Alternative Text Description for Miami Tiger Beetle (Endangered) Distribution Map

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the known distribution of the Miami Tiger Beetle, an endangered species, across southern Florida. The map shows polygonal boundaries representing areas where this species is understood to occur based on data from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Pink hatched polygons indicate the spatial extent of Miami Tiger Beetle habitat or occurrence areas throughout the region.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers southern Florida, including Miami-Dade and surrounding areas. Major communities labeled on the map include University Park, Westwood Lakes, Kendall, South Miami, Coral Gables, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, Cutler, and Cutler Bay in the northern and central portions. The central area shows The Hammocks, Richmond West, Vehlin, and South Miami Heights. The southern portion includes Princeton, Naranja, South Allapattah, Homestead, and Florida City. Notable features include Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport in the central area and Homestead Air Reserve Base in the south. Lakes by the Bay appears on the eastern edge, and several canals are marked including Canal C-103 and C-102 Canal. The map extends from the more densely populated northern communities southward to the rural areas near Homestead and Florida City.

KEY INSIGHTS

Miami Tiger Beetle occurrences show a scattered but concentrated distribution pattern across the mapped area. The largest continuous habitat area appears in the central portion of the map, roughly in the vicinity of Three Lakes and South Miami Heights, forming a substantial polygon. Additional significant clusters occur in the southwestern area near Florida City and Homestead. Many smaller, fragmented habitat patches are distributed throughout the region, particularly in the central and southern portions of the map. The eastern coastal areas and the far western portions show relatively fewer occurrences. The distribution pattern suggests habitat fragmentation, with the species occupying isolated patches rather than forming continuous habitat corridors across the landscape.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Miami Tiger Beetle (Endangered) Occurrences

The layer represents the polygonal boundaries of Miami Tiger Beetle habitat or occurrence areas as documented by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for Florida.

Miami Tiger Beetle Habitat Polygons (pink with diagonal hatching)

Appearance:

Polygons are rendered in pink or magenta color with a diagonal crosshatch pattern. The hatching consists of parallel lines creating a distinctive visual texture that distinguishes these areas from the base map.

Distribution:

Habitat polygons are distributed throughout the southern Florida region, with concentrations in the central and southern portions of the map. Occurrences span from the urban/suburban areas in the north to the more rural southern reaches near Homestead and Florida City.

Notable locations:

The largest contiguous habitat area is located in the central region near Three Lakes and South Miami Heights. A substantial cluster of polygons appears in the southwestern portion near Florida City and Homestead. Smaller habitat patches are scattered throughout Kendall, Richmond West, Vehlin, Princeton, and Naranja areas. Several small isolated patches appear in the northern portion near Palmetto Bay and the eastern communities.

Spatial patterns:

The distribution shows significant habitat fragmentation. Rather than forming continuous habitat, the Miami Tiger Beetle occurrences consist of numerous isolated patches of varying sizes. The largest patches occur in less densely developed areas, while smaller fragments appear scattered throughout more urbanized regions. There is a general concentration of occurrences in the central to southern portions of the mapped area, with decreasing frequency toward the northern urban areas and the far western edge.

Overlapping Patterns

The Miami Tiger Beetle habitat polygons overlay a base map showing municipal boundaries, roads, and community names. The relationship between habitat patches and the urban landscape suggests the species persists in fragmented areas amid residential and developed lands. The scattered nature of the polygons indicates the species occupies specific habitat types that are not uniformly distributed across the landscape.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents a single thematic layer showing the distribution of an endangered species. The polygonal boundaries indicate areas where the Miami Tiger Beetle is understood to occur based on Fish and Wildlife Service data for Florida. The map illustrates the current known extent of this species' distribution and highlights the fragmented nature of its habitat across the southern Florida landscape. Users should interpret these boundaries as representing documented occurrence areas rather than comprehensive habitat suitability assessments. The base map provides geographic context to help locate the species' distribution relative to developed areas and communities.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

United States Fish and Wildlife Service species data for the State of Florida. The dataset contains polygonal boundaries representing species occurrences as documented and understood by the federal agency.

Definition Query:

The map displays only records where the common name equals "MIAMI TIGER BEETLE," filtering the broader species dataset to show this single endangered species.

Scale Information:

The map displays a regional view of southern Florida, showing community-level detail appropriate for understanding the broad distribution pattern of the species across the landscape. Individual streets and detailed parcel-level features are visible but not the primary focus.

Coordinate System:

NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087).

Limitations:

The polygonal boundaries represent known or documented occurrences and may not capture all areas where the species is present. The dataset reflects the understanding of species distribution by the Fish and Wildlife Service and may not include recent survey data or undocumented populations. Habitat boundaries should be interpreted as approximate representations of occurrence areas rather than precise habitat delineations.

Map Coverage:

The map covers southern Miami-Dade County and surrounding areas in southern Florida, extending from the urbanized areas near Kendall and South Miami in the north to Florida City and Homestead Air Reserve Base in the south. The eastern boundary approaches the coastal communities, while the western extent includes areas beyond The Hammocks and Richmond West.

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