CHAPTER IV: WILDLIFE HABITATS FOR MISSISSIPPI’S SGCN,
THREATS AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS^141flourishes along channels where nutrient poor mineral soils are exposed after flooding. The woodlands
are replaced by bottomland hardwood forests as the distance increases from the main channel.
The subtype has declined in some areas because of flood control projects which have altered the natural
flow regimen of southern river systems. Loss of the scouring action of streams subsequent to
impoundment reduces the hydrologic forces that rework the channel, and which expose the mineral soils
necessary for the germination and establishment of cottonwood and black willow trees. However,
myriad channelization projects have destabilized other drainage systems, resulting in loss of bare
mineral soil available for colonization by these species.
The cottonwood/black willow/river birch forest is vulnerable in the state due to modification of
drainage hydrographs which produce seedbeds for these species.
SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED ASSOCIATED WITH
COTTONWOOD/BLACK WILLOW/RIVER BIRCH WOODLANDS
GROUP SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME TIER
Birds Dendroica cerulea Cerulean Warbler 2
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald Eagle 2
Egretta caerulea Little Blue Heron 2
Euphagus carolinus Rusty Blackbird 2
Eudocimus albus White Ibis 2
Mycteria americana Wood Stork 2
Anhinga anhinga Anhinga 3
Nycticorax nycticorax Black-Crowned Night-Heron 3
Seiurus motacilla Louisiana Waterthrush 3
Pandion haliaetus Osprey 3
Protonotaria citrea Prothonotary Warbler 3
Egretta thula Snowy Egret 3
Egretta tricolor Tricolored Heron 3
Nycticorax violaceus Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron 3
Mammals Ursus americanus luteolus Louisiana Black Bear 1
Lasiurus cinereus Hoary Bat 2
Myotis grisescens Gray Myotis 2
Lasiurus intermedius Northern Yellow Bat 2
Myotis septentrionalis Northern Myotis 2
Myotis lucifugus Little Brown Myotis 2
Ursus americanus Black Bear 2
Myotis sodalis Indiana Or Social Myotis 4
Lasionycteris noctivagans Silver-Haired Bat 4