Scientific study is a key component of the purpose and function of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. Though the Museum's popular exhibits are one of Mississippi's leading local and tourist attractions, for more than ninety years a primary objective of the museum has been to document and research Mississippi's biological resources.
Today, much of this effort falls upon the Museum's Conservation Biology Section, which is comprised of three broad, overlapping programs: the Natural Heritage Program, Biological Collections, and Research. These programs are staffed by approximately twenty research biologists and technicians whose chief directive is to document, monitor, and conserve our state's native biodiversity.
Their work is often focused on monitoring and protecting our state's rare and endangered species, which may be viewed as "indicators" of environmental health. The staff also administers extensive research grants funded through both federal and state agencies, manages the Mississippi Natural Heritage Database (a computerized information bank containing over 45,000 records), and maintains growing scientific collections of more than 1,000,000 scientific plant and animal specimens.
The Mississippi Natural Heritage Program (MNHP) identifies and maps in a database the localities of Mississippi's rarest plants, animals, exemplary natural communities, and special geological features to assist with development of state, national…
The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science biological collections originated in 1936, and currently consist of more than 1,000,000 specimens
Research and monitoring activities carried out or administered by museum staff generally target plants, plant communities and nongame wildlife within Mississippi.
For those interested in learning more about conservation of the wildlife, native plants and communities of Mississippi, please see links below:
Invasive Species
Endangered Species
Mississippi Amphibian Monitoring Program (MAMP)
Swallow-tailed Kite Conservation: How You Can Make A Difference
Identification and distribution of freshwater mussels in Mississippi
The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science acts as the state permitting authority for wildlife rehabilitation facilities, scientific collecting and handling of wildlife species, and propagation facilities for non-game species in need of…
Fish and wildlife agencies in each state and territory have been charged by Congress with updating their State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) every 10 years.
See our report list.
