Alternative Text Description for Pygmy Fringe-Tree (Endangered) Distribution Map

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map shows the geographic distribution of the Pygmy Fringe-Tree, an endangered plant species, across central Florida. The map displays polygonal boundaries representing habitat areas or known occurrence zones for this species as documented by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The pink crosshatched areas indicate where the Pygmy Fringe-Tree is found, overlaid on a base map showing major cities and communities in the region.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers central Florida, with the city of Orlando prominently labeled near the center of the map extent. Major cities and communities visible include Tampa and St. Petersburg to the west, Sarasota to the southwest, Lakeland in the central-west area, Leesburg and Eustis to the northwest of Orlando, Deltona to the northeast, Kissimmee to the south of Orlando, and Titusville on the eastern edge. Smaller communities labeled include Ocala to the north, Daytona Beach and Port Orange to the northeast, Homosassa Springs and Beverly Hills to the northwest, Spring Hill and Hudson-Bayonet Point-Jasmine Estates on the west coast, Clearwater near Tampa, Port Charlotte to the south, and Yeehaw Junction to the southeast. The map shows portions of the Gulf of America coastline on the western edge.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Pygmy Fringe-Tree distribution shows a broad but fragmented presence across central Florida. The species appears in two main geographic concentrations: a large southern zone extending from the Tampa-Lakeland area eastward past Kissimmee and south toward Port Charlotte, and a smaller northern zone around Leesburg and extending northeast toward Eustis and Deltona. The distribution forms a wide band across the central peninsula, with notable gaps around the Orlando metropolitan area itself. The habitat areas appear as irregular polygons suggesting natural occurrence patterns rather than strict administrative boundaries. The species' range does not extend continuously but rather occupies discrete habitat patches across the region, reflecting the fragmented nature of suitable habitat for this endangered species.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Pygmy Fringe-Tree Distribution Areas

This layer represents the geographic boundaries where the endangered Pygmy Fringe-Tree species occurs in Florida.

Pygmy Fringe-Tree Habitat Polygons (pink crosshatch pattern)

Appearance:

Areas are shown with a pink or light red color overlaid with a fine crosshatch or diagonal line pattern, creating a semi-transparent effect that allows underlying base map features to remain visible.

Distribution:

The distribution occurs primarily in two distinct geographic clusters. The larger southern cluster extends across a broad swath of central Florida from the Tampa Bay area eastward through Polk County and south through portions of the peninsula. The smaller northern cluster appears in Lake County around Leesburg and extends northeast toward the Deltona area.

Notable locations:

Significant concentrations appear south and west of Orlando, throughout the Lakeland area, extending south toward Sarasota and Port Charlotte, and in the area between Tampa and St. Petersburg. A separate concentration exists northwest of Orlando in the Leesburg-Eustis vicinity. Areas immediately surrounding Orlando's urban core appear to have gaps in the distribution.

Spatial patterns:

The habitat areas form irregular, naturalistic boundaries that follow ecological rather than political boundaries. The distribution shows a fragmented pattern with multiple discrete polygons of varying sizes rather than one continuous area. The gaps between polygons suggest habitat discontinuity, which is typical for endangered species with specific ecological requirements. The overall pattern suggests a central Florida distribution that avoids heavily urbanized areas while occupying suitable habitat patches across the region.

Overlapping Patterns

The species distribution overlays a base map showing political boundaries, urban areas shown in gray, and major transportation corridors. Within the pink crosshatched distribution areas, darker gray patches appear to represent water bodies, lakes, or excluded areas where the species does not occur despite being within the broader habitat polygon boundaries.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents a single thematic layer extracted from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's species distribution dataset for Florida. The polygonal boundaries represent the best available understanding of where this endangered plant species occurs within the state. The map shows distribution at a regional scale appropriate for viewing central Florida, with sufficient detail to identify general habitat areas in relation to major communities and geographic features. Users should note that the boundaries represent general distribution zones and may include areas of varying habitat quality or occupancy within the delineated polygons. The crosshatch pattern allows viewers to see both the species distribution and underlying geographic context simultaneously.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

United States Fish and Wildlife Service species distribution data for the State of Florida. The dataset contains polygonal boundaries representing species occurrence areas as understood and documented by the federal agency responsible for endangered species management.

Definition Query:

The map displays a filtered subset of the full Florida species dataset, showing only records where the common name equals "Pygmy Fringe-Tree." This filter isolates the distribution of this single endangered species from the broader multi-species dataset.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a regional scale covering central Florida, appropriate for viewing the overall distribution pattern of the species across multiple counties. At this scale, individual habitat patches and the relationship between species distribution and major urban areas are visible, but fine-scale habitat details within polygons are not shown.

Coordinate System:

NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087), a projected coordinate system optimized for mapping Florida with minimal area distortion.

Limitations:

The polygonal boundaries represent general distribution areas and should be interpreted as zones where the species is known to occur rather than precise habitat boundaries. The actual presence of individual plants may vary within the delineated areas based on microhabitat conditions, land use changes, and population dynamics. Areas shown may include both occupied and suitable unoccupied habitat. The dataset reflects the understanding of species distribution at the time the spatial boundaries were delineated, and actual species presence should be verified through field surveys for site-specific applications.

Map Coverage:

The map extent covers central Florida from approximately Ocala in the north to Port Charlotte in the south, and from the Gulf of America coast in the west to the area around Titusville in the east. The primary focus is on the Pygmy Fringe-Tree distribution, though surrounding areas without species presence are shown for geographic context.

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