Chapter 4 Habitats
There has been little research in North Carolina, but research conducted by Kenk (1935, 1972, 1977a, 1977b) and Culver with others (1969, 1971, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010) that focused on subterranean systems in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia provided information that may assist in understanding what type of subterranean species are present in North Carolina. According to Culver et al. (2012) , two tidewater amphipods ( Stygobromus araeus and S.indentatus ) occur frequently enough to have permanent populations in some seepage springs and hypotelminorheic habitats (small, isolated aquifers underlain by clay). One of the amphipods ( S. indentatus ) was included in a petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, requesting that the USFWS list the species for protection under the ESA. The petition lists the species as occurring in North Carolina. Culver et al . (2012) indicate the tidewater amphipod was found in a shallow well in Nash County, North Carolina. 4.2.6.6 Recommendations Groundwater is a valuable resource often used for industry, commerce, agriculture, and most importantly drinking water (USGS 1995) . Contaminants in the recharge zone can be transported in waters contributing to springs, wells (including drinking waters), and surface waters that provide aquatic habitats. All groundwaters need to be protected because contamination can cause water quality problems not only in these systems, but also to other waters connected to them that ultimately create long-term negative impacts to aquatic species. Section 4.2.2 provides recommendations appropriate for all aquatic communities, statewide. Information specific to the river basins where this community type occurs can be found in Section 4.5 of this chapter. 4.2.6.6.1 Surveys Surveys are systematic and scientific methods of collecting information about the distribution, abundance, and ecology of wildlife or their habitats in a specific area at a specific time. A habitat survey is a method of gathering information about the ecology of a site. The results of a habitat survey provide basic ecological information that can be used for biodiversity conservation, planning and/or management, including targeting of more detailed botanical or zoological investigations (Smith et al. 2011) . Repeated surveys using the same methods can provide information about conditions and changes to species assemblages and habitat composition over time. Priorities for conducting distributional and status surveys need to focus on species believed to be declining or mainly dependent on at-risk or sensitive communities. Distributional and status surveys are necessary for species that use these waters, especially for invertebrates. Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats • These habitats need to be identified so they can be surveyed. Baseline surveys in and around these habitats for crayfish, mussels and snails are needed to document what species are utilizing these aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats. Crayfishes Snails Freshwater Mussels
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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