Chapter 4 Habitats
Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats
• Direct initial efforts toward surveys to determine current baseline distribution and status of species associated with cove hardwood forest for which that information is lacking.
• Focus initial survey efforts on state-listed species and others that may be declining. Black-billed Cuckoo Brown Creeper Cerulean Warbler Cooper’s Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Green Salamander Pigmy Salamanders Seepage Salamander Southern Zigzag Salamander Tellico Salamander • Conduct surveys to understand current status of species believed to be more common, from which we can measure future population changes
Marbled Salamander Ravine Salamander Spotted Salamander Eastern Box Turtle
Eastern Hognose Snake Eastern Mole Eastern Smooth Earth Snake Longtailed Weasel Masked Shrew
Silver-haired Bat Smoky Shrew Swainson’s Warbler Woodland Jumping Mouse
4.4.5.6.2 Monitoring Monitoring involves repeated observation and recording of specific parameters to show trends over time. Long-term monitoring that includes statistical and quantitative analysis in the design is critical to assessing species and ecosystem health and gauging the resilience of organisms to changing conditions (Gitzen et al. 2012, Lindenmayer and Likens 2009) . Monitoring efforts should include identification of population trends, as well as assessment of impacts from 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. Monitoring of aquatic taxa is critical to assessing species and ecosystem health and gauging the resilience of organisms to a changing climate. These monitoring efforts will inform future decisions on how to manage aquatic species.
Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats
• The health of Canada Hemlocks needs to be monitored, and efforts to halt the spread of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid needs to be pursued.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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