Alternative Text Description for Key Tree Cactus (Endangered) Species Habitat

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map shows the habitat range of the Key Tree Cactus, an endangered species in southern 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 habitat area is depicted using a pink crosshatch pattern covering portions of coastal and island regions in the southernmost part of the Florida peninsula and the Florida Keys.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the southern tip of Florida, including portions of the mainland from Naples and Miami southward, as well as the Florida Keys island chain extending southwest into the Gulf of America and Straits of Florida. Major labeled cities include Miami, Homestead, Cape Coral, Naples, Immokalee, Hollywood, Coral Springs, and Boca Raton on the mainland, and Key West in the lower Keys. The map extends from the southwestern Gulf coast across to the southeastern Atlantic coast, showing the transition from mainland Florida to the island archipelago of the Keys.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Key Tree Cactus habitat exhibits a distinctive geographic pattern concentrated in two primary zones. The largest contiguous area extends along the southern coastal region from southwest of Homestead southward and westward, encompassing a substantial portion of the southernmost mainland and the upper to middle Florida Keys. A second notable concentration appears in the lower Keys near Key West. The habitat distribution suggests the species is adapted to the unique coastal and island ecosystems of extreme southern Florida, with minimal presence on the mainland north of the Miami-Homestead area. The pattern reveals a clear association with the Florida Keys environment rather than interior or northern coastal areas.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Key Tree Cactus (Endangered) Habitat

This layer represents the officially recognized habitat boundaries for the Key Tree Cactus as designated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Key Tree Cactus Habitat Areas (pink crosshatch pattern)

Appearance:

Areas are shown with a pink crosshatch or mesh pattern overlay on the base map.

Distribution:

The habitat occurs primarily in the coastal and island regions of southernmost Florida, with concentrations in the upper to middle Florida Keys and near Key West.

Notable locations:

The most extensive habitat area stretches from the mainland coast southwest of Homestead through much of the Florida Keys, creating a broad band across the island chain. A secondary isolated patch appears in the lower Keys around Key West. A small isolated area is also visible west of the main Keys chain.

Spatial patterns:

The habitat follows the natural geography of the Keys, creating an elongated southwest-trending distribution pattern that mirrors the island chain. The habitat coverage is broader in some sections of the Keys than others, suggesting variable suitability or presence across the archipelago. There is relatively little habitat on the mainland peninsula, with coverage concentrated on the islands and immediate coastal zones.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents species habitat boundaries as officially recognized for the State of Florida. The depicted areas indicate where the Key Tree Cactus is understood to occur based on Fish and Wildlife Service understanding, though the actual presence and density of individual plants may vary within these boundaries. The map focuses solely on this single endangered species and does not show other ecological or land use information that may be relevant to conservation planning.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

United States Fish and Wildlife Service polygonal boundaries for species in the State of Florida. The dataset identifier is CR_USFWS_POLY_JUN26.

Definition Query:

The map displays a filtered subset of the species data where COMNAME equals 'KEY TREE CACTUS', showing only this single endangered species from the broader species dataset.

Scale Information:

The map scale shows the entire southern Florida region from the southwestern Gulf coast to the southeastern Atlantic coast, providing a regional overview appropriate for understanding the full geographic extent of the species habitat.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Limitations:

The boundaries represent habitat areas as understood by the Fish and Wildlife Service and may not reflect precise locations of individual plants or account for all suitable or unsuitable microhabitats within the designated zones. Areas outside the mapped polygons may still contain isolated individuals or populations not captured in this dataset.

Map Coverage:

The map extends from approximately Cape Coral and Boca Raton in the north to Key West and the Straits of Florida in the south, covering the entire southern tip of the Florida peninsula and the complete Florida Keys island chain. Portions of the Gulf of America and Atlantic Ocean are shown for geographic context.

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