Alternative Text Description for Beautiful Pawpaw (Endangered) Distribution Map

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the endangered habitat range of the Beautiful Pawpaw species in Florida as designated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The map shows two distinct polygonal areas where this endangered species is found, located in central and southern portions of the state. The visualization focuses on conveying the limited geographic distribution of this federally protected plant species.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the southeastern United States, including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and portions of Alabama. Major cities labeled include Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Charleston, Savannah, Columbia, Greenville, Athens, Augusta, and Wilmington. The Atlantic Ocean is visible along the eastern edge, and the state of Florida is shown in its entirety from the panhandle region in the northwest to the Florida Keys in the south. The map extends northward to include portions of the Carolinas and Georgia, and westward to include parts of Alabama.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Beautiful Pawpaw has an extremely limited distribution, occurring in only two small, isolated areas within Florida. One habitat area is located in the central part of the state near Orlando, while the second is situated in the southern region near Cape Coral. These two populations are geographically separated by approximately 100-150 miles, indicating fragmented habitat distribution. The restricted range and isolated nature of these populations underscore the endangered status of this species. No Beautiful Pawpaw habitat is shown in any other state visible on the map, emphasizing that this species' range is exclusively confined to specific locations within Florida.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Beautiful Pawpaw (Endangered) Habitat Range

This layer represents the official boundary designations for Beautiful Pawpaw habitat as recognized by federal wildlife authorities.

Central Florida Population (pink crosshatch pattern)

Appearance:

A rectangular polygon filled with a pink crosshatch pattern, creating a mesh-like visual texture.

Distribution:

Located in central Florida, positioned west of Orlando in the central peninsular region of the state.

Notable locations:

The habitat area is situated between Orlando to the east and the Tampa/St. Petersburg metropolitan area to the west, in the interior portion of central Florida.

Spatial patterns:

This population appears as an isolated rectangular zone with no connection to other habitat areas, suggesting a distinct and confined population range.

Southern Florida Population (pink crosshatch pattern)

Appearance:

A rectangular polygon filled with the same pink crosshatch pattern as the central population, maintaining visual consistency in symbology.

Distribution:

Located in southwestern Florida in the Cape Coral area, along the Gulf of America coast in Lee County.

Notable locations:

The habitat is positioned near Cape Coral and Fort Myers, in the coastal region of southern Florida, south of the Tampa Bay area.

Spatial patterns:

This represents a second isolated population, geographically separated from the central Florida occurrence, with no continuous habitat corridor connecting the two areas.

Overlapping Patterns

No overlapping patterns are present in this single-species distribution map. The two habitat polygons are distinctly separated with no geographic overlap or interaction zones.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents species boundaries as officially understood and designated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service specifically for the State of Florida. The polygonal boundaries show known or designated habitat areas rather than individual plant locations. The Beautiful Pawpaw's presence in only two small, disconnected areas within a single state highlights the conservation concern and vulnerability of this endangered species. The map includes base reference features such as state boundaries and major cities to provide geographic context, but these are not part of the thematic data layer. Users should note that this map shows the extent of designated habitat zones rather than a complete survey of every individual plant location.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data originates from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and represents officially designated species boundaries for endangered and threatened species within Florida. The dataset contains polygonal boundaries that define habitat areas as understood by federal wildlife authorities. Data source layer name: CR_USFWS_POLY_JUL25.

Definition Query:

The map displays a filtered subset of the complete species boundary dataset. Only records where the common name equals "BEAUTIFUL PAWPAW" are shown, excluding all other species contained in the source dataset.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a regional scale covering multiple states in the southeastern United States, appropriate for showing the full extent of the species' range within the broader geographic context. This scale allows viewers to understand both the specific locations of habitat areas and their position relative to major geographic features and population centers.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087).

Time Period of Content:

The dataset reference date is July 2025, indicating the boundaries reflect the species understanding as of that date.

Limitations:

The polygonal boundaries represent designated habitat zones as understood by the regulatory agency and may not reflect precise botanical survey boundaries or account for all individual plant occurrences. The map shows only Florida-specific data and does not include species boundary information from other states if the species occurs elsewhere. Actual plant populations may vary within the designated boundary areas based on microhabitat conditions not represented at this map scale.

Map Coverage:

The map extent covers from northern Florida through Georgia and the Carolinas, and westward into Alabama. The primary focus is on Florida where the Beautiful Pawpaw habitat is located, with surrounding states shown for geographic context and spatial orientation.

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