Alternative Text Description for Silver Rice Rat (Endangered) Species Boundary

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map shows the known species boundary for the Silver Rice Rat (Endangered) in southern Florida as recognized by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The map displays the geographic extent where this endangered species is understood to occur, represented as a continuous polygonal boundary covering portions of the Florida Keys and surrounding coastal areas. This species distribution map is part of a broader dataset maintained for the State of Florida.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map focuses on the southern tip of Florida, specifically the Florida Keys island chain. Several labeled locations are visible including Key West in the southwestern portion, Bay Point along the central keys, Cudjoe Key in the lower keys, Ramrod Key in the mid-lower keys, Big Pine Key in the mid-section, and a portion of Mockingbird White Heron National Wildlife Refuge in the western area. The mapped area extends from the southwestern tip of the Florida mainland eastward through the island chain, covering both land masses and the surrounding shallow water areas of the Gulf of America to the north and the Florida Straits to the south.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Silver Rice Rat habitat boundary shows a fragmented distribution pattern across the Florida Keys. The species boundary is not continuous but rather consists of numerous separate patches of varying sizes distributed throughout the island chain. The largest concentrations appear in the central and lower keys region, particularly around Big Pine Key and the adjacent islands. There is notable fragmentation, with many small isolated patches scattered throughout the area, suggesting the species occupies specific suitable habitat zones rather than occurring uniformly across all available land. The distribution pattern indicates the species is restricted to particular island habitats within the broader Florida Keys ecosystem.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Silver Rice Rat Species Boundary

This layer represents the polygonal boundaries defining where the endangered Silver Rice Rat species is understood to occur according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service data.

Silver Rice Rat Habitat Areas (pink crosshatch pattern)

Appearance:

Areas are depicted with a pink or rose-colored crosshatch pattern consisting of diagonal lines creating a mesh or grid-like appearance against the gray background.

Distribution:

The species boundary extends throughout much of the Florida Keys, from the southwestern tip near Key West eastward through the island chain. The boundary encompasses portions of individual keys as well as surrounding areas.

Notable locations:

Significant concentrations of habitat occur around Big Pine Key, which shows one of the larger continuous patches. Other notable areas include regions around Cudjoe Key, Ramrod Key, Bay Point, and scattered patches extending toward the eastern keys. The western portion near the wildlife refuge also contains habitat areas.

Spatial patterns:

The habitat displays a highly fragmented pattern with numerous discrete patches rather than a single continuous area. Larger patches tend to align with the larger keys in the island chain, while smaller isolated fragments are scattered throughout. The patches generally follow the linear east-west orientation of the Florida Keys archipelago, creating a string-like overall distribution pattern. Many patches are small and isolated, separated by water or unsuitable habitat, suggesting the species requires specific environmental conditions found only in certain locations within the keys.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents a single thematic layer extracted from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service species boundary dataset for Florida. The map shows the species distribution as a series of polygonal boundaries rather than individual occurrence points, representing the broader geographic understanding of where the species is found. The Silver Rice Rat is listed as endangered, and this spatial representation helps identify the geographic scope of habitat management and conservation planning needs. The fragmented nature of the distribution visible at this scale reflects the specialized habitat requirements of this species within the Florida Keys ecosystem.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data originates from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and contains polygonal boundaries for species as understood by the agency for the State of Florida. The dataset is identified as CR_USFWS_POLY_JUN26 and represents the official federal understanding of species distributions for conservation and management purposes.

Definition Query:

The map displays a filtered subset of the full species boundary dataset. The definition query filters the data to show only records where the common name (COMNAME) equals 'SILVER RICE RAT', isolating this single endangered species from the broader multi-species dataset.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a scale appropriate for viewing the entire Florida Keys region and the complete extent of the Silver Rice Rat's known range. At this scale, individual habitat patches and the overall fragmented distribution pattern are visible, providing a comprehensive view of the species' geographic footprint.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Limitations:

The polygonal boundaries represent the understood species distribution based on available data and expert knowledge, but may not capture every location where individual animals occur or all suitable habitat. The boundaries reflect a generalized geographic understanding rather than precise habitat mapping at the site level. Areas within the boundary polygons may contain both suitable and unsuitable habitat, and the absence of boundary coverage does not definitively indicate species absence.

Map Coverage:

The map extent covers the entire Florida Keys island chain from Key West in the southwest extending eastward through the keys, as well as a small portion of the southwestern Florida mainland. The coverage includes both terrestrial and near-shore marine areas where the species boundary is mapped, with gray background indicating areas outside the species range.

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