Chapter 4 Habitats
marshes. All guilds linked to this group are associated with other ecosystems that provide greater acreage of habitat. 4.4.16.6 Recommendations Most of the remaining maritime forests and swamps on the barrier islands are under conservation, as are many of the estuarine fringe communities. Substantial opportunities to protect additional examples are limited. There is value in protecting additional examples in the broader, more stable parts of barrier islands such as Kitty Hawk Woods, where these communities have the best chance of surviving. There is value in protecting estuarine fringe examples where there is opportunity for them to migrate inland. 4.4.16.6.1 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
• Determine the status and distribution of amphibians and reptiles in maritime communities.
• Conduct migration surveys to determine bird use, especially during the fall.
• Conduct small mammal surveys on barrier island systems to verify species status, distribution, and community composition.
4.4.16.6.2 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
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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