Chapter 4 Habitats
support low-elevation rock outcrops due to the fact that they are not abundant, they have numerous rare plant and animal associates, and remaining sites are subject to significant threats associated with both recreational and other development pressures. In addition, necessary conservation actions include assigning appropriate management schemes to rock outcrops upon conservation lands to minimize negative impacts from human activities such as recreational use and development. Appropriate restrictions upon use of the areas need to be developed where none currently exist to minimize the direct impact upon the habitat and its occupants. The results of studies on the impact to low-elevation rock outcrops from surrounding habitat modification should be incorporated into appropriate management recommendations to minimize impacts upon wildlife species utilizing the rock outcrop. Mapping of these sites in a GIS format would facilitate tracking changes over time in both the habitat and the associated species and would facilitate landscape-scale management of this rare habitat. Maintenance of biologically significant areas, including Peregrine Falcon nesting areas, reptile den sites, and significant salamander occurrences, is critical. Flatrocks are naturally isolated, so migration is presumably very limited. However, presence of characteristic species across a number of widely separated outcrops suggests some potential for dispersal. Planting species to facilitate movement of species to new locations is probably not appropriate. Since this unique habitat type cannot be recreated, it is more important to protect good quality flatrocks with the goal of protecting the range of variability, as well as the locations for future colonization and dispersal. 4.4.9.6.1 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 • Map these sites in a GIS format to facilitate tracking changes over time in both the habitat and the associated species, and to facilitate landscape-scale management of this rare habitat.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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