CHAPTER IV: WILDLIFE HABITATS FOR MISSISSIPPI’S SGCN,
THREATS AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS^249marshes. In accompaniment with the pine flatwoods, are coastal live oak woodlands situated on
prominent coastal cheniers and ancient beach ridges that straddle the coast line. The liveoak woodlands
are comprised of native live and upland laurel oaks and contain an understory often dominated by saw
palmetto. Most of the coastal upland habitat has been urbanized. Therefore it is likely that the maritime
liveoak forest is one of the rarest communities found in Mississippi.
Soils of the coastal pinelands are deep, poorly drained and slowly permeable. The landform is level to
nearly level stream terraces and lowland flats of the coastal plain. They are grayish brown, have fine
loamy textures, and are saturated during the winter and spring. Small depressions and some flat areas
are ponded for several days during wet seasons. A seasonally high water table is within several inches of
the soil surface from December through April. The wet conditions produce mottles of yellowish brown
colors. The soils have very strongly acid to strongly acid reactions throughout their profile. The liveoak
woodlands are found on deep sand ridges.
Slash pine along with the dominant understory species of this community can tolerate seasonally wet or
saturated soils, including saturation due to periodic storm surges of brackish water. The community is
delineated from other coastal slash pine woodlands by the dominance of saltmeadow cordgrass in its
understory. Saltmeadow cordgrass relinquishes its dominance a short distance inland, but occasionally
the species will persist several miles inland along creek channels and bayous.
Purple bluestem, button eryngo, switchgrass, Jamaica swamp sawgrass, and gulf coast swallow-wort are
common associates. Southern bayberry, eastern baccharis and yaupon shrubs are commonly encountered
in this community. The community is fire dependent and can become brushy and inaccessible to
pedestrian traffic during long intervals between burns. Maritime woodlands, including maritime liveoak
forests provide essential points for neotropical migrants staging their trans-Gulf journey in the fall and
recuperating upon their return in the spring.
LOCATION, SIZE, CONDITION AND CONSERVATION STATUS
NGM
Situated in highly urbanized coastal areas, maritime woodlands have
been significantly depleted by widespread development. Areas of
this subtype are usually less than 100 acres but may extend in a
narrow band along the shoreline for several miles. Some of the
wettest areas near the Hancock County marsh and within the Grand
Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve remain intact and provide
prime examples of this subtype. The liveoak woodlands have been
extensively developed, but a few pockets remain on some large
private holdings.
13.7 Maritime WoodlandsRange of Maritime Woodlands