Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis, 1998, Benthic Habitats of the Florida Keys: NOAA's Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Silver Spring, MD.Online Links:
This is a Vector data set.
Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.000001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal Degrees.
The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378135.
The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.26.
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| CPI | Individual Patch Reef: Isolated, barely visible on aerial photography, with or without a halo. |
| CPA | Aggregated patch reefs: More than one, usually too close together to map individually or where halos coalesce. |
| CPH | Halo: Barren, essentially unvegetated, variable, whitish zone around patch reef resulting from grazing activity of urchins and fish. Rubble from weathering of patch reef may allow attachment sites for corals to expand the colony. Not always present or large enough to be mapped. |
| CPIH | Individual Patch Reef and Halo: Patch reef and halo combination too small to delineate directly on aerial photography. Delineations of reef and halo performed during compilation. |
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| CPSS | Spur and Groove - Shallow: Well developed systems on "fore-reef" at major bank reefs on reef tract, with vertical relief to about 4m. Actively growing upward and outward. Distinctive signature on aerial photography due to shallow water (0 - 10m) and high vertical relief. Linear length to approximately 1000m or more. |
| CPSD | Spur and Groove - Drowned: Older, not actively growing (probably eroding) features often being buried by sand migration from shallower zone of reef tract. Nearly typical spur and groove signature in aerial photographs, but sometimes with less resolution or definition. Usually low profile, about 0.5 - 1.5m. Visible to interpretable depth of photography (10m). Often greater linear length than shallow spur and groove. |
| CPR | Spur and Groove - Remnant - Low Profile: Coral/hardbottom features not exhibiting distinctive signature of spur and groove reefs. Usually parallel to line of reef tract, but may form transverse features perpendicular to the reef tract. Relief from less than 0.5m - 1 or 2m. |
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| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| SPH | Dense patches of seagrass (>50%) in matrix of Hardbottom: One of the most common habitat types; patches occur in areas where a thin sediment layer over flat natural rock precludes development of seagrasses. Often numerous in number, highly visible on aerial photographs. |
| SPS | Dense patches of seagrass in a matrix of sparse seagrass: Depressional features with deep sediment allow denser development of seagrasses than on surrounding bottoms where only a thin layer may be present. May be difficult to discern on aerial photographs from seagrass patches in hardbottom. May occur more in deeper water or protected bays. |
| SPP | Dominantly sand or mud with small scattered seagrass patches (less than 50%): Large sand features with recognizable seagrass patches. Similar location to seagrass with blow-outs. Substrate may vary from sand to mud, and algae, either fixed or drift, may be a significant component. Offshore features tend to be more sandy, and inshore protected areas tend to be muddier in composition. |
| SPA | Largely MacroAlgal cover with scattered seagrass patches: Scattered seagrass patches are a significant habitat component, but dominant is background of macroalgae. Algal cover is banks of Halimeda sp. or Pencillus sp. May be difficult to delineate on aerial photographs without ground truthing. |
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301-713-3028 (voice)
301-713-4388 (FAX)
steve.rohmann@noaa.gov
The National Ocean Service is conducting research to digitally map biotic resources and coordinate a long-term monitoring program that can detect and predict change in U.S. coral reefs, and their associated habitats and biological communities. Precise mapping of benthic habitats is essential for developing management strategies that balance the protection of these habitats with their use. Accurate maps of these areas enable resource managers to make informed decisions about the use and protection of the resources.
National Oceanic and Atmospheri, National Ocean Serivce (NOS), National G, 199203, Color Aerial Photography: Florida Keys: NOAA's Ocean Service, National Geodetic Survey (NGS), Silver Spring, MD.
Natural color aerial photographs of the Florida Keys region were acquired by NOAA's Remote Sensing Division during overflights occurring from December 1991 through March 1992. A Wild RC-30 camera mounted in a Cessna Citation II Fanjet aircraft was used. The source photography was at a nominal photo scale of 1:48,000 (1 cm = 480 m). Each photograph covered an area of approximately 160 km 2 . An 80-percent endlap and 60-percent sidelap between adjacent photographs ensured both complete coverage and the presence of adequate reference locations necessary for determining positional accuracy. Approximately 450 photos provided monoscopic coverage and were used to delineate benthic habitats.
Establishing a Habitat Classification Scheme:
Two recognized ecologists, both with local knowledge of the Florida Keys and extensive expertise in marine habitats, were responsible for interpreting and delineating the benthic communities seen on the aerial photographs. These two ecologists, along with Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI) staff, developed the hierarchical classification scheme used in this atlas. The habitat classification scheme is composed of 24 classes of benthic communities in four major habitat categories: corals, seagrasses, hardbottom, and bare substrate. Special modifiers were attached to the classes to denote dredge zones, banks, and restoration areas.
Photointerpretation:
The ecologists and Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI) staff interpreted and then delineated benthic habitats on the aerial photos. The minimum habitat area delineated was 0.5 ha. Because of their ecological significance as critical habitat in the Florida Keys, patch reefs of less than 0.5 ha were delineated as a dot. Ground truthing was conducted to verify that benthic habitats seen in the water were properly identified on aerial photographs. Researchers were able to conduct most ground truthing of benthic communities while snorkeling. SCUBA was used for those communities located in deeper water habitats or turbid water. Field information about the benthic habitat and site GPS locations were recorded. The completed photos were reviewed for content and accuracy by the ecologists and Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI) staff and then sent to NOAA for digital compilation.
Digital Compilation of Aerial Photographs:
NGS cartographers inspected each photograph to check for completeness of delineations, photograph discrepancies, and areas of turbidity. Cartographers used a stereographic analytical plotter with NOAA's in-house software, to digitize and label the benthic communities and shoreline features seen on the aerial photographs. In many cases, the cartographers were able to provide additional detail because of the three-dimensional views permitted by the analytical plotter. The compiled data were checked by NOAA staff.
Quality Control:
A review of the data was conducted in three phases: 1) an on-line review to ensure line and attribute completeness, comparison to the ecologists' delineations, and positional accuracy; 2) a review of 1:48,000 scale maps of the compiled data against the original source photos; and 3) a review of 1:24,000 scale maps of the compiled data against the original delineated photographs for polygonal shape and attributes.
Person who carried out this activity:
301-713-3028 (voice)
301-713-4388 (FAX)
steve.rohmann@noaa.gov
The ecologists and Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI) staff interpreted and then delineated benthic habitats on the aerial photos. Ground truthing was conducted to verify that benthic habitats seen in the water were properly identified on aerial photographs. Researchers were able to conduct most ground truthing of benthic communities while snorkeling. SCUBA was used for those communities located in deeper water habitats or turbid water.
A review of the data was conducted in three phases: 1) an on-line review to ensure attribute completeness with comparison to the ecologists' delineations; 2) a review of 1:48,000 scale maps of the compiled data against the original source photos; and 3) a review of 1:24,000 scale maps of the compiled data against the original delineated photographs for attributes.
The aerial photographs used to generate these digital data were taken between December 1991 and March of 1992. These maps represent the distribution of benthic habitat over this time period. The horizontal accuracy of well-defined points is within two meters. Well-defined points, such as the tops of radio towers or the corners of wharves, are clearly identifiable and immobile objects. The horizontal accuracy of continuous data (i.e., benthic habitats) ranges from 5 to 10 m, depending on the habitat class. Certain benthic features, such as patch reefs and spur-and-groove reefs, have a horizontal accuracy of 5m. These habitats are composed of massive rock and coral formations that are stable in position over time and are resistant to all but the most powerful physical forces. The shorelines of the Keys and islands are accurate to within 5 m. Because of temporary changes, other benthic features such as bare substrate, seagrasses, and hardbottom communities are accurate to within 10 m.
The ecologists and Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI) staff interpreted and then delineated benthic habitats on the aerial photos. The minimum habitat area delineated was 0.5 ha. Because of their ecological significance as critical habitat in the Florida Keys, patch reefs of less than 0.5 ha were delineated as a dot. The benthic habitats data are considered to be complete and representative of in situ conditions at the time the aerial photography was acquired (December 1991 - March 1992).
The ecologists and Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI) staff interpreted and then delineated benthic habitats on the aerial photos. The minimum habitat area delineated was 0.5 ha. Because of their ecological significance as critical habitat in the Florida Keys, patch reefs of less than 0.5 ha were delineated as a dot. The relationships among the entities were assessed using neighbor analysis. The test verifies the unique associations among the benthic habitat features.
Ground truthing was conducted to verify that benthic habitats seen in the water were properly identified on aerial photographs. Researchers were able to conduct most ground truthing of benthic communities while snorkeling. SCUBA was used for those communities located in deeper water habitats or turbid water. Field information about the benthic habitat and site GPS locations were recorded. The completed photos were reviewed for content and accuracy by the ecologists and Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI) staff and then sent to NOAA for digital compilation.
Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
- Access_Constraints: None
- Use_Constraints:
- Acknowledgment of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS) would be appreciated in products derived from these data. These data are not to be used for navigation. NOAA assumes no liability for use of this data.
727-896-8626 (voice)
Henry.Norris@fwc.state.fl.us National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Program
Downloadable Data
The data are not to be used for navigation. Although these data have been successfully processed on a computer system at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, no warranty, either expressed or implied, is made by NOAA regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. NOAA will warrant the delivery of these data in computer-readable format and will replace if this CD-ROM is found to be defective. NOAA makes no warranty regarding these data, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NODC will not assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data, nor as a result of the failure of these data to function on a particular system.
| Data format: | Each protected area file contains habitat Shape files (polygons) and associated .dbf tables (as-well-as bathymetry files) in format ARC/INFO interchange |
|---|---|
| Network links: |
<http://flkeysbenthicmaps.noaa.gov/> <http://flkeysbenthicmaps.noaa.gov/data_download.html> |
301-713-3028 (voice)
301-713-4388 (FAX)
steve.rohmann@noaa.gov