Chapter 4 Habitats
The use of fire at the remaining unconverted nonalluvial mineral wetland sites is the single most important factor to restore these sites. Plowed firelines along transition zones between habitats should be rehabilitated (smoothed over) where possible. If feasible, fires should be allowed to sweep through the habitat or at least into the edges of the wetland from the adjacent upland sites. New firelines should be constructed when necessary. These areas should be maintained as a permanent, narrow opening by discing with a tractor or by wetting with water or foam prior to a burn. The maintenance of contiguous gradients between wetland and adjacent upland sites is critical for seasonal migration and dispersal of herpetofauna. Roads, agriculture, or forestry operations between complimentary sites may still render them ineffective at supporting amphibian and reptile populations. Where fire cannot be introduced back into the site for smoke management or other reasons, the use of a hydro-ax or other chipping machinery should be considered to control midstory (where funds allow). 4.3.9.6.1 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.
Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats
• Determine the status of colonial nesting birds as well as neotropical migrants that are not well sampled by BBS and their use of this habitat. Yellow-crowned Night Heron Wayne’s Black-throated Green Warbler • Document the status and distribution of priority bat species in this habitat. Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat Northern Yellow Bat Seminole Bat Northern Long-eared Bat Southeastern Bat • Conduct Eastern Woodrat surveys and subsequently establish standardized long-term monitoring of the species in this habitat. Eastern Woodrat
4 - 186
2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator