Appendix 5
Reference Document 5-3
measures (e.g., ecological niche model outputs) for North Carolina SGCN that primarily occupy mountain habits. Species common and scientific names are included for each taxonomic group. RSGCN stands for Regional Species of Greatest Conservation need as determined by the Southeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ (SEAFWA) Wildlife Diversity Committee and the Southeast and whether a species is on these lists is indicated by a Y for yes and a N for no in the column (SEAFWA-WDC 2019; SPCA 2023) . State Status and Federal Endangered Species Act Status (ESA) codes reflect the current protected status of species in North Carolina and nationally, respectively, and codes include: E = Endangered, PE= Proposed Endangered; PT= Proposed Threatened; SC = Species of Concern; T = Threatened. NatureServe Conservation Status Ranks are coded as S1 = Critically Imperiled, S2 = Imperiled, S3 = Vulnerable, S4 = Apparently Secure, S5 = Secure, respectively. Climate vulnerability measures for each species are included as follows: the most recent results NatureServe climate change vulnerability index (CCVI) assessments conducted by southeastern states represent whether an SGCN was scored as extremely, highly or moderately vulnerable to climate change, presumed stable or increase likely (Armsworth et al. 2025a) ; outputs for ecological niche models (i.e., species distribution models) from the literature are included for SGCN summarized by Armsworth et al. (2025b) and indicate whether the climatic suitability for a species will experience a large decrease, decrease, remain stable or increase in the region; Thirty-five percent of North Carolina’s SGCN in mountain habitats are listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act and 86% of species in Table 16 have conservation statuses ranks of Critically Imperiled, Imperiled, or Vulnerable for the state (NatureServe Explorer). Risk designations concur for some species such as the Spotfin Chub ( Erimonax monachus ) being listed as Threatened for both the ESA and state-level and having a conservation rank of Critically Imperiled for North Carolina (Table 16). Climate change impacts may exacerbate existing stressors for many of the state’s mountain dwelling SGCN. This is particularly worrying for species like the Slippershell ( Alasmidonta viridis), Longsolid ( Fusconaia subrotunda ), and Tennessee Clubshell ( Pleurobema oviforme ) mussels that are already evaluated by NatureServe and their state and ESA listing as being in critical condition and are projected also to be highly vulnerable to future climate change (Table 16). Even for species that are currently of least concern federally and statewide, niche model projections suggest their suitable range might decrease as the climate changes, as in the case of the Southern Rock Vole ( Microtus chrotorrhinus carolinensis ) and Rock Shrew ( Sorex dispar ) (Table 16). In contrast, for other species like the Spotted Dusky Salamander ( Desmognathus conanti ) and Hoary bat ( Lasiurus cinereus ), niche models suggest the impacts of climate change may not be as substantial with a predicted increase in climatically suitable area (Table 16). There are some discrepancies in the estimates of climate vulnerability of species between the niche model outputs and the NatureServe CCVI method, such as with some salamander SGCN like the Tellico salamander ( Plethodon aurelous ) or Jordan’s salamander ( Plethodon jordani ) (Table 16). There can be different reasons for this, not least that the two methods include different kinds of information. It may also be due to the niche models representing the
2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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