Forty-four (44) rare species are tracked by the NCNHP for Chatham County as of May 2010 (see Tables A1 and A2). Of these species, 31 are considered current (C), 11 are historic (H) records, and 2 are obscure (O) records. One current species was removed because it is not native in Chatham County (Roanoke bass). The NCNHP assigns Survey Status to element occurrence records for rare species. The following definitions apply to the Current (C), Historic (H) or Obscure (O) occurrences:
SURVEY STATUS
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DEFINITION
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Current (C)
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The element has been seen recently (within the last 30 years).*
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Historical (H)
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The element has not been found in recent surveys or has not been surveyed recently enough to be confident they are still present. Occurrences are regarded as historical after 20-40 years; the time varies depending on the element and the amount of habitat alteration in the area. A status of "Historical" should not be regarded as a definitive statement that the element is gone, but indicates that there is reason to doubt its continued existence.
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Obscure (O)
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The date and/or location the element was last observed is uncertain.
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*Only those rare species tracked by the NCNHP with a current survey status were considered Priority Species in the conservation plan. See the Methods section of the Plan for more information on section of Priority Species for Chatham County.
Rare species tracked by the NCNHP and information on their survey status is discussed further below.
Current Records
Thirty (30) of the 44 rare species tracked by the NCNHP in Chatham County (as of May 2010) have current statuses (NCNHP 2010) (see Table A1 below). Only those tracked by the NCNHP with a current survey status and native to Chatham County are considered Priority Species in this Plan (see Methods section for more information).
Table A1. Rare species tracked by the NC Natural Heritage Program with current (C)
known occurrences in Chatham County (NCNHP 2010).
Taxa Group
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Scientific Name
|
Common Name
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Amphibians
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Hemidactylium scutatum
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Four-toed salamander
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Birds
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Aimophila aestivalis
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Bachman's sparrow
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Haliaeetus leucocephalus
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Bald eagle
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Lanius ludovicianus
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Loggerhead shrike
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Phalacrocorax auritus
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Double-crested cormorant
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Crustaceans
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Cambarus davidi
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Carolina ladle crayfish
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Fish
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Etheostoma collis pop. 2
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Carolina darter - Eastern Piedmont population
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Moxostoma sp. 3
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Carolina redhorse
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Notropis mekistocholas
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Cape Fear shiner
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Insects
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Choroterpes basalis
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A mayfly
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Gomphus septima
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Septima's clubtail
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Neurocordulia virginiensis
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Cinnamon shadowdragon
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Mussels
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Alasmidonta undulata
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Triangle floater
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Alasmidonta varicosa
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Brook floater
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Elliptio roanokensis
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Roanoke slabshell
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Fusconaia masoni
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Atlantic pigtoe
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Lampsilis cariosa
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Yellow lampmussel
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Lampsilis radiata
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Eastern lampmussel
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Strophitus undulatus
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Creeper
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Toxolasma pullus
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Savannah Lilliput
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Villosa constricta
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Notched rainbow
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Villosa delumbis
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Eastern creekshell
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Villosa vaughaniana
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Carolina creekshell
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Plants
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Collinsonia tuberosa
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Piedmont horsebalm
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Eurybia spectabilis
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Showy Aster
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Fothergilla major
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Large witch alder
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Lindera subcoriacea
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Bog spicebush
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Monotropsis odorata
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Sweet pinesap
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Phacelia covillei
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Buttercup Phacelia
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Ptilimnium nodosum
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Harperella
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NOTE: Roanoke Bass (Ambloplites cavifrons), a current species, was removed from the list and not considered a Priority Species because it is not native to Chatham County. The Roanoke bass is native in the Roanoke, Tar and Neuse River drainages, and was introduced as a sport fish in Chatham County (beyond its natural range) in the mid-1900s (Menhinick 1991). While it remains a popular sport fish in Chatham County, it is not considered part of this county's natural communities.
Historic and Obscure Records
Of the 44 rare species tracked by the NCNHP (2010) in Chatham County, 11 species have historic records, and 2 have obscure records (see Table A2).
Table A2. Rare species with historic (H) or obscure (O) survey status in Chatham County (NCNHP 2010).
Taxa Group
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Scientific Name
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Common Name
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Survey Status
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Bird
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Picoides borealis
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Red-cockaded woodpecker
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H
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Insect
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Gomphus abbreviates
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Spine-crowned clubtail
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O
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Gomphus quadricolor
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Rapids clubtail
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O
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Plant
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Carex vestita
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Velvet sedge
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H
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Dicanthelium annulum
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A witch grass
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H
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Enemion biternatum
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Eastern isopyrum
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H
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Gillenia stipulata
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Indian physic
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H
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Isoetes virginica
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Virginia quillwort
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H
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Paspalum fluitans
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Horsetail crown grass
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H
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Scutellaria australis
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Southern skullcap
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H
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Scutellaria nervosa
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Veined skullcap
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H
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Thermopsis mollis
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Appalachian golden-banner
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H
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Trifolium reflexum
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Buffalo clover
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H
|
Many of the historic plant species were last observed in the 1950s and 1960s, when survey efforts were underway by botanists describing the flora of North Carolina (Radford et al. 1968). The Red-cockaded woodpecker was last observed in 1980 in the New Hill/Merry Oaks area in southeastern Chatham. During this time longleaf pine forests were perhaps more abundant. The NCDFR and NCWRC are considering plans for restoring longleaf pine forest in this area.
The two aquatic insects considered obscure are the Spine-crowned clubtail and rapids clubtail dragonflies. Locations where these insects were observed are uncertain, and occurred more than 20 years ago; these insects occur in fast-flowing rivers and streams. For more information on Spine-crowned clubtail, rapids clubtail, and other dragonfly and damselfly species, see the NC Odonates website at: http://149.168.1.196/odes/a/accounts.php?init_s=G.
Those species with historic records are described in more detail below (based on NCNHP 2010).
Birds
Red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) – last observed in 1980 in mixed pine-hardwood forests along Weaver Creek near Merry Oaks in SE Chatham County. Historic occurrences also documented from New Hill area, just over the Chatham County line in Wake County. The red-cockaded woodpecker requires large areas of mature pine-dominated forest with a relatively open understory.
Plants
Velvet sedge (Carex vestita) – last observed in 1959 on roadside on Fearrington (Mill) Road. NCNHP notes this occurrence was documented before creation of Jordan Lake, and that the occurrence could have been in the vicinity of the Morgan Creek swamp. Velvet sedge occurs mainly in floodplain forests
A Witchgrass (Dicanthelium annulum) – last observed in 1955 in rocky hardwood forest in vicinity of the Deep River. This witchgrass occurs in dry rocky to sandy open woodlands and along woodland edges.
Eastern isopyrum (Enemion biternatum) – last observed in 1951 in alluvial forest along the Deep River. Eastern isopyrum occurs in floodplain forests and on adjacent levees and rich slopes.
Indian Physic (Gillenia stipulata) – last observed in 1955 in oak-hickory forest along the Deep River and steep slopes of Pattersons Creek (tributary of Deep River in Lee County). A nearby extant population is known on a well-drained area along the floodplain of Northeast Creek in Durham County, just north of Chatham County line (NCNHP 2009).
Virginia quillwort (Isoetes virginica) – last observed in 1955 in alluvial forest along New Hope Creek; this population was destroyed by flooding from Jordan Lake impoundment. Virginia quillwort occurs mainly in upland depression swamp forests.
Horse-tail crowngrass (Paspalum fluitans) – last observed in 1977 floating in New Hope Creek near US64 crossing; this population was destroyed by flooding from Jordan Lake impoundment. Horse-tail crowngrass occurs mainly in seepage areas in swamp forests.
Southern skullcap (Scutellaria australis) - last observed in 1951 along a railroad embankment, ca. 2.5 miles south of the junction of the Deep and Haw Rivers (possibly in Lee County). Southern skullcap occurs mainly in floodplain forests.
Veined skullcap (Scutellaria nervosa) – last observed in 1955 in alluvial forest along New Hope Creek; this population was extirpated by flooding by Jordan Lake impoundment. An historic occurrence is also known from a marsh in vicinity of Northeast Creek in Wake County, just east of the Chatham County line. Veined skullcap occurs mainly in floodplain forests.
Appalachian golden-banner (Thermopsis mollis) – last observed in NE Chatham in 1940 in what is now Governor’s Club and in 1958 just south of Jack Bennett Road. Appalachian golden-banner occurs mainly in dry open woodlands and ridges.
Buffalo clover (Trifolium reflexum) – last observed in 1951 in SE Chatham, likely along SR-1921, possibly on property currently owned by CP&L (NCNHP March 2010, pers. comm.). Buffalo clover occurs in open woodlands and clearings along woodland edges.
NOTE: Unreported populations of plants with historic survey status may still occur in Chatham County. Many are inconspicuous or difficult to locate or identify, and many potential habitat areas have not been systematically surveyed in recent decades by people familiar with these rare plants. The historical locations and habitat descriptions for these species can help indicate potential habitat areas where future surveys may reveal unknown populations of these species. Most of the historic records are from the New Hope Creek area (eastern Chatham) and were destroyed by the impoundment of Jordan Lake.
New species in Chatham County can still be discovered!
An historic record of Striped garlic (Allium cuthbertii) was documented in Chatham in 1946, and the specimen on which this record was based recently confirmed as a rare variety of Allium canadense; the identification of the specimen was confirmed by the UNC Herbarium and NCNHP staff to be Allium canadense var. mobilense. The true Allium cuthbertii is only known to occur in the NC mountains, and is not likely present in Chatham. Allium canadense var. mobilense, however, is a new taxon for North Carolina. Prior to this re-examination of the 1946 specimen, its current range was considered to be South Carolina to Florida and Mississippi. Allium canadense var. mobilense has not been previously documented in North Carolina, and the NCNHP is considering adding this taxon to the list of tracked rare plant species.
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