Alternative Text Description for Deltoid Spurge (Endangered)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the habitat boundaries for Deltoid Spurge, an endangered plant species, in southern Florida as designated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The map shows a large polygonal area covering much of Miami-Dade County and surrounding regions. The primary purpose is to identify the geographic extent where this endangered species is found or protected.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map centers on the greater Miami metropolitan area in southern Florida. Major cities and communities labeled on the map include Miami, Miami Beach, North Miami, Sunny Isles Beach, Hialeah, Hollywood, Dania Beach, Pembroke Pines, Kendall, The Hammocks, and Homestead. The mapped area extends from the coastal communities along the Atlantic Ocean on the east, westward through the urban areas and into the Everglades region. Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge Trail is visible in the southern portion of the map. The Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico) would lie to the west of the mapped area.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Deltoid Spurge habitat boundary encompasses nearly the entire mapped region of southern Miami-Dade County, indicating a very broad geographic range for this endangered species. The habitat extends continuously from the northern suburbs through the urbanized Miami area and southward toward the Florida Keys. Notable patterns include comprehensive coverage across both developed urban areas and natural landscapes, suggesting the species' historical or potential range overlaps significantly with human development. The solid, unified boundary indicates this is mapped as a single contiguous habitat zone rather than fragmented patches.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Deltoid Spurge (Endangered) Habitat Boundary

This layer represents the official habitat boundaries for the endangered Deltoid Spurge species as recognized by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Deltoid Spurge Habitat Area (pink crosshatch pattern on light pink background)

Appearance:

The habitat area is depicted with a pink crosshatch diagonal line pattern overlaying a light pink fill color, creating a distinctive textured appearance that covers most of the map.

Distribution:

The habitat boundary extends across nearly the entire mapped region, covering most of Miami-Dade County from the northern communities of Hollywood and Dania Beach southward through Miami, Kendall, and Homestead, and continuing into the southern coastal areas.

Notable locations:

The habitat includes all major urban centers visible on the map, including downtown Miami, Miami Beach, Hialeah, North Miami, and extends through suburban areas like The Hammocks and Kendall. It also encompasses portions of natural areas including parts of Everglades National Park and extends toward the Florida Keys in the south.

Spatial patterns:

The habitat forms one large, continuous polygon with an irregular boundary that follows the general coastline on the east and extends inland to the west. Several areas appear as gaps or exclusions within the main boundary, most notably Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge Trail in the southern portion and a few smaller areas in the eastern coastal region near Miami Beach.

Overlapping Patterns

The habitat boundary overlaps extensively with urbanized areas, indicating the endangered species' range coincides with significant human development. The exclusion of certain protected areas like Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge suggests selective boundary delineation based on specific habitat or management criteria.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents a single thematic layer showing species habitat boundaries rather than a comprehensive ecological map. The extensive coverage area suggests this boundary may represent historical range, potential habitat, critical habitat designation, or recovery area rather than confirmed current population locations. The map does not indicate population density, health of populations, or specific site locations where the species has been observed. Base map features such as roads and municipal boundaries are shown for geographic reference but are not part of the endangered species data layer.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

United States Fish and Wildlife Service, State of Florida. The dataset contains polygonal boundaries for species as understood by USFWS for Florida.

Definition Query:

This map displays a filtered subset of the broader USFWS species boundary dataset. The filter criteria applied is: COMNAME equals 'DELTOID SPURGE', showing only the habitat boundaries for this specific endangered species from the complete Florida species dataset (CR_USFWS_POLY_JUN26).

Scale Information:

The map shows a regional-scale view appropriate for understanding the overall geographic extent of the species habitat. The scale is suitable for county and metropolitan-level planning and analysis but may not show fine-scale habitat details or site-specific features.

Coordinate System:

NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087)

Limitations:

The map shows designated boundaries as understood by USFWS and may not reflect the complete current distribution of the species. Habitat boundaries are administrative designations that may be based on various criteria including historical range, suitable habitat, or regulatory protection zones. The presence of a boundary does not confirm current species occurrence at every location within the polygon. Data gaps or unmapped areas outside this boundary may exist.

Map Coverage:

The map extent covers southern Miami-Dade County and portions of adjacent areas in southern Florida, from approximately Dania Beach and Hollywood in the north to the northern Florida Keys in the south, and from the Atlantic Ocean coastline westward into the Everglades region.

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