lib. Prose Description of Site Significance: 



The Gull Rock Game Lands natural area contains the 

 highest diversity of wetland habitat types in a relatively 

 natural state remaining in Hyde County. The natural area 

 contains excellent examples of brackish marsh; low, high, 

 and pond pine-dominated pocosin; and sweetgum-mixed hard- 

 wood flats. All of these vegetation types are situated 

 in one contiguous tract and form an uninterrupted corridor 

 from Pamlico Sound inland to New Holland, with extensive 

 marshes adjoining to the west on Swanquarter National 

 Wildlife Refuge. Although subjected to periodic cutting 

 in the past , the pocosin and hardwoods communities have 

 retained significant natural qualities in the present 

 second-growth timber. 



The sweetgum-hardwood flats are an example of a 

 rapidly disappearing coastal plain vegetation association. 

 Although more disturbed than the hardwood flats contained 

 in the Scranton Hardwoods natural area, they nevertheless 

 contain a substantial amount of mature timber and provide 

 habitat for a number of wildlife species. 



The low pocosin community is an excellent example of 

 an undrained, shrub-dominated wetland system and is buffered 

 by an extensive pond pine pocosin surrounding it. 



The brackish marshes along Pamlico Sound are critical 

 habitat for a number of invertebrate as well as vertebrate 

 animals. These marshes are widespread along the sound and 

 are included in the natural area primarily because they are 

 part of a continuum of habitats which add to the natural 

 area's diversity. 



The southern coastal fauna is well-represented in the 

 natural area. Black bear occur throughout and the diversity 

 and extensiveness of the habitats is sufficient to maintain 

 a viable population. The avifaunal component is notably 

 diverse, in keeping with the habitat diversity present. 

 Approximately 63 breeding bird species are known to occur, 

 including five species of woodpeckers and 12 species of 

 wood warblers. 



The natural area provides habitat for a small American 

 Alligator population, an endangered species. A state en- 

 dangered peripheral plant, Southern Twayblade, is present 

 in the sweetgum-hardwood flats. An unusually high diversity 

 of ferns (eleven species) is also a noteworthy feature of 

 that habitat. 



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