CHAPTER IV: WILDLIFE HABITATS FOR MISSISSIPPI’S SGCN,
THREATS AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS^81
These complexes are: 1) Terrestrial (Terrestrial, Wetland, Subterranean and Anthropogenic
subtypes); 2) Lotic and Lentic (Streams and Lacustrine subtypes); and 3) Marine, Estuarine
and Estuarine Fringe. The Rank is based on the Value to SGCN and is listed for each subtype
indicating the relative importance of that subtype within one of the three complexes to SGCN.
- DESCRIPTION
The subtypes are defined by factors such as soil type, water availability, vegetation, water chemistry,
region and stream size.
- LOCATION, SIZE, CONDITION AND CONSERVATION STATUS
This section identifies the ecoregion(s) where the habitat occurs (see Chapter III for a
description of Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain - UEGCP, East Gulf Coastal Plain -
EGCP, Northern Gulf of Mexico - NGM and Mississippi River Alluvial Plain -
MSRAP Ecoregions) A general range map indicating areas where areas of
Mississippi where the habitat may occur is also included. For streams, the map
indicates the boundaries of the entire drainage area. An estimate of the (size)
acreage of subtype in the state is provided based on satellite based land cover classification
extrapolated from the MARIS data base and from the USDA Forest Service statistics from their
Southern Research Station Bulletin and should be used for planning purposes only. Descriptions of
conditions were excerpted from NHP data. The Conservation Status (also called Conservation
Priority Ranks) was taken from NatureServe's description of ecological communities and was
included to indicate the rarity (critically imperiled, imperiled, vulnerable to extirpation or extinction,
apparently secure or demonstrably widespread, abundant and secure) of subtypes that could easily
be crosswalked with NatureServe's ecological community types. A discussion on interpreting
NatureServe Conservation Status Ranks is included in Appendix XII.
- SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED ASSOCIATED WITH EACH
SUBTYPE
Each section lists the SGCN by group, their scientific and common names and the Tier level (one
through four). Tiers are described in Chapter II.
- THREATS TO THE COMMUNITY
A prioritized (high, medium, low) list of threats or problems affecting each subtype is defined.
Threats are described in Chapter II.
- PRIORITY CONSERVATION ACTIONS
A list of recommended actions is included for each subtype. Actions are described in Chapter II.
