The Restoration & Management of Small Wetlands of the Mountains & Piedmont in the Southeast: A Manual Emphasizing Endangered & Threatened Species Habitat with a Focus on Bog Turtles

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Ann B. Somers, Lecturer (Creator)

Institution

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )

Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: (Table of contents links to chapters.) Preservation and management of wetlands for the benefit of native wild plants and animals are the major foci of this manual, but the bog turtle is highlighted because it is considered a flagship species. Flagship species are usually charismatic animals that have the ability to generate interest in a special habitat or a conservation project, and indeed the bog turtle does just that. Nevertheless, many other plant and animal species, rare and common, depend on wetland habitats found in the Mountains and Piedmont [here considered proper names] of the Southeast. The five states in the Southeast that currently have populations of bog turtles are Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. While the information in this handbook was specifically developed for these five states, it may also apply to similar types of wetlands found in other states. Finally, our intent is to help increase awareness of the value of these sites, not only to their inhabitants, but also to the other native species living in the network of wetlands and other natural communities. Any small wetland can drastically affect life beyond its edges. Besides providing refuge to the many species not found in surrounding dry, terrestrial communities, they also improve the ecology for all the wild species in the region. Wetlands may benefit some terrestrial and avian species by providing additional nesting sites, drinking water, sources of nectar, vegetation for cover, or perhaps by increasing the numbers of prey species available for consumption. We hope to assist landowners and land managers in understanding the importance of each small wetland patch and the role each plays in preservation of species and their ecosystems. Increased understanding of the values of wetland restoration will both motivate more restoration and educate the public about the vital need for this type of activity. In these days of global environmental decline and climate change, it is this type of restorative activity, to which each landowner can contribute, that will help to reverse some of the declines.

The Restoration & Management of Small Wetlands of the Mountains & Piedmont in the Southeast: A Manual Emphasizing Endangered & Threatened Species Habitat with a Focus on Bog Turtles
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Created on 1/1/2000
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Additional Information

Publication

Language: English

Date: 2000

Keywords

wetlands, bog turtle, habitat, conservation, Southeast United States, ecology, ecosystems, environment

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