Connectivity PR - CT Rare Species

This data layer represents the priority rare species and habitats that lie with PFLCC's Connectivity Priority Resource. The analysis was performed with the Florida Natural Areas Inventory's (FNAI) Florida Habitat model that was designed to identify areas important for species habitat based on both species rarity and richness -- FNAI mapped occurrence-based potential habitat for 281 species of plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates, including aquatic species.

The metadata for PFLCC's Connectivity Priority Resource can be found in the map of the same name.

The FNAIHAB model was designed to identify areas important for species habitat based on both species rarity and species richness. FNAI mapped occurrence-based potential habitat for 281 species of plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates, including aquatic species. Mapped habitat was classified as High, Medium, or Low Suitability for each species. For most species, suitable habitat was mapped only in the vicinity of known occurrences, so that if the state acquires lands based on these priorities they will be assured of protecting a known population of the species. Species were weighted by Global and State rarity rank for the original layer -- but for this version (core data layer in CLIP 4.0) uses a different species weighting system from the version used in the Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment. The Florida Forever version considers percent of each species' habitat protected on conservation lands in weighting species (higher weight given to species with more habitat on private lands, than for species with more habitat on conservation lands, all else being equal).