Alternative Text Description for Britton's Beargrass (Endangered) Distribution in Florida

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map shows the distribution of Britton's Beargrass, an endangered plant species, across central Florida. The map displays polygonal boundaries representing areas where this species is understood to occur according to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The distribution pattern reveals a concentrated presence in the central Florida region, forming a connected corridor between the Tampa Bay area and the Orlando metropolitan region, with extensions both northward and southward.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers a substantial portion of central Florida, extending from the Tampa Bay metropolitan area in the west to the Orlando metropolitan area in the east. Major cities labeled on the map include Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Lakeland, Orlando, Kissimmee, Ocala, Leesburg, Eustis, and Daytona Beach. The western boundary approaches the Gulf of America coastline near Tampa Bay, while the eastern extent reaches toward the Daytona Beach area. The northern extent approaches Ocala, and the southern boundary extends past Lakeland and into south-central Florida. Additional labeled communities include Beverly Hills, Homosassa Springs, Spring Hill, Hudson Bayonet Jasmine Estates, Dunnellon, Citrus Springs, Deltona, Port Orange, Titusville, Yeehaw Junction, and Sarasota.

KEY INSIGHTS

The distribution of Britton's Beargrass shows a distinct north-south corridor pattern through central Florida. The most extensive and continuous habitat areas occur in three primary regions: the greater Orlando area extending westward toward Lakeland, the Tampa metropolitan region, and a northern concentration near Ocala. These three major areas are interconnected by narrower habitat corridors, creating a relatively continuous distribution pattern along the central spine of peninsular Florida. The habitat appears fragmented in some areas with gaps corresponding to developed urban centers and bodies of water. The species distribution notably avoids the immediate coastal areas on both the Gulf and Atlantic sides, remaining concentrated in interior portions of the peninsula.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Britton's Beargrass (Endangered)

This layer represents the known or predicted habitat range for Britton's Beargrass as determined by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Britton's Beargrass Habitat Areas (pink crosshatch pattern)

Appearance:

Areas are shown in pink with a fine crosshatch or diagonal line pattern overlay, creating a semi-transparent effect that allows base map features to remain visible underneath.

Distribution:

The habitat areas form a predominantly north-south distribution pattern through central Florida's interior, with major concentrations around Orlando, Tampa, and Ocala. The distribution extends approximately from Ocala in the north to south-central Florida, and from the Tampa Bay area in the west to the Orlando region in the east.

Notable locations:

Spatial patterns:

The habitat displays a corridor-like pattern connecting the three major population centers, suggesting connectivity between northern, central, and southwestern populations. Urban areas such as downtown Orlando and Tampa appear as gaps within the otherwise continuous distribution. Water bodies also create visible gaps in the habitat pattern. The distribution shows distinct boundaries that often correspond to changes in topography or land use, with the species avoiding both coastal areas and the most heavily urbanized zones.

Overlapping Patterns

The habitat boundaries frequently surround or approach major urban centers without fully penetrating the most developed areas, creating a pattern where the species distribution forms irregular shapes around cities. Multiple separate polygons appear to represent distinct habitat patches that are geographically close but not continuously connected.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents a single thematic layer showing the species distribution boundaries for Britton's Beargrass as classified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The polygonal boundaries indicate areas where the species is understood to occur and may represent actual occurrence data, modeled suitable habitat, or critical habitat designations. The map focuses on the species distribution pattern rather than detailed base map features, though major cities and geographic landmarks are shown to provide spatial context. The crosshatch pattern allows viewers to see both the species distribution and underlying geographic features simultaneously.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

United States Fish and Wildlife Service species boundary data for the State of Florida. The dataset contains polygonal boundaries representing areas where species are understood to occur within Florida.

Definition Query:

This map displays only records where the common name equals "Britton's Beargrass," filtering the broader USFWS species dataset to show the distribution of this single endangered species.

Scale Information:

The map shows a regional scale view covering multiple counties across central Florida, appropriate for understanding the broad distribution pattern of the species across its range. This scale level reveals major habitat concentrations and connectivity patterns while individual site-level details are not visible.

Coordinate System:

NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087)

Limitations:

The boundaries represent species distribution as understood by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and may be based on various data sources including occurrence records, habitat modeling, or expert knowledge. The actual presence of the species at any specific location within these boundaries may vary. Areas outside the mapped boundaries do not necessarily indicate absence of the species, and areas within the boundaries do not guarantee presence at every location.

Map Coverage:

The map extends from approximately Sarasota in the south to Ocala in the north, and from the Tampa Bay/Gulf of America coast in the west to the Daytona Beach/Titusville area in the east, encompassing the primary range of Britton's Beargrass in central Florida.

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