EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4
B. Lotic and Lentic Systems- Tombigbee Drainage
- Northeast Hills, Tennessee River Drainage
- Ephemeral Ponds
- Pascagoula Drainage
- Lower Coastal Plain, Pearl Drainage
C. Marine and Estuarine - Estuarine Marshes
- Barrier Island Wetlands
- Estuarine Bays, Lakes and Tidal Streams
- Barrier Island Uplands
- Mainland (Natural) Beaches
Because marine fish and invertebrates were not included in the SGCN, the Value or Rank of some
marine and estuarine subtypes may be lower than expected. To ensure proper attention will be applied to
these important habitats, we included a discussion about the rarity ranking and are developing plans to
assess and begin incorporating these missing species groups into the NHP database and next iteration of
the CWCS where possible.
- Descriptions of problems which may adversely affect species identified in (1) or their habitats,
and priority research and survey efforts needed to identify factors which may assist in
restoration and improved conservation of these species and habitats.
To develop a list of potential problems which we refer to as threats to wildlife and wildlife habitats in
Mississippi, we adapted the Proposed Taxonomy of Direct Threats developed by the Conservation
Measures Partnership for describing categories of threats. These threat categories were used in the
survey to aid in identifying major problems affecting SGCN. The results of the survey were compiled
and presented to the Advisory Committee, who reviewed and revised the threats list by habitat subtype.
Other conservation plans where threats, stressors or problems had been identified such as TNC's
Conservation Area Plans were also consulted and used to identify threats as well as potential
conservation strategies for habitat types. The threats identified for each subtype were assigned a high,
medium or low rank to aid in determining the most critical problems for each identified habitat subtype
and to facilitate identifying priority conservation actions.
Mississippi's landscape has changed dramatically since European settlement. There are almost no places
left that have not been affected by man. Urbanization, agriculture, fencing, dams and stream
channelization, commercial forestry and many other actions have modified wildlife and fisheries habitat
and many of these land use changes have come at a great cost to wildlife. It is not our intent to debate
the benefits and detriments of land use changes and historical activities on Mississippi's landscape, but