Chapter 4 Habitats
• Shell Bottom habitats are the oyster beds, rocks, reefs, and bars found in estuarine intertidal or subtidal areas. They are composed of surface shell concentrations of living or dead oysters ( Crassostrea virginica ), hard clams ( Merceneria merceneria ), and other shellfish (Street et al. 2005) . • Ocean Hard Bottom varies in topographic relief from a relatively flat, smooth surface to a scarped ledge with vertical, sloped, or stepped relief. It is formed of exposed rock, consolidated sediments, or relic reef, and may be covered by algae, sponges, corals, other live animals, and live plants attached to the hard surface ( Street et al. 2005 ). • Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) is defined as bottom vegetated by living structures of submerged, rooted vascular plants, (i.e., roots, rhizomes, leaves, stems, propagules), as well as temporarily unvegetated areas between vegetated patches. Native aquatic grasses are the primary species and can occur in fresh, brackish, and saline waters. SAV beds can be transient communities composed of a few plants or many and cover small patches or extensive areas. They provide important habitat for most fish and shellfish species in the sounds, while also creating oxygen and removing excess nutrients in the water ( APNEP 2012 ). • Water Column is an aquatic environment and its physical, chemical, biological characteristics, and connectivity to other habitats will determine which species use it. 4.2.14.2 Location of Habitat The Albemarle-Pamlico estuary system comprises eight sounds, including Back, Bogue, Core, Croatan, Currituck, and Roanoke sounds, and is located along the Atlantic coast of North Carolina and southern Virginia. The Albemarle Sound is located at the confluence of several freshwater rivers, with the largest being the Chowan and Roanoke rivers. The sound is separated from ocean saltwaters by the northern Outer Banks barrier islands and freshwater drainages help maintain the fresh to brackish waters in the sound. The Pamlico Sound is located between the mainland and Outer Banks barrier islands and hydrologically connects the freshwaters of the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico River basins to the Atlantic Ocean. To the north end, it is linked with Albemarle Sound and joins the Oregon Inlet. The south end connects to Core Sound. Figure 4.2.14-1 shows the location of the Albemarle-Pamlico estuary system. The Cape Fear and Lumber River estuaries comprise the two most southern estuarine areas in North Carolina. The Cape Fear River watershed, the largest in the state, encompasses many large metropolitan areas and drains into the ocean near Southport. The estuary includes the tidally influenced portion of the lower river as well as a number of small sound and bay areas in New Hanover and Brunswick counties. Estuarine areas associated with the Lumber River occur in lower Brunswick County as well as in South Carolina, where the river joins the Pee Dee to eventually enter the ocean at Winyah Bay.
4 - 110
2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator