Alternative Text Description for FNAI Likely Element Occurrence Map

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the likely occurrence locations of endangered or rare plants and animals, high-quality natural communities, and other occurrences of natural resource interest across Florida according to the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) database. The map uses a color-coded classification system to indicate the federal conservation status of various species and ecological features. The display focuses on occurrences classified as "likely" within the broader FNAI database, showing where these significant natural elements are documented across the state.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the entire state of Florida and portions of neighboring states including southern Georgia and southern Alabama. Major cities labeled on the map include Jacksonville on the northeast coast, Orlando in central Florida, Tampa and St. Petersburg on the west coast, Miami in the southeast, and Cape Coral in the southwest. The Florida Panhandle extends westward toward Pensacola, with cities including Tallahassee and Dothan (in Alabama) visible in the northern portion. The map shows both the Atlantic Ocean coastline on the east and the Gulf of America coastline on the west and south. Gainesville and Valdosta (in Georgia) are visible in the north-central region, while Palm Coast and Palm Bay appear along the eastern shoreline. The Florida Keys are visible extending southward from the southern tip of the peninsula.

KEY INSIGHTS

The most prominent spatial pattern visible on the map is the heavy concentration of endangered species (shown in red) in three distinct geographic regions. The largest concentration occurs in the Florida Panhandle, particularly in the area between Pensacola and Tallahassee, forming an extensive band across the northern Gulf coast. A second major concentration of endangered species appears in extreme southern Florida, particularly around the Everglades region south of Miami and throughout the Florida Keys. A third significant cluster of endangered species is visible along Florida's southeast Atlantic coast in the Palm Bay area. Scattered throughout the peninsula are numerous smaller occurrences representing various conservation status categories, with notable clustering around the Gainesville area in north-central Florida and isolated patches near Orlando and along the southwestern coast. The vast majority of Florida's interior peninsula shows relatively sparse occurrence patterns compared to the coastal and panhandle regions.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

FNAI Likely Element Occurrence Layer

This layer represents documented locations where endangered or rare species, high-quality natural communities, or other significant ecological features are likely to occur based on FNAI database records.

Endangered Species (bright red)

Appearance: Bright red polygons and point features of varying sizes

Distribution: Concentrated in three primary regions: the Florida Panhandle between Pensacola and Tallahassee, the extreme southern tip including the Everglades and Florida Keys, and the Palm Bay area on the central Atlantic coast

Notable locations: The largest contiguous red area spans the northern Panhandle coastal region. In southern Florida, extensive red coverage encompasses the area south of Miami extending through the Keys. A substantial cluster appears in the Palm Bay region on the east coast.

Spatial patterns: The Panhandle endangered species area forms a nearly continuous band along the Gulf coast. Southern Florida shows a combination of large polygons and dispersed smaller features. Coastal areas show higher concentrations than interior regions.

Threatened Species (light pink)

Appearance: Light pink polygons, smaller and less extensive than endangered species areas

Distribution: Scattered throughout the state with limited coverage compared to endangered species

Notable locations: Small isolated occurrences visible in various regions, particularly in central and southern Florida

Spatial patterns: Dispersed pattern without significant clustering, often appearing as isolated small polygons

Not Currently Listed Species (pale gray-brown)

Appearance: Pale gray-brown or tan polygons

Distribution: Scattered throughout Florida in small isolated patches

Notable locations: Individual occurrences visible throughout the peninsula, generally as small discrete features

Spatial patterns: No dominant spatial concentration; features appear distributed across multiple regions

Threatened due to Similarity of Appearance (darker brown)

Appearance: Darker brown polygons

Distribution: Scattered occurrences with limited visibility on the map

Notable locations: Individual small features visible in various locations across the state

Spatial patterns: Highly dispersed with no clear clustering pattern

Species of Concern (medium brown)

Appearance: Medium brown polygons

Distribution: Dispersed throughout Florida as small features

Notable locations: Individual occurrences scattered across the peninsula and northern regions

Spatial patterns: No concentrated areas; features appear as isolated points or small polygons

Other Conservation Status Categories (various shades of orange, yellow, and brown)

Appearance: Multiple shades ranging from orange to yellow to brown, representing categories including Non-essential Experimental Population, Delisted, Proposed Endangered, Proposed State Listing, Proposed Threatened, Threatened Delisted, Threatened Proposed for Delisting, and Under Review

Distribution: These categories appear as scattered small features throughout the state, with the most visible being an orange feature near Orlando and a yellow feature in the northern Panhandle

Notable locations: Individual occurrences are widely dispersed with no significant concentrations

Spatial patterns: Highly scattered distribution with most categories represented by only one or a few small features on the map

Overlapping Patterns

While most features appear as distinct polygons, some areas show multiple occurrences in close proximity, particularly in the southern Florida Everglades region and the northern Panhandle coastal zone, where different conservation status categories may occur in overlapping geographic areas.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map displays only the subset of FNAI Element Occurrence records where the occurrence is classified as "LIKELY," meaning these represent locations with documented evidence supporting the probable presence of the species or ecological feature. The FNAI database uses Element Occurrences to represent single extant habitats that sustain populations or distinct examples of natural communities. The polygons shown may include additional area beyond the exact observation point to account for uncertainty in historical location records, particularly for older museum specimens or observations where precise coordinates were not recorded. Users should consult FNAI supporting documentation for proper interpretation of Element Occurrence shapes and boundaries. Not all rare or endangered species occurrences in Florida are necessarily visible at this map scale, and the absence of features in a particular area does not indicate the absence of significant natural resources.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source: Data originates from the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) database, which documents occurrences of endangered or rare plants and animals, high-quality natural communities, and other occurrences of natural resource interest throughout Florida. Data collection includes field surveys, museum records, scientific literature, and reports from qualified observers. The data source layer name is FLEO_POLY_DEC24.

Definition Query: This map displays a filtered subset of the full FNAI Element Occurrence database. The definition query applied is OCCURRENCE = 'LIKELY', which restricts the display to only those element occurrences classified as "likely" rather than including all possible or historical occurrences in the database.

Scale Information: The map shows the entire state of Florida and portions of neighboring states, providing a statewide overview appropriate for understanding broad distribution patterns of element occurrences. At this scale, individual small occurrences may appear as points, and fine details of occurrence boundaries may not be fully visible.

Coordinate System: The map uses the NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers projection (WKID 3087), which is optimized for displaying geographic data across the state of Florida with minimal distortion.

Time Period of Content: The data source layer name indicates content from December 2024 (FLEO_POLY_DEC24), suggesting the element occurrence records reflect information current as of that date. Individual occurrence records within the database may represent observations from various time periods.

Limitations: Element Occurrence representations may include additional area to account for uncertainty in actual observation locations, particularly for historical records. The shapes shown do not necessarily represent precise habitat boundaries but rather the general area where the element is likely to occur. The map displays only "likely" occurrences and does not include all possible, historical, or extirpated occurrence records in the FNAI database. Users should consult FNAI documentation for guidance on interpreting occurrence boundaries and understanding data quality indicators.

Map Coverage: The map extent covers the entire state of Florida from the western Panhandle near Pensacola to the southern tip of the Florida Keys, and from the Atlantic coast to the Gulf of America coast. Portions of southern Georgia and southern Alabama are visible for geographic context.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.