Chapter 4 Habitats
4.4.12.6 Recommendations These communities occur in a fragmented landscape and migration may be problematic. Conservation of remaining examples and restoration of degraded sites and landscape-level connections would allow for adaptation in the future, as well as provide protection and promote the ecosystem viability under the current climate. 4.4.12.6.1 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 • Conduct surveys to document priority and common species in areas poised for development (edge of urban expansion) to establish baseline populations and identify problems before development expands.
• Determine the current baseline distribution and status of species mainly associated with oak and mixed hardwood/pine forests (especially those that are state listed or believed to be declining) for which that information is lacking.
4.4.12.6.2 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.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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