Assessing state-wide biodiversity in the Florida Gap analysis project

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Background:

• Existing conservation lands may not adequately represent all native species and natural communities.
• The United States Geological Survey Gap Analysis Program (USGS GAP) aims to identify these conservation gaps nationwide.
• Biological diversity loss is a significant environmental concern requiring targeted conservation efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the representation of native animal species and natural communities within Florida's conservation lands.
• To identify "gaps" in conservation land networks where species or communities are not adequately protected.
• To provide geographic information on the status of terrestrial vertebrates, butterflies, skippers, and ants, and their habitats in Florida.

Main Methods:

• Mapped natural land cover to the level of dominant or co-dominant plant species using Landsat TM satellite imagery and auxiliary data.
• Classified land cover using data from the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI), soils maps, aerial imagery, and ground surveys.
• Developed wildlife distribution models by identifying suitable habitats within species' ranges, including minimum critical area assessments for mammals.

Main Results:

• Identified specific "gaps" in conservation land coverage for various native species and natural communities in Florida.
• Generated detailed wildlife distribution models for terrestrial vertebrates, butterflies, skippers, and ants.
• Summarized wildlife species richness against land stewardship, prioritizing areas with strong conservation mandates.

Conclusions:

• The Florida Gap (Fl-Gap) project provides critical data for enhancing biodiversity conservation strategies in Florida.
• Understanding these conservation gaps is essential for prioritizing land acquisition and management efforts.
• The findings support informed decision-making to improve the effectiveness of Florida's conservation land network.