Chapter 4 Habitats
Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats • Crayfishes – complete primary inventories and determine status of undescribed and recently described endemic species.
• Survey seasonal occurrence of potamodromous, or migratory riverine fishes in the lower reaches of French Broad, Pigeon, and Nolichucky rivers.
4.5.8.5.2 Monitoring Monitoring involves repeated observation and recording of specific parameters to show trends over time. Long-term monitoring that includes statistical and quantitative analysis in the design is critical to assessing species and ecosystem health and gauging the resilience of organisms to changing conditions (Gitzen et al. 2012, Lindenmayer and Likens 2009) . Monitoring efforts should include identification of population trends, as well as assessment of impacts from conservation or development activities. These efforts will inform species and habitat management decisions. 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. Long-term monitoring sites have been established and baseline data gathered in most areas of the basin for fishes, crayfishes, and mussels, and monitoring strategies have been developed for many priority species, including Appalachian Elktoe. Periodic sampling of species and habitat conditions should continue and be guided by potential for change. More frequent monitoring may be required for specific project assessment. Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats • Conduct special purpose monitoring to assess performance of specific conservation actions, such as Pigeon River species restoration and French Broad reintroduction fish species. Buffalo species Lake Sturgeon Redhorse species • Monitor distribution and status of nonnative species (e.g., nonnative catfishes and crayfishes).
• Continue routine monitoring of priority and state-listed fish species. Blotched Chub Brook Trout Blotchside Logperch Stonecat
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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