Chapter 4 Habitats
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 monitoring surveys for SGCN mussel species in the Deep and Rocky rivers and other priority species. Magnificent Ramshorn Cape Fear Shiner 4.5.5.5.3 Research Research topics that facilitate appropriate conservation actions include habitat use and preferences, reproductive behavior, fecundity, population dynamics and genetics, feeding, competition, impacts of climate change and invasive species, 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. Deep River Rocky River
Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats • Support species descriptions for undescribed taxa. Carolina Redhorse Crayfishes
• Determine the vulnerability of species across all taxa groups to contaminants such as endocrine- disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and other compounds that are present in many of our waterways. Broadtail Madtom Ironcolor Shiner • Identify limiting factors of declining species. • Identify ways to eradicate or reduce the impacts of nonnative species throughout the basin as well as proactively preventing future introductions. Blue Catfish Flathead Catfish Mystery snails Hydrilla
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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