Chapter 4 Habitats
4.4.19.4 Climate Change Compared to Other Threats Comparing climate change to other ecosystem threats can help define short- and long-term conservation actions and recommendations. The effect of a changed climate is likely to vary widely among examples, and many may change very little, while others will change substantially because of human reaction to the impacts of climate change such as temperature changes or drought. Loss of habitat and fragmentation of landscapes are the most significant threats to this ecosystem group. While development of yet more intensive agricultural and silvicultural practices, and loss of still more areas to development, would continue even in the absence of climate change, these impacts are likely to be exacerbated both directly and indirectly by the effects of climate change. Climate change will contribute to the loss of the large blocks of habitat or fragmentation that creates barriers between blocks that are critical for the survival of species in this group. Development of habitat has become the limiting factor for priority species utilizing this habitat. Across the state, increased exploitation of wild or semi-wild lands for energy production is likely to be the most important indirect effect of climate change on this group. Table 4.4.19-1 summarizes the comparison of climate change with other existing threats.
Table 4.4.19-1 Climate change compared to other threats to successional communities.
Rank Order
Threat
Comments
1 The greatest threat to this habitat group is habitat loss due to development of more intensive agricultural and silvicultural practices. Modern, industrialized farming leaves fewer unused areas in and adjoining fields, such as hedgerows, groves of shade trees, and weedy forest-field ecotones. Fewer fields are left fallow for very long. Pastures and hayfields are more intensively managed, using heavier applications of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. Mowing of hayfields is also now conducted much more frequently than it has been in the past.
Conversion to agriculture/ silviculture
More pressure will be placed on the utilization of marginal agricultural or silvicultural lands for energy production, including the development of otherwise “green” sources such as biomass, wind, and solar energy. Increased frequency and severity of environmental perturbations may disproportionately affect ecosystems composed primarily of annuals or ‘r-strategist’ species in general, particularly if landscapes continue to become more and more fragmented. Communities may be in close proximity to areas that are commonly quite polluted. Farm fields and pine plantations are regularly sprayed with biocides or fertilizers; powerline rights-of- way are now routinely sprayed with herbicides to keep them open;
Fragmentation
1
Pollution
2
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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