Chapter 4 Habitats
4.4.9.5 Impacts to Wildlife Appendix 3 provides a list of SGCN and other priority species for which there are knowledge gaps and management concerns. Appendices 3-17 (wildlife) and 3-22 (plants) identify SGCN that depend on or are associated with this habitat type. Many wildlife species use the rock outcrop habitat without regard to arbitrary elevational distinction (e.g., Peregrine Falcon), and others will use only high-elevation rock outcrop habitats, at least according to what we currently know (e.g., Rock Voles and Rock Shrews). However, many wildlife species and even more plant species (Schafale and Weakley 1990, Schafale 2024) are either associated with high-elevation rock communities or low-elevation rock communities. The elevation limits for each species, however, are quite variable. Many low-elevation rock outcrop species of plants and animals are restricted to ranges outside high-elevation areas (e.g., Crevice Salamanders are found only in and around the relatively low-elevation Hickory Nut Gorge). Still other wildlife may occur in both high- and low-elevation rock communities, but for various reasons may reach higher densities or have wider distribution in low-elevation rock outcrops (e.g., Timber Rattlesnakes). The extent of habitat that each rock outcrop provides is dependent upon the entire set of conditions in and surrounding the surface rock. Those conditions influence its use by plants and animals dependent upon the surface rock and may include significant amounts of adjacent ecological community types. Water seepage through rock crevices may provide moisture for amphibians, mosses, lichens, and wetland vegetation. Reptile species may use rocky areas exposed to direct sunlight for basking or use openings amongst rocks for dens. No species belonging to these guilds appear to be vulnerable to complete extinction due to the effects of climate change. However, both the Hickory Nut Gorge population of Crevice Salamander and the Piedmont populations of Red-backed Salamander exist as isolated disjuncts and are likely to be highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. In both cases, extirpation of these populations would constitute loss of significant ecological as well as genotypic variants of their species. DeWan et al. (2010) suggest that habitat specialists and species with restricted ranges will likely be some of the greatest affected by the combined effects of habitat loss and climate change. They also note such populations are more vulnerable to extinction by rare events and susceptible to additional stressors such as climate change. 4.4.9.6 Recommendations Given the relative rarity of low-elevation rock outcrops across the state, measures need to be taken to conserve as much of this habitat as possible. This includes preservation measures, as well as conservation/management measures to ensure that species that rely upon these outcrops continue to be afforded the desired variety of habitat conditions into the future. Certainly, a high priority should be placed upon acquisition or easement of land tracts that
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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