Alternative Text Description for Oval Pigtoe (Endangered)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Map Overview
• Geographic Context
• Key Insights
• Visual Elements
• Symbol Guide
• Additional Information
• Data Context

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the geographic range boundaries of the Oval Pigtoe, an endangered freshwater mussel species, across northern Florida and the Florida Panhandle. The map shows discrete polygonal areas representing the species' known habitat distribution as identified by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The filtered dataset specifically shows only the Oval Pigtoe species from a larger collection of species boundary data for Florida.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers northern Florida and the Florida Panhandle region. Labeled cities visible on the map include Columbus and Dothan in the far northwest, Albany and Fitzgerald in Georgia to the north, Vidalia and Waycross in the northeast, Valdosta in the north-central area, Tallahassee in the central Panhandle, Gainesville in the northeast Florida interior, and Ocala and Homosassa Springs in the central peninsula. The Gulf of America coastline is visible along the bottom and western portions of the map, shown in solid gray. The map extends into southern Georgia in the northern portion.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Oval Pigtoe's range is highly fragmented, consisting of several isolated areas rather than continuous habitat. The species occupies portions of river systems in three primary regions: the western Florida Panhandle and adjacent areas near the Gulf of America coast, a central area in the Big Bend region near Tallahassee, and the northern peninsula extending toward Gainesville. The fragmented distribution pattern suggests the species is restricted to specific river or stream systems within these broader regions, reflecting the specialized habitat requirements of freshwater mussels and potential impacts to connectivity between populations.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Oval Pigtoe Range Boundaries

The map displays polygonal areas representing the geographic range of the endangered Oval Pigtoe freshwater mussel species.

Oval Pigtoe (Endangered) Range Areas

Appearance:

Pink polygons with a crosshatch or grid pattern fill

Distribution:

Features appear in northern Florida, concentrated in three primary clusters across the mapped region

Notable locations:

• Western Panhandle: Several polygons appear in the coastal plain region west of Tallahassee, with features extending toward the Gulf of America coast
• Central area: Multiple polygons occur in the Big Bend region north and east of Tallahassee
• Eastern cluster: A larger consolidated polygon area appears in the northern peninsula region south of Valdosta and east-northeast of Gainesville

Spatial patterns:

The range areas follow linear and irregular patterns suggesting association with river corridors and watershed boundaries. The three primary clusters are geographically separated, indicating isolated populations. The polygons vary in size, with some covering relatively small areas and others encompassing larger regions. The distribution is entirely confined to northern Florida with no presence in the southern peninsula.

Overlapping Patterns

No overlapping thematic features are present on this map, as it displays a single species' range boundaries.

SYMBOL GUIDE

• Pink polygons with crosshatch pattern: Areas representing the geographic range of the Oval Pigtoe, an endangered freshwater mussel species

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents a single endangered species extracted from a comprehensive dataset of species boundaries maintained by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for Florida. The polygonal boundaries represent the species' understood range rather than individual observation points, indicating broader habitat areas where the species may occur. The map focuses exclusively on the thematic layer showing the Oval Pigtoe distribution, with base map features included only for geographic reference. As a freshwater mussel species, the Oval Pigtoe's distribution is inherently tied to aquatic habitats, particularly river and stream systems, though specific waterways are not highlighted as thematic elements in this view.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

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

Definition Query:

The map displays a filtered subset of the full species dataset, showing only records where the common name equals "Oval Pigtoe." This filters the comprehensive species boundaries dataset to display only this single endangered mussel species.

Scale Information:

The map displays a regional view covering northern Florida and the Florida Panhandle, appropriate for understanding the broad geographic distribution of the species across multiple counties and river systems.

Coordinate System:

NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087)

Limitations:

The boundaries represent the understood range of the species and may not reflect all occupied habitat or individual occurrence locations. The polygonal nature of the data suggests these are generalized range areas rather than precise habitat delineations. Actual species presence within these boundaries may vary based on specific habitat conditions, water quality, and other ecological factors not represented in this spatial dataset.

Map Coverage:

The map extent covers northern Florida from the western Panhandle eastward to the Atlantic coastal region, extending northward into southern Georgia for geographic context. The Gulf of America coastline defines the southern and western boundaries of the mapped area, while the view extends southward into the Florida peninsula approximately to the latitude of Ocala and Gainesville.

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