CHAPTER IV: WILDLIFE HABITATS FOR MISSISSIPPI’S SGCN,
THREATS AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS^245A component of beaches in Mississippi are ephemeral habitats called "bryozoans" or floating colonies.
These are seasonally important and provide structural habitat and nutrient and carbon sources that are
used by invertebrates, fishes and wading birds.
LOCATION, SIZE, CONDITION AND CONSERVATION STATUS
NGM
Narrow bands of intertidal beach habitat circumscribe the barrier
islands. Contiguous segments of this habitat range up to 100 acres in
size. The beaches mark the interface between subtidal areas and
marsh or dry sandy uplands. There are about 500 acres of this
habitat in the state.
The beaches are largely considered intact because very limited
development has occurred on the islands. Natural forces continue to
erode and aggrade these habitats making them a place of constant transition.
Barrier island beaches are imperiled in the state because of rarity due to very restricted range. However,
additional steep declines of this habitat are not apparent at this time.
SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED ASSOCIATED WITH
BARRIER ISLAND BEACHES
GROUP SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME TIER
Birds Migrant Shorebirds 1
Charadrius alexandrinus tenuirostris Southeastern Snowy Plover 1
Charadrius wilsonia Wilson's Plover 1
Haematopus palliatus American Oystercatcher 1
Charadrius melodus Piping Plover 2
Sterna antillarum Least Tern 2
Rynchops niger Black Skimmer 2
Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican 2
Sterna nilotica Gull-Billed Tern 2
Limosa fedoa Marbled Godwit 2
Calidris canutus Red Knot 2
Egretta rufescens Reddish Egret 2
Sterna maxima Royal Tern 2
Sterna sandvicensis Sandwich Tern 2
Calidris alpina Dunlin 3
Calidris mauri Western Sandpiper 3
Egretta thula Snowy Egret 3
Reptiles Caretta caretta Loggerhead; Cabezon 2
Malaclemys terrapin pileata MS Diamondback Terrapin 2
13.5 Barrier Island BeachesBarrier Island Beaches