This data layer represents a tested potential Conservation Target (CT) for PFLCC's Priority Resource (PR): Coastal Uplands. The suggested potential CT was Species Richness. Species Richness is one component of biodiversity, an important aspect of landscape conservation. Biodiversity is important for maintaining the balance of natural communities and ecosystems upon which humans also depend. Florida has a high level of species diversity and endemism but the state is experiencing threats to its natural heritage from a variety of sources.
The data used in this analysis in addition to the Priority Resource layer is the Species Richness layer from the CLIP 4.0 geodatabase. The core layer of the geodatabase is from the FWC's Potential Habitat Richness layer that identifies areas of overlapping vertebrate species habitat. FWC created a statewide potential habitat model for each species in the analysis. The data correspond to the number of species with predicted habitat in each pixel (15 x 15 m). The maximum number of vertebrate species are 13.
To evaluate the data for this exercise, the pixels from the predicted habitat distribution were extracted using the Coastal Uplands Priority Resource layer as a mask. For preliminary summaries of the extracted values located within the Coastal Uplands PR, see also the 'Coastal Uplands' webinar (in pdf form) located within this gallery.
The potential CT has been postponed for later as these data are not likely suitable for evaluating the species richness of Coastal Uplands PR. The vertebrates includes in the original Species Richness layer range in a wide variety of habitats and some are unlikely to occur within this PR. Additionally, the PR provides important habitat to many forms of plant and animal life that are important, but will not be reflected in the vertebrate species richness layer. PFLCC will continue to search for suitable data for evaluating the species richness of Coastal Uplands but will not use the data used here as a potential Conservation Target.
For additional information on the Coastal Uplands Priority Resource, see additional data layers and the webinar found within this gallery.