Alternative Text Description for Wide-Leaf Warea (Endangered) Species Distribution Map

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map shows the distribution of Wide-Leaf Warea, an endangered plant species, across central Florida. The map displays polygonal boundaries representing known habitat areas for this species as designated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The distribution is depicted using a distinctive crosshatch pattern overlaid on a base map showing major cities, counties, and geographic features across the state.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers a large portion of central Florida, extending from Lake County in the north to Polk County in the south, with Orlando serving as a major reference point on the eastern side of the mapped area. The visible area includes numerous municipalities such as Leesburg, Eustis, Tavares, Apopka, Winter Park, Groveland, Minneola, and Haines City. Several lakes are prominently featured, including Lake Harris and Lake Apopka. The map also shows protected areas such as Lake Louisa State Park, Seminole State Forest, Rock Springs Run State Reserve, Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area, and Hilochee Wildlife Management Area. County boundaries and major roadways provide additional geographic reference throughout the region.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Wide-Leaf Warea habitat distribution shows a clear north-south corridor pattern through central Florida. The most substantial concentration of habitat occurs in a nearly continuous corridor stretching from the Minneola-Groveland area southward past Lake Louisa State Park. Additional isolated habitat areas appear scattered to the north near Leesburg and The Villages area, as well as to the south near Haines City, Poinciana, and Lake Wales. The spatial pattern suggests this endangered species occupies fragmented habitats primarily in the central ridge region of Florida, with the largest contiguous area located in Lake and Polk Counties. The distribution appears to avoid major urban centers like Orlando while occupying areas between developed communities.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Wide-Leaf Warea Habitat Areas

This layer represents the polygonal boundaries of known habitat areas for the endangered Wide-Leaf Warea plant species in Florida.

Wide-Leaf Warea Habitat Polygons (pink crosshatch pattern)

Appearance:

The habitat areas are displayed as pink or magenta-colored polygons filled with a diagonal crosshatch pattern, making them visually distinct against the gray base map.

Distribution:

Habitat areas are distributed across central Florida with concentrations in Lake and Polk Counties. The distribution follows a general north-south alignment through the central portion of the mapped area.

Notable locations:

Spatial patterns:

The habitat polygons exhibit a fragmented distribution with varying sizes from small isolated patches to larger interconnected areas. The primary pattern is a linear north-south arrangement through the Lake Wales Ridge region. Habitat areas appear to occupy undeveloped or protected lands, avoiding densely populated urban centers. The clustering of multiple patches in the Minneola-Groveland corridor suggests this area provides optimal conditions for the species. Gaps in the distribution create distinct groupings separated by several miles.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map displays a single thematic layer showing the distribution of an endangered plant species overlaid on a contextual base map. The polygons represent official species boundary data maintained by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for conservation and management purposes. Users should understand that these boundaries represent documented habitat areas and may not capture all locations where individual plants exist. The base map features including cities, roads, and political boundaries provide geographic reference but are not the primary focus of this thematic map.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

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

Definition Query:

This map displays a filtered subset of the source dataset showing only records where the common name equals 'WIDE-LEAF WAREA'. The filtering isolates this single endangered species from the broader multi-species dataset.

Scale Information:

The map displays a regional view appropriate for understanding the overall distribution pattern of the species across multiple counties in central Florida. At this scale, individual habitat patch boundaries are visible, allowing users to identify specific geographic locations and relationships to nearby communities and protected areas.

Coordinate System:

NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087)

Limitations:

The mapped boundaries represent documented habitat areas based on available survey and occurrence data. Actual species presence may vary within these boundaries and undocumented populations may exist outside the mapped areas. The data represents regulatory boundaries used for conservation planning and may not reflect real-time population dynamics or recent habitat changes.

Map Coverage:

The map covers central Florida from approximately Lake Panasoffkee in the northwest to Lake Tohopekaliga in the southeast, encompassing portions of Lake, Sumter, Marion, Orange, Polk, and Osceola Counties. Additional context areas including Seminole, Volusia, and Hillsborough Counties appear at the edges of the map extent.

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