Appendix G - Ecosystems and Species Diversity Report Land Management Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement This page intentionally left blank National Forests in Mississippi Appendix G Table of Contents APPENDIX G - ............................................................................... ECOSYSTEMS AND SPECIES DIVERSITY REPORT .......................................................................................................................................................................... G-1 G.1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... G-1 G.1.1 VIABILITY EVALUATION PROCESS .................................................................................................................... G-2 G.1.2 FORESTWIDE ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM SUSTAINABILITY ........................................................................................... G-2 G.1.3 ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM SUSTAINABILITY CHARACTERISTICS..................................................................................... G-5 Relative Abundance ........................................................................................................................................... G-5 Non-native Invasive Species ............................................................................................................................... G-5 Structure (old-growth forest) ............................................................................................................................. G-6 Structure and Tree Age Diversity ....................................................................................................................... G-6 Fire Regime ........................................................................................................................................................ G-7 Remoteness (road and trail density) .................................................................................................................. G-7 G.2 ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS ............................................................................................................................ G-7 G.2.1 UPLAND LONGLEAF PINE FOREST AND WOODLAND ........................................................................................... G-7 Upland Longleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Ecological System Characteristics ............................................... G-7 Upland Longleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Desired Ecological Condition ....................................................... G-8 Upland Longleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Management Strategy ................................................................ G-9 Upland Longleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Key Ecological Attributes ............................................................. G-9 G.2.2 SHORTLEAF PINE-OAK FOREST AND WOODLAND ............................................................................................ G-10 Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland Ecological System Characteristics.................................................. G-10 Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland Desired Ecological Condition ......................................................... G-11 Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland Management Strategy .................................................................. G-11 Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland Key Ecological Attributes ............................................................... G-11 G.2.3 LOBLOLLY FOREST ..................................................................................................................................... G-12 Loblolly Forest Ecological System Characteristics ............................................................................................ G-12 Loblolly Forest Desired Ecological Condition.................................................................................................... G-12 Loblolly Forest Management Strategy ............................................................................................................. G-13 Loblolly Forest Key Ecological Attributes ......................................................................................................... G-13 G.2.4 SOUTHERN LOBLOLLY-HARDWOOD FLATWOODS............................................................................................. G-14 Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods Ecological System Characteristics .................................................... G-14 Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods Desired Ecological Condition ........................................................... G-14 Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods Management Strategy .................................................................... G-14 Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods Key Ecological Attributes ................................................................. G-14 G.2.5 SLASH PINE FOREST ................................................................................................................................... G-15 Slash Pine Forest Ecological System Characteristics ........................................................................................ G-15 Slash Pine Forest Desired Ecological Condition ................................................................................................ G-15 Slash Pine Forest Management Strategy ......................................................................................................... G-16 Slash Pine Forest Key Ecological Attributes ..................................................................................................... G-16 G.2.6 NORTHERN DRY UPLAND HARDWOOD FOREST ............................................................................................... G-17 Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Ecological System Characteristics ..................................................... G-17 Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Desired Ecological Condition ............................................................ G-17 Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Management Strategy...................................................................... G-17 Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Key Ecological Attributes .................................................................. G-18 G.2.7 SOUTHERN DRY UPLAND HARDWOOD FOREST ............................................................................................... G-18 Southern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Ecological System Characteristics ..................................................... G-18 Southern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Desired Ecological Condition............................................................. G-19 National Forests in Mississippi G-i Appendix G - Ecosystems and Species Diversity Report Southern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Management Strategy ...................................................................... G-19 Southern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Key Ecological Attributes .................................................................. G-19 G.2.8 SOUTHERN LOESS BLUFF FOREST ................................................................................................................. G-20 Southern Loess Bluff Forest Ecological System Characteristics ........................................................................ G-20 Southern Loess Bluff Forest Desired Ecological Condition ............................................................................... G-21 Southern Loess Bluff Forest Management Strategy ........................................................................................ G-21 Southern Loess Bluff Forest Key Ecological Attributes ..................................................................................... G-22 G.2.9 SOUTHERN MESIC SLOPE FOREST ................................................................................................................. G-22 Southern Mesic Slope Forest Ecological System Characteristics ...................................................................... G-22 Southern Mesic Slope Forest Desired Ecological Condition ............................................................................. G-22 Southern Mesic Slope Forest Management Strategy ...................................................................................... G-23 Southern Mesic Slope Forest Key Ecological Attributes ................................................................................... G-23 G.2.10 NORTHERN MESIC HARDWOOD FOREST ........................................................................................................ G-24 Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest Ecological System Characteristics ............................................................. G-24 Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest Desired Ecological Condition ..................................................................... G-24 Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest Management Strategy .............................................................................. G-24 Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest Key Ecological Attributes ........................................................................... G-25 G.2.11 FLOODPLAIN FOREST ................................................................................................................................. G-25 Floodplain Forest Ecological System Characteristics ....................................................................................... G-25