Alternative Text Description for Fragrant Prickly-Apple (Endangered)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the endangered species habitat boundaries for Fragrant Prickly-Apple in Florida as designated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The map shows a large continuous habitat area covering multiple counties in east-central Florida, with several smaller isolated patches within the main boundary. The pink cross-hatched pattern indicates the polygonal boundaries where this endangered species is understood to occur.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers a portion of east-central Florida extending from the Atlantic coast westward into interior counties. Visible communities include Sebastian, Fellsmere, and Indian River Shores along the coast, with Florida Ridge and Lakewood Park in central areas, and Hutchinson Island South, Port St. Lucie, Jensen Beach, and Stuart in the southern portion. The habitat area spans inland to include portions near Fort Drum State Forest Management Area and the Upper St. John's River Marsh Wildlife Management Area in the northwestern section. Adjacent areas shown include portions of Okeechobee, Taylor Creek, Buckhead Ridge to the west and south, and Hobe Sound to the south. The Atlantic Ocean forms the eastern boundary of the mapped area.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Fragrant Prickly-Apple habitat forms one large, relatively continuous area covering a substantial portion of east-central Florida, indicating a significant regional habitat zone. Several darker pink patches within the main boundary suggest areas of concentrated habitat significance or overlapping designation boundaries. The habitat extends from coastal areas inland, demonstrating that this endangered species occupies diverse landscape positions from shoreline environments to interior uplands. The western boundary appears relatively linear in some sections, possibly reflecting property boundaries, management area limits, or ecological transition zones. No substantial habitat fragmentation is evident in this region, though the habitat does not extend into the extreme southern or western portions of the mapped area.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Fragrant Prickly-Apple Endangered Species Habitat

This layer represents the polygonal boundaries of areas designated as habitat for the Fragrant Prickly-Apple, an endangered species tracked by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Habitat Boundary Areas (pink cross-hatched pattern)

Appearance:

Light to medium pink coloring with a cross-hatched or mesh pattern overlay covering the designated habitat zones.

Distribution:

The habitat occupies a large contiguous area in east-central Florida, extending from the Atlantic coast westward into interior counties. The distribution spans approximately from the Upper St. John's River area in the north to the Port St. Lucie and Stuart area in the south.

Notable locations:

Major habitat coverage occurs around Fellsmere, Sebastian, Indian River Shores, Florida Ridge, and Lakewood Park. Habitat extends westward to include areas near Fort Drum State Forest Management Area and portions of interior agricultural and natural lands.

Spatial patterns:

The habitat forms one primary continuous polygon with several smaller, darker pink patches visible within the main boundary, suggesting overlapping features or areas of particular habitat significance. The coastal boundary roughly follows the shoreline, while interior boundaries appear more irregular, possibly reflecting ecological gradients or land use patterns. The northern extent includes areas near the Upper St. John's River Marsh Wildlife Management Area, while the southern portion encompasses areas near Jensen Beach and Hutchinson Island South.

Overlapping Patterns

Several areas within the main habitat boundary display darker pink shading, indicating overlapping polygons or areas where habitat designation boundaries intersect, potentially representing zones of higher conservation priority or multiple assessment criteria.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents a single thematic layer extracted from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service endangered species dataset for Florida, focusing specifically on Fragrant Prickly-Apple habitat. The boundaries shown reflect the species' understood range and habitat requirements as designated for conservation and regulatory purposes. Base map features such as community names, roads, and management area boundaries are provided for geographic reference but are not part of the thematic endangered species layer. The habitat designation covers a substantial geographic area, indicating the species' regional habitat needs and the scale of conservation efforts required to protect this endangered plant.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

United States Fish and Wildlife Service endangered species polygonal boundaries dataset for the State of Florida. The data represents species habitat as understood by federal wildlife authorities for conservation planning and regulatory compliance.

Definition Query:

The map displays only those records where the common name equals "Fragrant Prickly-Apple" (COMNAME = 'FRAGRANT PRICKLY-APPLE'), filtering the broader endangered species dataset to show habitat boundaries for this specific species.

Scale Information:

The map shows a regional-scale view appropriate for understanding the overall geographic distribution of Fragrant Prickly-Apple habitat across multiple counties in east-central Florida. At this scale, individual habitat patches and the general extent of the species' range are visible, suitable for conservation planning and regional assessment purposes.

Coordinate System:

NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087)

Limitations:

The habitat boundaries represent the species' understood range as designated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and may not reflect fine-scale habitat variations or site-specific occurrence data. Actual plant locations may vary within the designated boundaries based on microhabitat conditions, land use, and ecological factors. Areas outside the shown boundaries may contain additional habitat that has not been officially designated or mapped.

Map Coverage:

The map extent covers portions of east-central Florida from approximately the Upper St. John's River region southward to the Stuart and Port Salerno area, and from the Atlantic coast westward to include interior portions near Okeechobee and Taylor Creek. Surrounding areas are shown for geographic context but do not contain designated Fragrant Prickly-Apple habitat within this dataset.

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