Red Gum
Status
Established
Year Established
1943
Location
Station
State
Mississippi
National Forest Regions
Southern Region (R8)
County: Sharkey Co.
Forest: Delta National Forest
District: Delta Ranger District
View a searchable map for the Red Gum RNA.
Related Reports and Publications
- Abilio, Fernanda; Smith III, Carl G.; Tidwell, Collin; Hamel, Paul; Devall, Margaret; Leininger, Ted. 2008. Pondberry (Lindera melissifolia) seed predators. Revista Forestal Latinoamericana. Memorias Electronicas C54-2 Pagina 2-8.
- Allen, Bruce P. 2007. Vegetation dynamics and response to disturbance, in floodplain forest ecosystems with a focus on lianas. Dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University, The Ohio State University. (studied Red Gum, Overcup Oak, Green Ash and other sites)
- Oliver, Chadwick Dearing, Burkhardt, E.C., Skojac, Daniel A. 2005. The increasing scarcity of red oaks in Mississippi River floodplain forests: influence of the residual overstory. Forest Ecology and Management 210: 393–414. (one of 16 stands in this study was in the Red Gum RNA, but RNA is not mentioned in the publication)
- Echt, Craig S.; Deemer, Dennis; Gustafson, Danny. 2011. Patterns of differentiation among endangered pondberry populations. Conserv Genet (2011) 12:1015–1026. (part of study in Red Gum RNA)
- Johnson, R.L. and T.L. Price. 1959. Resume of 20 years of hardwood management on the Delta Purchase Unit. Unpublished, Stoneville Research Center, Stoneville, Mississippi. 74p
- Ramp, P.F. 1990. Ecological Assessment of the Red Gum, Overcup Oak and Green Ash Research Natural Area in the Delta National Forest, Mississippi.. 22p
- Devall, Margaret S. and Paul Ramp. 1992. The Forest Service Research Natural Area Program and old growth forests in the South. Natural Areas Journal 12(2): 75-85.
- Devall M. 2000. What the Delta looked like before European settlers came. Delta Wildlife 2000: 8–9 (popular article, partly about Red Gum RNA)
- Scott, F.T. and L.B. Walton. 1962. Soil survey of Sharkey County, Mississippi.. United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service.
- Smith, C. G.; Hamel, P. B.; Gullo, M. F. 2010. Evaluating small mammal response to natural disturbance and restoration in oak ecosystems in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Revista Colombia Forestal 13: 335–346. (in the Red Gum and Overcup Oak RNAs)
- Smith III, Carl G.; Hamel, Paul B.; Devall, Margaret S. and Schiff, Nathan M. 2004. Hermit Thrush is the First Observed Dispersal Agent for Pondberry (Lindera melissifolia). Castanea 69(1):1–8. (part of study in the Red Gum RNA)
- Scharf, Elizabeth A. 2010. Archaeology, land use, pollen and restoration in the Yazoo Basin (Mississippi, USA) Vegetation History Archaeobotany 19:159–175. (discusses the Red Gum RNA)
- Wiseman, J.B., Jr. 1982. A study of the composition, successional relationships and floristics of Mississippi River floodplain forests in parts of Washington, Boliver and Sharkey Counties, Mississippi. Ph.D. Dissertation, Mississippi State University.
- Devall, M. S. and P. F. Ramp 1992. U.S. Forest Service Research Natural Areas and protection of old growth in the South. Natural Areas Journal. 12(2): 75–85.
Ecological and Physical Description
Size
40ac (16ha)
Elevation Range
90' (27m) - 95' (29m)
Temperature Range
43°F (6°C) - 82°F (28°C)
Primary Features
Old growth forest remnant with sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) and box elder (Acer negundo) as species with the highest Importance Value.
Annual Precipitation
The annual precipitation is 53”, fairly well distributed throughout the year, but highest from December to April (5-6” per month) and lowest from September to October (2-3 inches per month).
Nearest Weather Station
Anguilla is 8 miles to the northeast and Holly Bluff is 5 miles to the southeast.
Geology and Soils
Relatively young Inceptisols of Sharkey–Dowling Association, with Sharkey clay, a waxey yellow–brown soil that occurs extensively throughout the bottomlands of the Mississipppi River in MS, AR and LA.
Aquatic Features
The site is 4.5 km east of the Big Sunflower River.
Flora and Fauna
Common Plant Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liquidambar styraciflua | Sweetgum | Plant Communities | ||
| Acer negundo | Box elder | Plant Communities | ||
| Celtis laevigata | Sugarberry | Plant Communities | ||
| Ulmus americana | American elm | Plant Communities | ||
| Acer rubrum | Red maple | Plant Communities | ||
| Quercus lyrata | Overcup oak | Plant Communities | ||
| Quercus nuttallii | Nuttall oak | Plant Communities | ||
| Fraxinus pennsylvanica | Green ash | Plant Communities | ||
| Lindera melissifolia | Pondberry | At Risk Species | ✔ | |
| Sabal minor | Palmetto | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Arundinaria gigantea | Bamboo | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Toxicodendron radicans | Poison ivy | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Campsis radicans | Trumpet creeper | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Ampelopsis arborea | Pepper vine | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Smilax spp. | Common Herbaceous Species | |||
| Senecio glabellus | Common Herbaceous Species | |||
| Spilanthes americana | Common Herbaceous Species | |||
| Cocculus carolinus | Common Herbaceous Species |
Common Animal Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peromyscus leucopus/gossypinus | White-footed/cotton mouse | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Neotoma floridana | Eastern wood rat | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Dasypus novemcinctus | Armadillo | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Didelphis virginiana | Virginia opossum | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Procyon lotor | Raccoon | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Sciurus carolinensis | Eastern grey squirrel | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Sylvilagus aquaticus | Swamp rabbit | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Catharus guttatus | Hermit thrus | Common Bird Species | ||
| Cardinalis cardinalis | Northern cardinal | Common Bird Species | ||
| Protonotaria citrea | Prothonotary warbler | Common Bird Species |
Last updated July 14, 2023