Alternative Text Description for Southern Kidneyshell (Endangered) Distribution Map

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the geographic distribution of the Southern Kidneyshell, an endangered freshwater mussel species, across the southeastern United States. The map shows the species' range extending from Georgia through Florida, with shaded polygonal areas indicating where this endangered species is known to occur according to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The map provides critical habitat information for conservation and resource management purposes.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the southeastern United States, focusing primarily on Georgia and Florida, with portions of South Carolina, Alabama, and the Atlantic Ocean visible. Major cities labeled include Atlanta, Athens, Augusta, Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, Wilmington, Jacksonville, Savannah, Valdosta, Gainesville, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Palm Bay, Cape Coral, Fort St. Lucie, West Palm Beach, Coral Springs, Freeport, and Abaco. The map extends from northern Georgia southward through the entire Florida peninsula. The Atlantic Ocean is visible along the eastern coastline, and the Gulf of America (western Florida coast) appears on the western edge. Notable Florida locations include Palm Coast, Macon, Warner Robins, and Albany in Georgia.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Southern Kidneyshell exhibits a highly restricted and fragmented distribution pattern. The species' range appears concentrated in two primary geographic areas: a narrow corridor along the Georgia-Florida border region extending through southeastern Georgia and northern Florida, and scattered locations within the Florida peninsula. The distribution follows a predominantly north-south orientation, suggesting association with specific drainage systems or riverine corridors. There is a notable absence of the species in the southern portions of Florida below the Orlando-Tampa latitude, indicating that suitable habitat is limited to northern and central regions. The fragmented nature of the distribution, with isolated patches rather than continuous coverage, reflects the endangered status and limited habitat availability for this freshwater mussel species.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Southern Kidneyshell (Endangered) Distribution

This layer represents the known geographic range of the Southern Kidneyshell freshwater mussel as documented by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Southern Kidneyshell Range Areas (shaded polygons with diagonal line pattern)

Appearance:

Light pink or mauve colored polygonal areas with a diagonal line pattern overlay, creating a hatched appearance.

Distribution:

The polygonal areas appear primarily in two regions: a corridor running through southeastern Georgia into northern Florida near Jacksonville and Gainesville, and scattered patches within the Florida peninsula, particularly in the central-western portion of the state.

Notable locations:

Significant concentrations occur in the region between Jacksonville, Florida and the Georgia border, with additional presence areas near Gainesville, and isolated patches in central Florida near the Gulf of America coast.

Spatial patterns:

The distribution follows linear, elongated patterns that suggest association with river systems and watersheds. The fragmented nature of the polygons, with multiple discrete patches rather than continuous coverage, indicates a species with highly specific habitat requirements and limited dispersal. The north-south orientation of the primary distribution corridor aligns with major drainage patterns in the region.

Overlapping Patterns

There are no overlapping patterns with other thematic layers visible in this map, as it displays a single species distribution layer over a base reference map.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents a single thematic layer showing endangered species distribution extracted from a larger dataset. The map focuses on the species' known range rather than individual observation points, indicating that these polygonal boundaries represent habitat areas or watershed boundaries where the species has been documented. The base map provides geographic context with city names and general topography but should not be interpreted as part of the thematic content. The scale and extent of the map are designed to show the full known range of the species within Florida and adjacent states. Users should note that the absence of shading does not necessarily indicate the species cannot occur in those areas, but rather that documented occurrences fall within the shaded polygons.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data originates from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and represents polygonal boundaries for species as understood by the agency for the State of Florida. The data reflects official species range documentation used for endangered species management and conservation planning. Data source layer name: CR_USFWS_POLY_JUL25.

Definition Query:

This map displays only records where the common name equals "Southern Kidneyshell," filtering the broader species dataset to show this single endangered freshwater mussel species. The filter criteria used is: COMNAME = 'SOUTHERN KIDNEYSHELL'.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a regional scale appropriate for showing the full species range across multiple states. This scale is suitable for understanding broad distribution patterns and regional conservation planning rather than site-specific habitat details.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087), a projected coordinate system optimized for accurate area measurement and display of Florida geographic data.

Time Period of Content:

The dataset name indicates a July 2025 compilation date (JUL25), suggesting the data represents the most current understanding of the species' distribution as of that timeframe.

Limitations:

The polygonal boundaries represent generalized range areas rather than precise habitat boundaries. Actual species presence within these polygons may be limited to specific stream reaches, water bodies, or microhabitats that meet the species' ecological requirements. The data may not reflect very recent population changes or newly discovered populations. Areas outside the shaded polygons may contain suitable but unoccupied habitat or may represent areas where survey data is incomplete.

Map Coverage:

The map extends from northern Georgia (approximately the Athens-Greenville latitude) southward through the entire Florida peninsula to the Keys region, and from the Gulf of America coast eastward to the Atlantic Ocean and portions of South Carolina and North Carolina coasts. The coverage area emphasizes Florida and adjacent Georgia, as these states contain the known range of the Southern Kidneyshell.

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