Alternative Text Description for Carter's Mustard (Endangered) Species Range Map

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the known range of Carter's Mustard, an endangered species, across the state of Florida as documented by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The map shows three distinct geographic areas where this species occurs, represented by polygonal boundaries that indicate the spatial extent of the species' habitat or documented presence. The map focuses specifically on Carter's Mustard distribution within Florida's boundaries.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the state of Florida, showing the full peninsula and portions of the Florida Panhandle. Major cities labeled on the map include Orlando in central Florida, Tampa on the west-central coast, Sarasota on the southwest coast, Cape Coral in southwest Florida, Miami in southeast Florida, and West Palm Beach on the southeast coast. Other labeled communities include Homosassa Springs in the northwest, Titusville on the east-central coast, Lakeland in central Florida, Melbourne and Palm Bay on the east coast, Port Charlotte on the southwest coast, Port St. Lucie on the east coast, Immokalee in south-central Florida, Naples on the southwest coast, Boca Raton and Coral Springs in southeast Florida, Hollywood in southeast Florida, and Homestead south of Miami. Lake Okeechobee is visible in south-central Florida. The map extends from the northern portions of the peninsula to the southern tip, including the Florida Keys.

KEY INSIGHTS

Carter's Mustard occurs in three geographically separated regions within Florida. The largest continuous range area extends through central Florida, encompassing areas from the Tampa-Lakeland region eastward toward the Melbourne-Palm Bay area on the Atlantic coast. A second significant range area is located in the greater Miami metropolitan region in southeast Florida, including Homestead. A third, smaller range area appears in the Titusville area on Florida's east-central coast. The species shows a distinct absence from southwest Florida, northwest Florida, and the Florida Keys. The spatial pattern indicates a fragmented distribution with substantial geographic gaps between the three primary range areas, suggesting possible habitat specialization or historical range contraction.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Carter's Mustard (Endangered) Range Areas

This layer represents the polygonal boundaries defining where Carter's Mustard, an endangered species, is known to occur within Florida according to United States Fish and Wildlife Service documentation.

Carter's Mustard Range Polygons (pink crosshatch pattern)

Appearance:

The range areas are shown with a pink or rose-colored fill pattern featuring a diagonal crosshatch or grid texture. The polygons have defined boundaries that create irregular shapes following the species' documented range limits.

Distribution:

Three distinct polygonal areas appear across Florida. The largest area occupies a substantial portion of central Florida, extending from west-central regions near Tampa and Lakeland eastward across the peninsula to the Atlantic coast near Melbourne and Palm Bay. The second area encompasses the greater Miami region in southeast Florida, extending to include Homestead. The third, smaller area is located along the east-central coast near Titusville.

Notable locations:

The central Florida range area includes or is adjacent to communities such as Lakeland, Orlando (to the north), and Melbourne-Palm Bay. The southeast Florida range area encompasses Miami and Homestead. The east-central coast range area is associated with the Titusville region. Lake Okeechobee appears as a gap within or adjacent to the central range polygon.

Spatial patterns:

The three range areas are geographically isolated from one another, with significant distances separating each polygon. The central Florida range represents the most extensive contiguous area, while the Miami area range is moderately sized, and the Titusville area range is the smallest. The distribution pattern shows a notable absence from Florida's Gulf Coast regions, the northwestern portions of the state, the southwestern coast including areas near Naples and Cape Coral, and the entire Florida Keys chain. This fragmented pattern suggests distinct, non-connected populations or suitable habitat areas.

Overlapping Patterns

No overlapping thematic patterns are present in this single-layer species range map.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents a single thematic layer extracted from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's species range database for Florida. The polygonal boundaries define areas where the species is understood to occur based on available documentation and do not necessarily indicate the species is present at every location within the polygons. The map is filtered to show only Carter's Mustard from the broader dataset containing multiple species. Base map features such as roads, political boundaries, and water bodies are shown for geographic reference but are not the focus of the thematic content. The fragmented distribution pattern visible in this map is characteristic of many endangered species that have experienced range reduction or habitat loss.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data originates from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and represents polygonal boundaries for species ranges as understood by the agency for the State of Florida. The dataset identifier is CR_USFWS_POLY_JUN26.

Definition Query:

The map displays a filtered subset of the full species dataset, showing only records where the common name equals 'CARTER'S MUSTARD'. This query isolates the range boundaries for this single endangered species from the larger multi-species database.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a statewide scale appropriate for viewing the full extent of Florida and the complete distribution of Carter's Mustard range areas. This scale level is suitable for understanding the overall geographic distribution pattern and the spatial relationship between the three separate range areas.

Coordinate System:

NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087)

Limitations:

Species range polygons represent generalized boundaries based on available documentation and understanding at the time of data compilation. The polygons do not indicate uniform species presence throughout the entire area enclosed by the boundaries, nor do they necessarily reflect fine-scale habitat suitability or actual population distribution. Areas outside the mapped polygons are not necessarily devoid of the species, as undocumented populations or suitable habitat may exist. The dataset reflects the understanding of species distribution as documented by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and may not incorporate the most recent field observations or research findings.

Map Coverage:

The map covers the entire state of Florida, extending from the northern peninsula and panhandle southward through the full length of the peninsula to the Florida Keys and surrounding coastal waters. While the map extent includes all of Florida, the thematic content (Carter's Mustard range areas) appears only in three distinct regions: central Florida from the Tampa-Lakeland area to the Atlantic coast, the greater Miami-Homestead area in southeast Florida, and the Titusville area on the east-central coast.

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