SUMMARY TERRA-1 TERRA-2 TERRA-3 TERRA-4 TERRA-5 SOCIO-1 SOCIO-2 SOCIO-3 SOCIO-4 SOCIO-5 SOCIO-6 SOCIO-7 TIMBR-1 TIMBR-2 TIMBR-3 HLTH-1 HLTH-2 HLTH-3 AQUA-1 AQUA-2 AQUA-3 AQUA-4 AQUA-5 HISTORY FIRE UPDATE-1 PDF (3.6 MB)

TERRA-1: Terrestrial Ecosystems

1 Key Findings

2 Introduction

3 Methods and Data Sources

4 Results

4.1 Historical Conditions

4.2 Status and Trends of Terrestrial Vertebrate Species

4.3 Sensitive and Rare Communities

4.4 Hard and Soft Mast

4.5 Contribution of Public Lands

4.6 Implications of Habitat Fragmentation on Vertebrate Species

5 Discussion and Conclusions

5.1 Status and Trends of Terrestrial Vertebrate Species

5.2 Hard and Soft Mast

5.3 The Implications of Habitat Fragmentation

5.4 The Influence of Land Ownership Patterns

6 Needs for Additional Research

7 Acknowledgements

8 Literature Cited

9 Tables and Figures

Table 1--Terrestrial vertebrate species classified as presumed (GX) or possibly (GH) extinct in the South. (Source: NatureServe 2000)

Table 2--Vertebrate species extirpated from selected states within the South. (Source: NatureServe 2000)

Table 3--Amphibian species within the South with global rankings of G1^a, G2^b, and G3^c. (NatureServe 2000)

Table 4--Reptile species within the South with global rankings of G1^a, G2^b, and G3^c. (NatureServe 2000)

Table 5--Bird species within the South with global rankings of G1^a, G2^b, and G3^c. (Source: NatureServe 2000)

Table 6--Mammal species within the South with global rankings of G1^a, G2^b, and G3^c. (Source: NatureServe 2000)

Table 7--Number of breeding bird species with increasing, decreasing, and stable trends from 1966 to 1996 by life-history characteristics for the South (Flather and others 1999)

Table 8-The national trends of raptors that occur in the South. (Source: Fuller and others 1995)

Table 9--Ecosystem communities that have declined by 70% or more in the South since European settlement (Noss and others 1995). Based on the published literature, Natural Heritage programs, and expert opinion

Table 10-The Nature Conservancy's summary of distributions and threats for rare communities of the South (after Grossman and others 1994)

Table 11--Examples of soft and hard mast-producing species in the South (Halls 1977)

Table 12--Selected mammals of the South that utilize hard and soft mast in their diets

Table 13--Selected birds of the South that utilize hard and soft mast in their diets

Table 14--U.S. Park Service National Parks and Monuments in the South. (Source: U.S. Department of Interior 2000a)

Table 15--U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Refuges within the South. (Source: U.S. Department of the Interior 2000b)

Table 16--National forest location and acreage in the South. (Source: U. S. Department of Agriculture 2000a)

Table 17--Summary of inventoried roadless areas in the South. (Source: U. S. Department of Agriculture 2000c)

Table 18--Wilderness areas in the South. (Source: U. S. Department of Agriculture 2000a)

Figure 1--Proportion of southern terrestrial vertebrate species at risk. The "Other" category includes species that have not been ranked or have questionable status. (Source: NatureServe 2000).

Figure 2--Number of terrestrial vertebrate species at risk delineated by major taxa in the South. (Source: NatureServe 2000).

Figure 3--Population trends of wild turkey in Southern States that provided estimates and long-term projections. Based on State wildlife agency data (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 4--Population trends of deer in Southern States that provided estimates and long-term projections. Based on State wildlife agency data (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 5--Population trends of black bear in Southern States that provided estimates and long-term projections. Based on State wildlife agency data (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 6--Population trends of red, gray, and fox squirrels in Southern States that provided estimates and long-term projections. Based on State wildlife agency data (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 7--Population trends of cottontail rabbits in Southern States that provided estimates and long-term projections. Based on State wildlife agency data (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 8--Population trends of northern bobwhite quail in Southern States that provided estimates and long-term projections. Based on State wildlife agency data (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 9--Population trends of forest grouse in Southern States that provided estimates and long-term projections. Based on State wildlife agency data (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 10--Trends in duck harvest from 1965 to 1995 by administrative flyway encompassing the South (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 11--Trends in goose harvest from 1965 to 1995 by administrative flyway encompassing the South (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 12--Population trends in mourning dove from 1996 to 1996 by management unit (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 13--Population trends in woodcock from 1996 to 1996 by management unit (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 14-Projected trends of beaver populations in the South. States that provided estimates are shaded. Based on State wildlife agency data (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 15-Projected trends of raccoon populations in the South. States that provided estimates are shaded. Based on State wildlife agency data (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 16-Projected trends of muskrat populations in the South. States that provided estimates are shaded. Based on State wildlife agency data (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 17-Projected trends of coyote populations in the South. States that provided estimates are shaded. Based on State wildlife agency data (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 18-Projected trends of bobcat populations in the South. States that provided estimates are shaded. Based on State wildlife agency data (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 19--Projected trends of red and gray fox populations in the South. States that provided estimates are shaded. Based on State wildlife agency data (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 20--The proportion of southern bird species with increasing, decreasing, and stable trends from 1966 to 1996. Birds have been grouped by broad life history characteristics, migration status, and breeding habitat (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 21--Patterns of bird richness in the South based upon counts from the Breeding Bird Survey (Flather and others 1999).

Figure 22--The historic and present distribution of longleaf pine in the South (White and others 1998).

Figure 23--National Forest and other public ownership of timberland in the South. (Source: U. S. Department of Agriculture 2000b).

Figure 24--The distribution of National Forests, National Parks, and National Refuges in the South (White and others 1998).