Chapter 4 Habitats
by numerous wildlife species lend greater significance to the need to identify and manage these habitats appropriately to conserve wildlife.
Fire Suppression. Low-intensity fires could expand the open area and benefit some of the rare plants of outcrops. More mesic outcrops such as heath bluff communities are more likely to be harmed by fire. Landscape fragmentation and fire suppression practices likely will continue to prevent most fires from spreading very far. The central parts of granitic flatrocks are unlikely to burn even in droughts. Fire could affect the dry woodlands that form the edge zone of the flatrocks. However, most flatrocks occur in fragmented landscapes where fire is unlikely to spread. They are likely altered by lack of fire. Dense woody vegetation around edges may become more open. Increased drought or fire might produce beneficial structural changes. Some outcrops have been altered by fire suppression, and these changes may help return to more natural composition. Others will lose characteristic mesophytic species. The effect may be severe in a small number of outcrops. Some dry outcrops may expand into adjacent forests, while heath bluffs may shrink. 4.4.9.4 Climate Change Compared to Other Threats Comparing climate change to other ecosystem threats can help define short- and long-term conservation actions and recommendations. Granitic flatrocks are tied to specialized sites and cannot migrate. Communities will change in situ, but it is uncertain how much. As with high- elevation rock outcrops, the two major problems most associated with the low-elevation rock outcrops include development and recreational impacts. For animals associated with cool, moist slopes or cliffs, particularly in relict situations, climate change represents the most significant threat, particularly in the Piedmont where their populations are typically small and highly isolated. For the plants associated with this theme, climate change is not expected to be a major threat. Development and changes caused by fire suppression are the most severe threats. In some areas, excessive deer browse is also a major threat. Table 4.4.9-1 summarizes the comparison of climate change with other existing threats. Table 4.4.9-1 Climate change compared to other threats to low-elevation flatrocks, cliffs, and rock outcrops. Threat Rank Order Comments
1 Surface mining (e.g., gravel pits) would effectively eliminate this community. 2 There are significant problems with invasive plants, at least in edge zones. Climate change will probably not make invasion worse, but drought disturbance of surrounding woodlands and edges may make them more susceptible. It is possible that some of the invasive species, such as Japanese Honeysuckle, Wineberry, and Asian Dayflower, will be harmed by drought more than the native species.
Mining
Invasive Species
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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