DOCSLIB.ORG

Ecologist for a Day Field Guide

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Ecologist for a Day Field Guide Ecologist for a Day Field Guide Program supported by: ©2017, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory – Outreach Program Page 1 INVERTEBRATES Brown Millipede Burgundy Millipede Red Millipede Green Centipede Small Gray Millipede Carrion Beetle Larva Red Centipede Orb Weaver Trapdoor Spider SiSpine d Micra thena Harvestman (Daddy-long-legs) WlfWolf SSidpiders OUS SPIDER M VENO Crab Spider Black and Yellow Argiope Widow Spider Cross Spider ©2017, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory - Outreach Program INVERTEBRATES Page 2 Short-Horned Grasshopper Grasshopper Variegated Grasshopper Katydid Shieldback Cricket Camel Cricket Praying Mantis Periodical Cicada Field Cricket Dung Beetle Splendid Dung Beetle Ground Beetle Stink Bug Wood Roach Bess Beetle ©2017, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory - Outreach Program Page 3 INVERTEBRATES TermitesWalking Stick Velvet Ant (Solitary Wasp) Skipper Caterpillar Tussock Moth Caterpillar Saddleback Caterpillar Spicebush Swallowtail Io Moth Caterpillar Leopard Moth Caterpillar Caterpillar Red-Spotted Purple Pearly Eye Painted Lady Gulf Fritillary Imperial Moth Spicebush Swallowtail ©2017, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory - Outreach Program INVERTEBRATES Page 4 Stream Crayfish Two-Spined Crayfish Marsh Crayfish Swamp Crayfish Green Dragonfly Naiad Dragonfly Naiad Diving Beetle Water Bug Giant Water Bug Backswimmer Water Scorpion Fishing Spider Leech Horsehair Worm Land Snail ©2017, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory - Outreach Program Page 5 FRESHWATER FISH American Eel Bullhead Catfish Chain Pickerel Redfin Pickerel Speckled Madtom Tadpole Madtom Creek Chub Yellowfin Shiner Lowland Shiner Creek Chubsucker Blackbanded Sunfish Dollar Sunfish Mud Sunfish Female Male Pirate Perch Warmouth Lined Topminnow Mosquito Fish Savannah Darter Banded Pygmy Sunfish ©2017, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory - Outreach Program AMPHIBIANS Page 6 Southern Toad Spadefoot Toad Narrow-mouthed Toad Green Frog Cricket Frog Leopard Frog Barking Treefrog Gray Treefrog Green Treefrog Two-lined Salamander Three-lined Salamander Red Salamander Dwarf Waterdog Slimy Salamander Two-Toed Amphiuma Lesser Siren ©2017, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory - Outreach Program Page 7 REPTILES Glass Lizard Fence Lizard Green Anole Ground Skink Skink (juvenile) Broadhead Skink Six-lined Racerunner Gopher Tortoise Box Turtle Yellowbelly Slider Turtle Musk Turtle (Stinkpot) Common Snapping Turtle ©2017, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory - Outreach Program REPTILES Page 8 Ringneck Snake Smooth Earth Snake Red-bellied Snake Southeastern Crowned Snake Southern Hognose Snake Eastern Hognose Snake Common Garter Snake Racer Coachwhip Corn SkSnake RtRat Sna ke Pine Sna ke Rough Green Snake Eastern Kingsnake Mud Snake ©2017, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory - Outreach Program Page 9 REPTILES Scarlet Snake Brown Watersnake Queen Snake Scarlet Kingsnake Rainbow Snake Banded Watersnake VENOMOUS or VENOMOUS Canebrake Coral Snake VENOMOUS Cottonmouth SNAKE SNAKE Water Moccasin SNAKE Rattlesnake VENOMOUS American Alligator Copperhead VENOMOUS Pygmy SNAKE SNAKE Rattlesnake ©2017, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory - Outreach Program MAMMALS Page 10 Pine Vole Shorttail Shrew House Mouse Cotton Mouse Cotton Rat Golden Mouse Flying Squirrel Fox Squirrel Gray Squirrel Opossum Marsh Rabbit Raccoon Mole Nine-banded Armadillo Cottontail Whitetail Deer Striped Skunk ©2017, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory - Outreach Program Page 11 COMMON PLANTS American Holly Beauty Berry Bamboo British Soldier Lichen Cypress Knees Dogwood Switch Cane Fetterbush Flame Aza lea LiLupine FiFringe Tree Pickerel Weed Prickly Pear Moss Verbena ©2017, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory - Outreach Program COMMON PLANTS Page 12 Poison Ivy Loblolly Pine Shortleaf Pine Poison Oak Reindeer Moss (Lichen) Longleaf Pine Sensitive Brier Spanish Moss Laurel Oak Trea d Softl y (Spurge Nettl e) TkTurkey OkOak WtWater OkOak Spotted Wintergreen Yellow Jessamine Golden Club (Never-Wet) ©2017, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory - Outreach Program Page 13 COMMON PLANTS Strawberry Bush Sphagnum Moss Sweet Bay Sparkleberry Red Bay Wax Myrtle Titi Partridge Pea Bladderwort Golden Rod Scuppernongs Blazing Star Woolly Mullein Bitterweed ©2017, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory - Outreach Program.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Contributions of Intensively Managed Forests to the Sustainability of Wildlife Communities in the South
    CONTRIBUTIONS OF INTENSIVELY MANAGED FORESTS TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF WILDLIFE COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTH T. Bently Wigley1, William M. Baughman, Michael E. Dorcas, John A. Gerwin, J. Whitfield Gibbons, David C. Guynn, Jr., Richard A. Lancia, Yale A. Leiden, Michael S. Mitchell, Kevin R. Russell ABSTRACT Wildlife communities in the South are increasingly influenced by land use changes associated with human population growth and changes in forest management strategies on both public and private lands. Management of industry-owned landscapes typically results in a diverse mixture of habitat types and spatial arrangements that simultaneously offers opportunities to maintain forest cover, address concerns about fragmentation, and provide habitats for a variety of wildlife species. We report here on several recent studies of breeding bird and herpetofaunal communities in industry-managed landscapes in South Carolina. Study landscapes included the 8,100-ha GilesBay/Woodbury Tract, owned and managed by International Paper Company, and 62,363-ha of the Ashley and Edisto Districts, owned and managed by Westvaco Corporation. Breeding birds were sampled in both landscapes from 1995-1999 using point counts, mist netting, nest searching, and territory mapping. A broad survey of herpetofauna was conducted during 1996-1998 across the Giles Bay/Woodbury Tract using a variety of methods, including: searches of natural cover objects, time-constrained searches, drift fences with pitfall traps, coverboards, automated recording systems, minnow traps, and turtle traps. Herpetofaunal communities were sampled more intensively in both landscapes during 1997-1999 in isolated wetland and selected structural classes. The study landscapes supported approximately 70 bird and 72 herpetofaunal species, some of which are of conservation concern.
    [Show full text]
  • Publications by Jeffrey C
    Publications by Jeffrey C. Beane Current 6 March 2018 Scientific Publications Beane, J. C. 1988. Geographic distribution: Regina rigida rigida. Herpetological Review 19(3):60. ______. 1989. Geographic distribution: Hyla cinerea. Herpetological Review 20(3):75. ______. 1990. Geographic distribution: Hyla cinerea. Herpetological Review 21(2):37. ______. 1990. Geographic distribution: Hyla femoralis. Herpetological Review 21(2):37. ______. 1990. Geographic distribution: Rhadinaea flavilata. Herpetological Review 21(2):41-42. ______. 1990. Rana palustris: predation. Herpetological Review 21(3):59. ______. 1992. Geographic distribution: Eurycea quadridigitata. Herpetological Review 23(4):121-122. ______. 1993. A survey of bog turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii) habitat in the western Piedmont of North Carolina. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 28(11)240-242. ______. 1993. Book review: Ernst, Carl H. 1992. Venomous Reptiles of North America. The Association of Southeastern Biologists Bulletin 40(3):193. ______. 1995. New distributional records for the star-nosed mole, Condylura cristata (Insectivora: Talpidae), in North Carolina, with comments on its occurrence in the Piedmont region. Brimleyana 22:77-86. ______. 1998. New distributional records for reptiles from North Carolina. Herpetological Review 29(1):56-58. ______. 1998. Status of the river frog, Rana heckscheri (Anura: Ranidae) in North Carolina. Brimleyana 25:69-79. ______. 2005. Amphiuma means: predation. Herpetological Review 36(3):295. ______. 2006. Sceloporus undulatus hyacinthinus: fire avoidance behavior. Herpetological Review 37(1):92. ______. 2006. Deirochelys reticularia reticularia: terrestrial refugium duration. Herpetological Review 37(4):455-456. ______. 2009. Notes on a dicephalic eastern ribbon snake, Thamnophis sauritus sauritus. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 44(1):1-3.
    [Show full text]
  • Mississippi Natural Heritage Program Listed Species of Mississippi - 2018
    MISSISSIPPI NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM LISTED SPECIES OF MISSISSIPPI - 2018 - GLOBAL STATE FEDERAL STATE SPECIES NAME COMMON NAME RANK RANK STATUS STATUS ANIMALIA BIVALVIA UNIONOIDA UNIONIDAE ACTINONAIAS LIGAMENTINA MUCKET G5 S1 LE CYCLONAIAS TUBERCULATA PURPLE WARTYBACK G5 S1 LE ELLIPTIO ARCTATA DELICATE SPIKE G2G3Q S1 LE EPIOBLASMA BREVIDENS CUMBERLANDIAN COMBSHELL G1 S1 LE LE EPIOBLASMA PENITA SOUTHERN COMBSHELL G1 S1 LE LE EPIOBLASMA TRIQUETRA SNUFFBOX G3 S1 LE LE EURYNIA DILATATA SPIKE G5 S1 LE HAMIOTA PEROVALIS ORANGE-NACRE MUCKET G2 S1 LT LE MEDIONIDUS ACUTISSIMUS ALABAMA MOCCASINSHELL G2 S1 LT LE PLETHOBASUS CYPHYUS SHEEPNOSE G3 S1 LE LE PLEUROBEMA CURTUM BLACK CLUBSHELL GH SX LE LE PLEUROBEMA DECISUM SOUTHERN CLUBSHELL G2 S1 LE LE PLEUROBEMA MARSHALLI FLAT PIGTOE GX SX LE LE PLEUROBEMA OVIFORME TENNESSEE CLUBSHELL G2G3 SX LE PLEUROBEMA PEROVATUM OVATE CLUBSHELL G1 S1 LE LE PLEUROBEMA RUBRUM PYRAMID PIGTOE G2G3 S2 LE PLEUROBEMA TAITIANUM HEAVY PIGTOE G1 SX LE LE PLEURONAIA DOLABELLOIDES SLABSIDE PEARLYMUSSEL G2 S1 LE LE POTAMILUS CAPAX FAT POCKETBOOK G2 S1 LE LE POTAMILUS INFLATUS INFLATED HEELSPLITTER G1G2Q SH LT LE PTYCHOBRANCHUS FASCIOLARIS KIDNEYSHELL G4G5 S1 LE THELIDERMA CYLINDRICA CYLINDRICA RABBITSFOOT G3G4T3 S1 LT LE THELIDERMA METANEVRA MONKEYFACE G4 SX LE THELIDERMA STAPES STIRRUPSHELL GH SX LE LE MALACOSTRACA DECAPODA CAMBARIDAE CREASERINUS GORDONI CAMP SHELBY BURROWING CRAWFISH G1 S1 LE INSECTA COLEOPTERA SILPHIDAE NICROPHORUS AMERICANUS AMERICAN BURYING BEETLE G2G3 SX LE LE LEPIDOPTERA NYMPHALIDAE NEONYMPHA MITCHELLII MITCHELLII MITCHELL’S SATYR G2T2 S1 LE LE 24 September 2018 Page | 1 Page | 1 Cite the list as: Mississippi Natural Heritage Program, 2018. Listed Species of Mississippi. Museum of Natural Science, Mississippi Dept.
    [Show full text]
  • NCWF Partnering for Red Wolves
    North Carolina WILDLIFE FE DERATIONJJournalournalWILD LIVES WILD PLACES Spring 20 18 WORK THE PLAN North Carolina’s Wildlife Action Plan Leaves No Species Behind. Bird’s-eye View Conservation Awards Nominations NCWF in the East 7 8 10 pathways in conservation You Say “Cheater” Like That’s a Bad T hing BY TIM GESTWICKI , NCWF CEO hether they fly, swim, burrow, hop, slither, scamper, or climb, wild animals are simply fascinating to me. Most Wof us have our favorites. I certainly do, but ask me to name my favorite wild creature and the answer I give you today might not be the one I would have given you a month ago. I’m a fickle wildlife lover. These days, I’m just getting over a pretty serious spring fling with wild turkeys. I’ve got a serious crush on lightning bugs going, but I know that it won’t last any longer than a summer vacation beach love because I’m a sucker for speckled trout come fall. I’ll be honest: When it comes to monogamy in wildlife love, count me out. I’m a serial cheater. I’ll dump a wood - pecker in a skinny minute when I hear a barred owl sing at sunset. Except for one wild thing—the loon. This is an ancient species, a large, heavy water bird that looks like a large duck but its belly floats below the water making it look a bit like a cormorant when swimming. Its summer plumage is black with beautiful white breast stripes and a white checkered back.
    [Show full text]
  • Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Amphibians, Fish, Mammals and Reptiles List
    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Amphibians, Fish, Mammals and Reptiles List The Okefenokee swamp is covered with Mammals ___Seminole Bat cypress, blackgum, and bay forests (Lasiurus seminolus). A common bat of scattered throughout a flooded prairie ___Virginia Opossum the Okefenokee which is found hanging in made of grasses, sedges, and various (Didelphis virginiana pigna). Common on Spanish Moss during the day. the swamp edge and the islands within aquatic plants. The peripheral upland and ___Hoary Bat the almost 70 islands within the swamp the Swamp. A night prowler. “Pogo” is often seen by campers. (Lasiurus cinereus cinereus). This are forested with pine interspersed with yellowish-brown bat flies high in the air hardwood hammocks. Lakes of varying ___Southern Short-Tailed Shrew late at night and will hang in trees when sizes and depths, and floating sections (Barina carolinensis). A specimen was resting. It is the largest bat in the East of the peat bed, are also part of the found on Floyds Island June 12, 1921. It and eats mostly moths. Okefenokee terrain. kills its prey with poisonous saliva. ___Northern Yellow Bat People have left their mark on the swamp. ___Least Shrew (Lasiurus intermedius floridanus). A 12-mile long canal was dug into the (Cryptotus parva parva). Rarely seen but Apparently a rare species in the area. It eastern prairies in the 1890’s in a failed probably fairly common. Specimens have likes to feed in groups. attempt to drain the swamp. During the been found on several of the islands, on early 1900’s large amounts of timber were the swamp edge, and in the pine woods ___Evening Bat removed, so that very few areas of virgin around the swamp.
    [Show full text]
  • AG-472-02 Snakes
    Snakes Contents Intro ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................1 What are Snakes? ...............................................................1 Biology of Snakes ...............................................................1 Why are Snakes Important? ............................................1 People and Snakes ............................................................3 Where are Snakes? ............................................................1 Managing Snakes ...............................................................3 Family Colubridae ...............................................................................................................................................................................................5 Eastern Worm Snake—Harmless .................................5 Red-Bellied Water Snake—Harmless ....................... 11 Scarlet Snake—Harmless ................................................5 Banded Water Snake—Harmless ............................... 11 Black Racer—Harmless ....................................................5 Northern Water Snake—Harmless ............................12 Ring-Necked Snake—Harmless ....................................6 Brown Water Snake—Harmless .................................12 Mud Snake—Harmless ....................................................6 Rough Green Snake—Harmless .................................12
    [Show full text]
  • Venomous Nonvenomous Snakes of Florida
    Venomous and nonvenomous Snakes of Florida PHOTOGRAPHS BY KEVIN ENGE Top to bottom: Black swamp snake; Eastern garter snake; Eastern mud snake; Eastern kingsnake Florida is home to more snakes than any other state in the Southeast – 44 native species and three nonnative species. Since only six species are venomous, and two of those reside only in the northern part of the state, any snake you encounter will most likely be nonvenomous. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission MyFWC.com Florida has an abundance of wildlife, Snakes flick their forked tongues to “taste” their surroundings. The tongue of this yellow rat snake including a wide variety of reptiles. takes particles from the air into the Jacobson’s This state has more snakes than organs in the roof of its mouth for identification. any other state in the Southeast – 44 native species and three nonnative species. They are found in every Fhabitat from coastal mangroves and salt marshes to freshwater wetlands and dry uplands. Some species even thrive in residential areas. Anyone in Florida might see a snake wherever they live or travel. Many people are frightened of or repulsed by snakes because of super- stition or folklore. In reality, snakes play an interesting and vital role K in Florida’s complex ecology. Many ENNETH L. species help reduce the populations of rodents and other pests. K Since only six of Florida’s resident RYSKO snake species are venomous and two of them reside only in the northern and reflective and are frequently iri- part of the state, any snake you en- descent.
    [Show full text]
  • Field Journal.Pub
    The reserve has thousands of acres of wildlands that sup- port hundreds of species of plants and animals. Although most of the plants and animals are harmless, there are some that can cause harm if they bite, sting or rub up Grand Bay against you. As long as you exercise caution, you should have no problem with them. Many of these harmful inter- National Estuarine actions (except with the bugs) can be avoided if you stay out of the water and on the trails. Remember! The number Research Reserve one person responsible for your safety is YOU! Plants to avoid contact with: Field Journal Poison Ivy Remember! Leaflets three—leave it be. Black Needlerush Don’t let it poke you in the eye. Animals to avoid contact with: Alligators Poisonous Snakes Jellyfish Stingrays Sharks Louisiana Black Bears (rare) Biting Bugs including: Ticks, Deer Flies, Mosquitoes and Gnats Please Do Not Feed the Wildlife! 6005 Bayou Heron Road, Moss Point, MS 39562 Pone: 228.475.7047 18 Field Notes and Drawings Grand Bay NERR and surrounding areas 17 2 Field Notes and Drawings A Visitor’s Field Journal Note to Users This field journal was compiled in order to pro- vide you, our visitors, with species lists of common ani- mals and plants found within the protected wildlands of the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Refuge. We encourage you to cautiously explore these sensitive areas on foot when you are out in the field. Many of our coastal habitats such as pine savan- nas and salt pannes are extremely fragile in nature.
    [Show full text]
  • Captive Wildlife Regulations, 2021, W-13.12 Reg 5
    1 CAPTIVE WILDLIFE, 2021 W-13.12 REG 5 The Captive Wildlife Regulations, 2021 being Chapter W-13.12 Reg 5 (effective June 1, 2021). NOTE: This consolidation is not official. Amendments have been incorporated for convenience of reference and the original statutes and regulations should be consulted for all purposes of interpretation and application of the law. In order to preserve the integrity of the original statutes and regulations, errors that may have appeared are reproduced in this consolidation. 2 W-13.12 REG 5 CAPTIVE WILDLIFE, 2021 Table of Contents PART 1 PART 5 Preliminary Matters Zoo Licences and Travelling Zoo Licences 1 Title 38 Definition for Part 2 Definitions and interpretation 39 CAZA standards 3 Application 40 Requirements – zoo licence or travelling zoo licence PART 2 41 Breeding and release Designations, Prohibitions and Licences PART 6 4 Captive wildlife – designations Wildlife Rehabilitation Licences 5 Prohibition – holding unlisted species in captivity 42 Definitions for Part 6 Prohibition – holding restricted species in captivity 43 Standards for wildlife rehabilitation 7 Captive wildlife licences 44 No property acquired in wildlife held for 8 Licence not required rehabilitation 9 Application for captive wildlife licence 45 Requirements – wildlife rehabilitation licence 10 Renewal 46 Restrictions – wildlife not to be rehabilitated 11 Issuance or renewal of licence on terms and conditions 47 Wildlife rehabilitation practices 12 Licence or renewal term PART 7 Scientific Research Licences 13 Amendment, suspension,
    [Show full text]
  • Captive Wildlife Allowed List
    Saskatchewan Captive Wildlife Allowed Species List (as of June 1, 2021) AMPHIBIANS (CLASS AMPHIBIA) Class (Common Name) Scientific Name Family Ambystomatidae Axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum Marble Salamander Ambystoma opacum Family Bombinatoridae Oriental Fire-Bellied Toad Bombina orientalis Family Bufonidae Green Toad Anaxyrus debilis Black Indonesian Toad Bufo asper Indonesian Toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus Family Ceratophryidae Surinam Horned Frog Ceratophrys cornuta Chacoan Horned Frog Ceratophrys cranwelli Argentine Horned Frog Ceratophrys ornata Budgett’s Frog Lepidobatrachus laevis Family Dendrobatidae Dart Poison Frog Dendrobates auratus Yellow-banded Poison Dart Frog Dendrobates leucomelas Dyeing Dart Frog Dendrobates tinctorius Yellow-striped Poison Frog Dendrobates truncatus Family Hylidae Clown Tree Frog Dendropsophus leucophyllatus Bird Poop Tree Frog Dendropsophus marmoratus Barking Tree Frog Dryophytes gratiosus Squirrel Tree Frog Dryophytes squirellus Green Tree Frog Dryophytes cinereus Cuban Tree Frog Osteopilus septentrionalis Haitian Giant Tree Frog Osteopilus vastus White’s Tree Frog Ranoidea caerulea Brazilian Black and White Milky Frog Trachycephalus resinifictrix Hyperoliidae African Reed Frog Hyperolius concolor Family Mantellidae Baron’s Mantella Mantella baroni Brown Mantella Mantella betsileo Family Megophryidae Long-nosed Horned Frog Megophrys nasuta Family Microhylidae Tomato Frog Dyscophus guineti Chubby Frog Kaloula pulchra Banded Rubber Frog Phrynomantis bifasciatus Emerald Hopper Frog Scaphiophryne madagascariensis
    [Show full text]
  • Longleaf Pine Reptile Guild
    Supplemental Volume: Species of Conservation Concern SC SWAP 2015 Longleaf Pine Reptile Guild Primary Species: Mimic Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus mimicus) Florida Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus) Northern Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus) Southern Hognose Snake (Heterodon simus) Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) Coral snake (Harlequin) (Micrurus fulvius) Secondary Species: Slender Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus) Pine Woods Snake (Rhadinea flavilata) Contributors (2005): Stephen H. Bennett and Kurt A. Buhlmann [SCDNR] Reviewed and Edited (2012): Stephen H. Bennett (SCDNR) and Kurt A. Buhlmann (SREL) DESCRIPTION This guild comprises 5 primary species and 2 secondary species. Five of the species are snakes and 2 are lizards, and all of the species are commonly associated with one or more of the natural communities that comprise the longleaf pine ecosystem. Primary species are high priority species that are directly tied to the "unifying" feature/habitat. Secondary species are priority species that may occur in, or be related to, the unifying feature at some time in their life All of the species in the Longleaf Pine Reptile Guild are associated with the longleaf pine ecosystem that was extensive across the Southeastern United States at the time of European settlement (Bartram 1791; Guyer and Bailey 1993). The longleaf pine ecosystem has declined to less than 10% of its original land area (Frost et al. 1986). Much of the previously forested lands are now urban or agricultural (Gibbons and Buhlmann 2001). Those lands that are forested have been planted in pine species other than longleaf and have been managed on shorter rotations, in many cases without prescribed fire and without concern for the diverse herbaceous plant species that once occurred with the longleaf pine.
    [Show full text]
  • Landscape-Scale Spatial Analysis of Longleaf Pine Ecosystem
    Landscape‐Scale Spatial Analysis of Longleaf Pine Ecosystem Resilience in North Carolina Introduction Longleaf pine forests are at risk. Today 4.3 million acres remain of the original extent that once spanned 92 million acres across the southeastern United States (Oswalt et al 2012). These remnant forests are threatened by exclusion of natural or prescribed fire regimes, fragmentation, unsustainable timber harvest, conversion to other land uses and vegetative types, and invasive species. Conservation actions to protect, restore, and manage longleaf pine forests are essential to halt the decline of these forests. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is working across nine states—in partnership with many agencies and organizations—to expand longleaf pine forests. The North Carolina Chapter of TNC initiated this landscape‐scale GIS‐based analysis because of a desire to focus our conservation actions in the places where longleaf pine forests are most likely to persist in the long‐term, adapt to changes, and continue to support biodiversity. The conservation target for TNC’s Longleaf Pine Whole System Project in North Carolina, and focus of this analysis, is the longleaf pine ecosystem. Because this is a coarse‐filter target at a large scale, it encompasses a variety of habitats and species that are associated with longleaf pine. High quality longleaf pine systems are generally characterized by a canopy of widely‐spaced longleaf pines with an herbaceous ground layer; but this simplified description masks the incredible biological diversity within this system and the significant variation between longleaf forests in different regions (Oswalt et al 2012). The ultimate goal for TNC is to conserve a “resilient” longleaf pine ecosystem.
    [Show full text]