scientifc evidence supporting any recommended changes becomes widely accepted. Resources for information about changes in classifcation include the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR) and the Center for North American Herpetology (CNAH). SSAR is a nonproft organization established to advance research, conservation, and education concerning amphibians and reptiles; is the larg- est international herpetological society; and is recognized worldwide for having the most diverse program of publications, meetings, and other activities. SSAR’s Committee on Standard English and Scientifc Names produces a circular every few years with sugges- tions for standard taxonomy and can be found here: http://ssarherps.org/publications/ north-american-checklist/. CNAH is an organization that serves as a data bank for infor- mation about North American amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians. Published research literature documenting taxonomic changes is available online (www.cnah.org). Te CNAH webpage also provides a link to peer-reviewed articles published in the Journal of North American Herpetology and access to articles in the Contemporary Herpetology journal archives. Another resource for amphibian taxonomy is the American Museum of
48
2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online