Alternative Text Description for Choctaw Bean (Endangered)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the geographic range of the Choctaw Bean, an endangered species, in the Florida panhandle region. The map shows the known habitat boundaries for this species as documented by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The pink crosshatched pattern indicates areas where the Choctaw Bean is found, illustrating its limited distribution across a portion of northwestern Florida.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the Florida panhandle region along the Gulf of America coast. The mapped area extends from approximately Pensacola in the west to beyond Panama City in the east. Labeled communities visible on the map include Monroeville, Andalusia, Enterprise, and Troy in the northern portion; Crestview and Dothan in the central area; Ferry Pass, Brent, and Pensacola in the western coastal section; and Lynn Haven and Panama City along the eastern coast. The southern portion of the map shows the Gulf of America coastline with its characteristic irregular shoreline and coastal features.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Choctaw Bean occupies a narrow horizontal band across the Florida panhandle, running roughly parallel to the Gulf of America coast but positioned inland from the immediate shoreline. The species range exhibits a generally continuous distribution from west to east, with the habitat zone appearing widest in the central portion near Crestview and narrowing toward both the western and eastern extents. A notable gap in the distribution occurs in the Pensacola area, where the habitat band is interrupted. The range extends significantly farther east than west, with the eastern boundary extending well past Panama City and the western boundary ending near the Pensacola vicinity.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Choctaw Bean (Endangered) Habitat

This layer represents the polygonal boundaries of the Choctaw Bean's known range in Florida.

Endangered Species Range (pink crosshatched pattern)

Appearance:

Pink crosshatched pattern consisting of diagonal lines creating a mesh or grid texture

Distribution:

The habitat area forms a band extending across the northern portion of the Florida panhandle, positioned between the interior communities to the north and the Gulf coastal areas to the south

Notable locations:

The range encompasses areas around Crestview in the central portion, extends eastward beyond the mapped area, and includes portions of the region between Brent and the eastern extent near Panama City

Spatial patterns:

The distribution follows a predominantly east-west orientation, creating an elongated corridor pattern. The habitat band maintains a relatively consistent north-south width of approximately 20-30 miles through much of its extent, though it narrows and widens in certain sections. The range does not extend to the immediate coastline, maintaining separation from the Gulf of America shore.

Overlapping Patterns

The species range intersects with several labeled communities, including Crestview, which appears centrally located within the habitat zone. The range boundary approaches but does not include the coastal communities of Pensacola, Lynn Haven, and Panama City.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents a single thematic layer showing species distribution boundaries rather than individual occurrence points. The boundaries shown represent the understood geographic range of the species rather than comprehensive field survey data of every location where individual plants occur. The Choctaw Bean is designated as an endangered species under federal protection. The base map provides geographic reference points to help orient the species range within the Florida panhandle region.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

United States Fish and Wildlife Service polygonal boundaries for endangered and threatened species in the State of Florida. The data represents the species range as understood by the federal agency responsible for species protection and recovery.

Definition Query:

The map displays only records where the common name equals "Choctaw Bean," filtering the broader USFWS species dataset (CR_USFWS_POLY_JUN26) to show this single endangered species.

Scale Information:

The map shows a regional scale view appropriate for understanding the overall geographic distribution of the species across multiple counties in the Florida panhandle. Individual site-level details are not visible at this scale.

Coordinate System:

NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087)

Limitations:

The boundaries represent generalized species range polygons and may not reflect the precise locations of all individual occurrences or suitable habitat patches. The data represents the documented range as understood by USFWS and may not include all potential habitat areas or recent range changes.

Map Coverage:

The map extent covers the western and central Florida panhandle from approximately the Alabama-Florida border region southward to the Gulf of America coast, and from west of Pensacola eastward past Panama City.

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