Chapter 4 Habitats
Habitat quality affects the survival of populations that use this habitat (Wnek et al. 2013) and animals that use beach habitats for nesting are particularly vulnerable to loss of habitat, to structures that restrict their access to foraging and nest sites, and to intrusions that disturb their nesting or foraging behaviors. Female terrapins are reported as showing nest site fidelity and return to the same beach for nesting (Roosenburg 1990) . Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers, terns, skimmers, and sea turtles are additional examples of species that are vulnerable to loss of beach habitats for nesting or foraging. Diamondback Terrapins and sea turtles nest on sand dunes, bay, and sound beach areas, and artificial spoil islands, and shoreline structures built in these areas to reduce erosion can impede them from coming on shore to nest (Wnek et al. 2013) . Trash and waste materials deposited along the shoreline create another access hazard for hatchlings leaving nests and can become an ingestion or entanglement hazard for foraging animals (Nevins et al . 2014) . Sediment composition in nesting areas affects micro-environmental conditions such as temperature, carbon dioxide and oxygen levels, and moisture content, which in turn affects water exchange, metabolism, and development of embryos in the nest chamber (Wnek et al. 2013) . Sex determination of turtle embryos is dependent on temperature of the nest during incubation and biophysical conditions such as soil temperature and moisture affect survivorship, length of incubation period, energy stores, and sex ratios of hatchlings (Roosenburg 1990; Jeyasuria and Place 1997; Wnek et al. 2013) . Embryos that did not survive in nests constructed in dredge soils were desiccated, most likely due to high saline content or the presence of organic and inorganic contaminants (Brooks et al. 1991, Miller and Dinkelacker 2008, Wnek et al . 2013) . 4.4.18.6 Recommendations In general, conservation and restoration of natural composition and function, and conservation of surrounding natural areas are the best ways to improve the ability of these communities to adapt to climate change. Protection of a large and diverse pool of examples is the best way to ensure that many survive the future stresses. 4.4.18.6.1 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.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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