Chapter 3 North Carolina’s Species
3.12.8.1 Surveys Distribution and status surveys should focus on SGCN and other priority species believed to be declining or dependent on at-risk or sensitive communities. Specifically, efforts to develop more precise population estimates for all marine taxa are needed. 3.12.8.2 Monitoring Long-term monitoring is critical to assessing species and ecosystem health over time and gauging the resilience of organisms to continued impacts to waters of the state. Studies include identification of population trends, as well as assessment of conservation or development activities. These efforts will inform species and habitat management decisions. Long-term monitoring sites need to be identified and monitoring protocols developed for all priority species. Monitoring plans should be coordinated with other existing monitoring programs where feasible. 3.12.8.3 Research Research topics that facilitate appropriate conservation actions include habitat use and preferences, reproductive behavior, fecundity, population dynamics and genetics, feeding, competition, and food web dynamics. Increased understanding of the life histories and status helps determine the vulnerability of priority species to further imperilment, in addition to identifying possibilities for improved management and conservation. All studies should provide recommendations for mitigation and restoration for priority species. Formal descriptions for known or putative undescribed species and investigations aimed at resolving taxonomic status are needed. Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats • Conduct genetics research to further understand stock structure and breeding population contributions in North Carolina and beyond, especially for Bottlenose Dolphin, Pilot Whale, and Loggerhead and Green Sea Turtles.
• Examine pollution effects on coastal and estuarine species.
• Continue to incorporate climate and ecosystem considerations into Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and Habitat Areas of Particular Concern designations, National Environmental Policy Act Reviews, restoration planning, and other management actions and products (Quinlan et al. 2023) .
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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