CHAPTER IV: WILDLIFE HABITATS FOR MISSISSIPPI’S SGCN,
THREATS AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS^140However, some activities reduce or increase the amounts of these habitats and significantly alter their
stability. Native plants and exotic weeds such as cogongrass can invade and vegetate sandbars, making
them unsuitable for nesting turtles.
5.1 Cottonwood/Black Willow/River
Birch Woodlands
Value to SGCN - 58
Rank - 16th of 29 Inland Terrestrial Complexes
(Terrestrial, Wetland, Subterranean and Anthropogenic)DESCRIPTION
Black willow and eastern cottonwood are the dominant
species of riverfront communities along the Mississippi
River Alluvial Plain and the Big Black River, but American sycamore and river birch may dominate
other riverfront communities. Boxelder, sugarberry and silver maple are also commonly present. The
riverfront forests may last for over 50 years before the canopy trees begin to senesce (age and decline).
In time theyse forests gradually become more diverse in shrubs, vines and herbs.
Common shrubs include eastern swamp privet, planer tree and sandbar willow. Vines are often plentiful
along shorelines and openings in the canopy. Some of the common ones include: peppervine, trumpet
creeper, climbing hempvine, oneseed bur cucumber, poison ivy and riverbank grape. Because of the
length and frequency of flooding, herbaceous cover is often rather sparse. Some of the common herbs
include careless weed, halberdleaf rosemallow, whitestar, rough cocklebur, Virginia dayflower and
balloon vine.
After the riverfront floodplain has stabilized for several years or more, other bottomland species that
tolerate shading, such as green ash, American elm and sugarberry become established. As succession
continues and/or if the river shifts laterally away from its former bank, a more
stable landscape enables the forest to succeed to other bottomland forest types
that prefer soils higher in organic matter.
LOCATION, SIZE, CONDITION AND CONSERVATION STATUS
EGCP, UEGCP, MSRAP
The cottonwood/black willow/river birch woodlands subtype covers 80,000
acres and is especially prominent in the batture lands of the Mississippi River,
where cottonwood and willow are found in extensive linear patches. The
subtype also occurs in smaller patches along other rivers of the state. It
5.1 Cottonwood/Black Willow/
Range of Cottonwood/
Black Willow/River Birch
Woodlands