Cover

CHAPTER IV: WILDLIFE HABITATS FOR MISSISSIPPI’S SGCN,

THREATS AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS^123

assemblage of herbs. Trees and shrubs that increase dramatically with a lack of prescribed fire include
slash pine, sweetgum, red maple, large gallberry, inkberry, yaupon, titi and common sweetleaf. Fire
tolerant shrubs include farkleberry, southern bayberry, flameleaf sumac and dwarf huckleberry.

Over 100 species per quarter acre are found on the richest fire maintained sites with shrubs, grasses and
forbs, accounting for one-third of the ground cover. The most important plant groups are the grasses,
asters and legumes. Little and slender bluestem grass and wiregrass are especially important in mesic
longleaf forests. Other prominent species are cutover muhly, panic grass, paspalum and toothache grass.
Narrowleaf silkgrass, one flowered honeycombhead, anise-scented goldenrod and stiff sunflower are
representative of the numerous forbs encountered.

LOCATION, SIZE CONDITION AND CONSERVATION STATUS
UEGCP, EGCP

Mesic longleaf pine savanna/forests were the most extensive community type of
the piney woods region of southern Mississippi. Only a fraction of the original
forest remains (about three percent). Some large tracts of this subtype are found
on the De Soto National Forest and a few private holdings. Bogs are embedded
within this habitat in some areas. Many sites in the piney woods have been
converted to commercial timber production and are typically planted in off-site
species such as loblolly or slash pine. Tracts supporting this subtype range up
to 10,000 acres in size (such as the area surrounding White Plains), but many
tracts are much smaller. Total acreage of the subtype is estimated to be 67,000
acres.

High quality stands of this community consist of low to moderately dense forest cover with a highly
diverse understory. Urbanization and proliferation of roads within surrounding private lands has
increased the difficulty of properly managing this habitat with prescribed fire. The diversity and quality
of the mesic pinelands deteriorates if fire is not regularly applied. Brush encroachment is especially
troublesome for managers of this community. Spring season burns tend to favor grasses over forbs and
causes a reduction in forb abundance and seed production. Dormant season burning will not effectively
control stem proliferation of shrubs and sapling hardwoods, and may in fact encourage an increase in
stem density over time.

Mesic longleaf pine forests are imperiled in the state because most of the once extensive community has
been converted to other cover types. Although some losses are still occurring, foresters are in the process
of replanting large acreages of longleaf pine in the piney woods region. Because of the presence of
roads, human dwellings and the aggressively invasive cogongrass, prescribed fire is becoming more
difficult to apply.

3.2 Mesic Longleaf

Range of Mesic

(Moderately Moist)

Longleaf Pine Savanna/

Forests