Chapter 3 North Carolina Species
in more than one of the evaluation categories. The following table provides a comparison of changes to the number of SGCN and priority species between the 2015 SWAP, the 2020 Addendum 1, and the 2025 SWAP. These changes do not necessarily indicate a change in the concern status of these species; they are more likely to reflect an increase in our knowledge base for the species. A comparison with the 2005 SWAP is not included because a different method was used to evaluate and identify SGCN for that version of the Plan. Freshwater Fish SGCN and Priority Species by Evaluation Categories and Comparison between SWAPs
Knowledge Gaps
Management Needs
SWAP Date
SGCN
2025
39 39 31
28 28 28
26 28 29
2020 Addendum 1
2015
The following sections highlight specific conservation issues related to SGCN and their habitats. This is not an exhaustive list of species-specific conservation concerns but rather highlights some of the concerns in the state. Recommendations for priority survey, monitoring, and research studies, conservation actions, and partnerships are outlined in Section 3.6.8. 3.6.3 Conservation Concerns Table 3-5 (Appendix 3) provides a list of Freshwater Mussel SGCN and other priority species. River basin and aquatic habitat associations for these species are provided in Table 3-18 in Appendix 3. Aquatic habitats and river basin descriptions with associated conservation priorities are located in Chapter 4 Habitats. Some North Carolina species are isolated to small geographic areas such as a single watershed. Newton et al. (2023) notes that the reasons for local and widespread decline are mostly unknown, though likely threats include habitat loss and fragmentation, diseases, contaminants, altered flow regimes, migration barriers, nonnative species, and climate change. Haag (2012) notes that because the conservation status of many species remains poorly known, high conservation concern stems from the expectation that future imperilment will exceed current imperilment. About 75% of those historically found in the southeastern United States are thought to now be extinct or at risk of extinction (Williams et al. 1993; Bogan 1996; Neves et al. 1997; Gangloff et al. 2009) . The synergistic effects of numerous point and nonpoint source impacts that affect water and habitat quality are likely causes of these declines, with changes to the physical and chemical variables in a stream believed to be principal factors for this decline (Neves et al. 1997; Brim-Box and Williams 2000; Gillies et al. 2003; Lydeard et al. 2004; Gangloff et al. 2009) .
2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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