Chapter 5 Threats
5.10 Invasive and Other Problematic Species and Genes
Threats are from nonnative and native plants, animals, pathogens or microbes, or genetic materials that have or are predicted to have harmful effects on biodiversity following their introduction, spread, and/or increase in abundance. This can include feral animals (e.g., cats, swine); species introduced as biocontrol agents or as part of a management strategy (e.g., Kudzu); native species that can be problematic when populations are overabundant or concentrated (e.g., White-tailed Deer in urban areas); and introduced genetically modified organisms such as plants that can hybridize with native plants or pesticide resistant crops (Salafsky et al. 2008) . Invasive species may be one of the most important and widespread issues in conservation biology today because once established, they are expensive to treat, are typically hard to remove, may become permanent components of the community, and have effects that can be irreversible (Reynolds and Souty-Grosset 2012) . Nonnative and invasive species introductions (both plant and animal) continue to pose a threat to native wildlife in North Carolina. The spread of invasive species has been growing over the last decades, with species of all kinds moving higher in latitude and elevation as changing climate conditions facilitate range expansions. Invasives are particularly threatening to native species with small population sizes and distribution ranges (Vose et al. 2014) . Introductions of nonnative species have occurred in a number of different ways, ranging from intended stockings, to range expansions, to accidental and deliberate release of animals purchased through the pet trade. Impacts on native species are equally varied—some exotics out-compete native species (e.g., Kudzu and Japanese Stiltgrass), while others cause hybridization (e.g., Red-eared Sliders breeding with native Yellow-eared Sliders). Still others can cause direct mortalities to our native resources (e.g., red imported Fire Ants, the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid). The most important concept to remember is that all components within a natural community— whether native, introduced, exotic, or invasive—will have synergistic relationships and cumulative impacts on each other, both positive and negative. The species discussed in this section do not represent an exhaustive list of all invasive or problematic species; rather, these are examples that represent widespread concerns or species that may be site specific. When considering invasive and other problematic species in North Carolina, it becomes clear that a discussion about one topic often leads to the need to discuss several others. Given this complexity of the topic, the information provided in this section has been organized first by landscapes (aquatic or terrestrial communities), then by category (plants or wildlife). While pathogens may be considered an invasive or problematic species, they are discussed as a separate topic in Section 5.13.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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