Chapter 4 Habitats
Table 4.4.16-1 Climate change compared to other threats to maritime forests. Threat Rank Order Comments
1 Almost all maritime forest habitat is found in areas close to the beach, where human population growth is booming. The creation of numerous small clearings for houses will likely have far-reaching effects on the dynamics of these habitats (Schafale and Weakley 1990) . 1 Sea level rise may be the biggest threat, outside of development. 2 Construction of larger dunes can either prevent overwash saltwater from reaching these wetlands or trap water that might otherwise run off. Maritime wetland forests may be destroyed by impoundment, ditching, and by extensive well pumping that lowers the water table. 3 Control of ground water extraction is likely to be difficult, as coastal towns seek water sources from perched aquifers that are shrinking due to erosion and saltwater intrusion. Ground water pumping, ditching, and impoundment associated with development are threats that can be mitigated.
Development
Climate Change
Drainage/ Impoundments
Groundwater Depletion
4.4.16.5 Impacts to Wildlife Appendix 3 provides a list of SGCN and other priority species for which there are knowledge gaps or management concerns. Appendices 3-17 (wildlife) and 3-22 (plants) identify SGCN that depend on or are associated with this habitat type. These habitats are important breeding and migration stopover points for many migratory birds, and key breeding areas for populations of the Eastern Painted Bunting (Hunter et al. 2000; Johns 2004) . These communities are also important for some snake species for which we have little status, distribution, or demographic information. The presence of dense canopies is a key habitat element in maritime forests; many maritime forest-associated herpetofauna, and their prey, are adapted to survive under particular sun and shade regimes (Bailey et al. 2004) . There are feral animal impacts (horses, goats, cows, pigs, cats) on some of the barrier islands (e.g., Shackleford Banks and Brown's Island). Wood et al. (1987) reported that grazing by ungulates can inhibit expansion of maritime forests. Feral horses have been shown to alter the composition of entire communities through grazing and trampling, though trampling may be the greater impact because it degrades soil structure (Turner 1987; Jensen 1985; Porter et al. 2014) . In addition, egg predators such as Raccoons and foxes that typically did not inhabit most of the Outer Banks are now widespread because of the increased amount of food available now that people inhabit the area.
The Buxton Woods White-footed Mouse might be the only animal essentially limited to this habitat type. The Dukes’ Skipper occurs mainly in ecotones of maritime forests and adjacent
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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