CHAPTER IV: WILDLIFE HABITATS FOR MISSISSIPPI’S SGCN,
THREATS AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS^260habitats, natural beaches and man-made beaches that form the
boundary between the Sound and an extensive coastal metropolitan
area. The part of Mississippi Sound in the state is nearly 400,000
acres in size.
The condition of the habitats of the Mississippi Sound are largely
dependent on the quality of the waters entering the Sound and the
degree of impact caused by shippers, fishermen, and recreationists
using the Sound. Pollutants, such as heavy metals and hydrocarbons, and high nutrient loads, which
originate from agricultural lands and population centers, enter the Sound and reduce the quality of the
habitat for wildlife species. With increased usage by recreational and commercial fishermen, there is a
greater chance of overfishing of this habitat.
The Mississippi Sound is apparently secure as a wildlife habitat although there is some cause for long-
term concern due to an increased nutrient and pollution load entering the Sound.
SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED ASSOCIATED WITH
THE MISSISSIPPI SOUND
GROUP SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME TIER
Birds Rynchops niger Black Skimmer 2
Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican 2
Sterna nilotica Gull-Billed Tern 2
Sterna antillarum Least Tern 2
Sterna maxima Royal Tern 2
Sterna sandvicensis Sandwich Tern 2
Aythya affinis Lesser Scaup 3
Pelagic Birds 1
Fish Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi Gulf Sturgeon 1
Alosa alabamae Alabama Shad 1
Fundulus jenkinsi Saltmarsh Topminnow 2
Morone saxatilis Striped Bass 2
Atractosteus spatula Alligator Gar 3
Mammals Trichechus manatus Manatee 2
Reptiles Lepidochelys kempii Kemp's or Atlantic Ridley 1
Caretta caretta Loggerhead; Cabezon 2
Malaclemys terrapin pileata Mississippi Diamondback Terrapin 2
Chelonia mydas Green Turtle 3
Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback; Tinglar 3
Eretmochelys imbricata Hawksbill; Carey 4
14.2 Mississippi Sound
Range of Mississippi Sound (Smooth Bottom)