Chapter 4 Habitats
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 priority species. Monitoring plans should be coordinated with other existing monitoring programs where feasible. Monitoring of aquatic taxa is critical to assessing species and ecosystem health and gauging the resilience of organisms to a changing climate. These monitoring efforts will inform future decisions on how to manage aquatic species. Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats • Conduct long-term monitoring to assess performance of specific conservation actions: stream restoration projects; species restoration projects; improvements in flow regions below dams; improvements in best management practices (BMPs).
• Assess nonnative species impacts and monitor populations of potentially injurious nonnative species and their impacts on priority species.
• Establish protocols, schedules, and sites for long-term population monitoring.
4.5.3.3.3 Research Research topics that facilitate appropriate conservation actions include habitat use and preferences, reproductive behavior, fecundity, population dynamics and genetics, feeding, competition, and food web dynamics. Increased understanding of life histories and status helps determine the vulnerability of priority species to further imperilment, in addition to identifying possibilities for improved management and conservation. All studies should provide recommendations for mitigation and restoration. Formal descriptions for known or putative undescribed species and investigations aimed at resolving taxonomic status are needed. Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats • Investigate potential for augmentation or restoration of priority species populations in restored or improved habitats.
• Resolve taxonomic problems and develop species descriptions (if required).
• Review available information and support life history investigations where lacking.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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