CHAPTER IV: WILDLIFE HABITATS FOR MISSISSIPPI’S SGCN,
THREATS AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS^134fencing) and closer proximity to development. The wetter tracts are less fragmented but also have lost
many of their original functions. They are somewhat less vulnerable to disturbances because moisture
conditions prevented access to these lands. Human activities along streams have had, and continue to
have, a negative impact in this habitat.
4.1. Bottomland Hardwood Forests
Value to SGCN - 83
Rank - 3rd of 29 Inland Terrestrial Complexes
(Terrestrial, Wetland, Subterranean and Anthropogenic)DESCRIPTION
Moderately wet bottomland hardwood forests are found on
fertile, fine textured clay or loam soils of floodplains, stream
terraces and wet lowland flats. The Sharkey Soil Series is the
most prevalent soil type supporting this community. The series
consists of extensive flats of very deep, poorly and very poorly
drained, very slowly permeable alluvial clays. Sugarberry-
American elm-green ash, sweetgum-mixed oak, and Nutall oak-
American elm-pecan are representative communities of the low
terrace (moderately wet) bottomland hardwood forest type.
Prevalent trees include willow, water, overcup, and Nuttall oaks, pecan, sugarberry, American elm,
green ash, and sweetgum. Other subcanopy species include possumhaw, stiff dogwood, boxelder, dwarf
palmetto and giant cane.
Though prominent in the Mississippi River alluvial plain, wet bottomland forest type occurs elsewhere
along streams in Mississippi. Wet bottomland hardwood forests are found on landforms such as
floodplain backwater depressions, swales, low terraces and wet flats that are exposed to flooding of
greater frequency and duration. Substrates are fine textured because river flows are slow or stagnant
when deposition occurs. The clayey or loamy soils help to hold water for longer periods. Water
hickory - overcup oak forest type is found on the wettest sites and at the edges of swamp depressions
and oxbow lakes, while willow oak, water oak and swamp laurel oak are found on wet clay flats. Small
trees and shrubs may include silver maple, planer tree, swamp privet, dwarf palmetto, American
snowbell and possumhaw. Wet bottomland hardwoods contain some of the best remaining habitats for
bats. Studies have shown that old-growth bottomland hardwood forests are critical habitat for 11 of 18
bat species found in the Southeast.