Chapter 4 Habitats
Invasives. New exotic species may appear or become invasive in the warmer climate. Beach Vitex ( Vitex rotundifolia ) is an invasive species introduced through gardening centers and can outcompete some of the native dune vegetation such as sea oats. Although many patches of Vitex have been eradicated along coastal dune systems, effort is needed to remove remaining patches and document any new patches that may become established. Mild winters may allow new exotic species to invade or may allow more natural compositional change that will be locally substantial but may be negligible over larger areas. 4.4.17.4 Climate Change Compared to Other Threats Comparing climate change to other ecosystem threats can help define short- and long-term conservation actions and recommendations. While the climate is expected to be warmer, and rainfall change estimates vary widely, the most important effects on these systems will be rising sea level and an increase in storms. Table 4.4.17-1 summarizes the comparison of climate change with other existing threats.
Table 4.4.17-1 Climate change compared to other threats to maritime grasslands.
Rank Order
Threat
Comments
1 Ongoing development, including artificial foredune build-up, is the most severe threat to the remaining unprotected examples. Beach houses, motels, and other structures, and the infrastructure that supports them, have caused a significant stabilization effect on the beaches that will be difficult to reverse. 1 Sea level rise and increased storm intensity associated with climate change are the most severe threats to the conservation areas where most of the remaining maritime grasslands occur. 2 Feral populations of horses have been documented to have a severe effect on maritime herbaceous communities (Porter et al. 2014) and particularly on populations of Seaside Little Bluestem. Beach Vitex is the only invasive plant species that is a severe threat at present. Its abundance is limited, and control should be feasible with effort. Additional exotic species are likely to appear with a warmer climate.
Development
Climate Change
Invasive Species
4.4.17.5 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. A genetic study of the Crystal Skipper ( Atrytonopsis n. sp. 1) indicated that its population is subdivided into three distinct groups, one at Fort Macon and a nearby dredged-material island,
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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