This GIS data set represents coral and other hardbottom type data available to FWRI as of June 2009. The extent and resolution of source data sets varies. This is not intended to be a comprehensive survey - data gaps do exist. Sliver polygons also exist due to differences in overlapping study areas, as well as some present in the source data sets. Worm and oyster reefs are not included in this compilation. See separate data sets for worm and oyster reefs.
This data set represents hardbottom areas that have been mapped in and around Florida.
Prior to July 1, 2004, the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) was known as the Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI). The institute name has not been changed in historical data sets or references to work completed by the Florida Marine Research Institute. The institute name has been changed in references to ongoing research, new research, and contact information.
ground condition
Acknowledgement of the FWC-FWRI (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-Fish and Wildlife Research Institute) as the data source would be appreciated in any products developed from these data, and such acknowledgment as is standard for citation and legal practices for data source is expected by users of this data. Please cite the original metadata when using portions of the record to create a similar record of slightly altered data, such as reprojection. If any data are modified or adjusted, please share the edited information with FWC. Users should be aware that comparison with other data sets for the same area from other time periods may be inaccurate due to inconsistencies resulting from changes in mapping conventions, data collection, and computer processes over time. FWC shall not be liable for improper or incorrect use of this data. These data are not legal documents and are not to be used as such. This is not a survey data set and should not be utilized as such. These data are not to be used for navigation.
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
100 Eighth Avenue Southeast
Attributes are based on information given about the source data. Accuracy has not been tested.
These data are logically consistent. A topology was run to wliminate overlapping polygons.
These data represent the data available to FWRI as of June, 2009. This is a data compilation, not an exhaustive study. Data gaps do exist.
Positional accuracy varies by source data set. Positional accuracy is unaltered by FWRI.
TYPE "Aggregated Patch Reef", "Linear Reef", "Patch Reef", and "Spur and Groove" were reclassified as "Coral Reef". TYPE "Colonized Pavement", and "Ridge" were reclassified as "Hardbottom". TYPE "Scattered Coral/Rock in Sand" was not included in the compilation.
In areas of overlap with benthic_broward_2004, the Broward County data were used. TYPE "Aggregated Patch Reef", "Linear Reef", "Patch Reef", and "Spur and Groove" were reclassified as "Coral Reef". TYPE "Colonized Pavement", and "Ridge" were reclassified as "Hardbottom".
"Coral Reef", "Hardbottom", and "Hardbottom, Seagrass" polygons were selected from this data set. All relevant polygons were used. The classification present in this data set was retained in the compilation.
In areas of overlap with benthic_south_fl, benthic_fktr_2004, and benthic_flbay_2004, the other data sources were used. "Bare pleistocene coral reef limestone" and "Bare Pleistocene oolitic limestone" polygons were reclassified as "Hardbottom" "Live Coral Reef", "Outlier Reef", and "Senile Coral Reef" polygons were reclassified as "Coral Reef".
"Hardbottom", "Hardbottom with Seagrass", "Patch Reef", and "Platform Margin Reef" polygons; as well as seagrass polygons identified as "Dense Pathces in a Matrix of Hardbottom" were selected from this data set. In areas of overlap with benthic_fktr_2004, benthic_biscayne_2005, or benthic_tortugas_2006; the other, more recent, data source was used. Although this data set also overlaps with benthic_flbay_2004, the focus of the Florida Bay study was seagrass mapping and some areas of hardbottom shown in the benthic_south_fl study were not reflected in the Florida Bay study. Therefore, benthic_south_fl, which focused on mapping hardbottom and coral, was used in the Florida Bay area as well. "Patch Reef" and "Platform Margin Reef" were reclassified as "Coral Reef", with the exception of polygons with an A_CODE described as "Coral Patches in Bare Sand" or "Reef Rubble", which were not included in the compilation.
Selected "Hard Bottom" polygons from this data set. All relevant polygons were used. These polygons were reclassified as "Hardbottom".
"Coral" and "Rocky" polygons were selected from this data set. All relevant polygons were used. "Coral" polygons were reclassified as "Coral Reef" and "Rocky" polygons were reclassified as "Hardbottom".
"Reef" and "Both" (Reef and Sandwave) polygons were selected from this data set. All relevant polygons were used. All selected polygons were reclassified as "Hardbottom".
Selected "Hard Banks" from this data set. In areas of overlap with middle_ground_1979_reef, benthic_flbay_2004, benthic south_fl, benthic_fl_keys_usgs, and benthic_fktr_2004, the other, more recent data sources were used. This data set was so coarse, in nearshore areas where other studies were uninterpretable, this data set was not used to fill gaps. All selected polygons were reclassified as "Hardbottom".
"Hard Bottom" and "Probable Hard Bottom" polygons were selelcted from this data set. In areas of overlap with benthic_broward_2004, benthic_palmbeach_2004, benthic_biscayne_2005, and benthic_south_fl, the other more recent data sources were used. The data classification was preserved in the compilation.
"Hard Bottom" and "Probable Hard Bottom" polygons were selelcted from this data set. In areas of overlap with any other source data set, any grid polygon from this data set that touched a polygon from another, more detailed, source data set was removed from this compilation to avoid overlap. The data classification was preserved in the compilation.
"Aggregate Patch Reefs", "Aggregate Reef", "Individual Patch Reef", and "Spur and Groove" polygons were reclassified as "Coral Reef". "Pavement" polygons were reclassified as "Hardbottom".
"Aggregate Patch Reefs", "Aggregate Reef", "Individual Patch Reef", and "Spur and Groove" polygons were reclassified as "Coral Reef". "Pavement" polygons were reclassified as "Hardbottom".
FWRI staff added four attributes to each data set: SOURCEDATE - year(s) of source photography. METADATA - the information in this field will be populated with a link to the metadata for the source data set that the polygon came from once the source metadata is online. Currently it is the source data set name that can be used to reference the source metadata. DESCRIPT - is the description of the polygon type as reclassified from the source data attributes (see Source Contributions). Staff used the most recent information for an area. Staff determined the most recent information by creating footprints of all source polygons, minus any large land polygons and uninterpreted areas. Staff used these footprints with the ArcGIS Toolbox 9.3 command "erase" to eliminate areas of overlap from older source data sets. In some areas the erase function resulted in sliver polygons due to different studies using different shorelines or study boundaries. Staff manually deleted these slivers after the "erase". Once all the data were "erased" in preparation, staff "merged" all of the data into a single geodatabase feature class. Running a topology resulted in 14 overlaps, which were present in the SEAMAP source data. These overlaps were only slivers and were corrected in this compilation. If an area was uninterpreted within a more recent study, but interpreted in an older study, then the older study was used. Sliver polygons are present and are due to preserving the "Source" attribute, due to different mapped areas for overlapping studies, or they were present in the original source data sets.
Dataset copied.
Metadata imported.
Dataset copied.
Dataset copied.
Internal feature number.
ESRI
Feature geometry.
ESRI
Description of polygon habitat type as reclassified from the source data.
FWRI
Areas containing live coral.
FWRI
Low relief consolidated limestone structures. Hardbottom areas may contain live coral, but not necessarily. Also included in this class are worm reefs on the east coast of Florida.
FWRI
Probable Hardbottom identified in the SEAMAP Bottom Mapping Project.
FWRI
Areas where both seagrass and hardbottom are present. Seagrass density is not included in this file.
FWRI
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
100 Eighth Avenue Southeast
This data set is in the public domain, and the recipient may not assert any proprietary rights thereto nor represent it to anyone as other than a FWC-FWRI produced data set; it is provided "as-is" without warranty of any kind, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The user assumes all responsibility for the accuracy and suitability of this data set for a specific application. In no event will the staff of the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute be liable for any damages, including lost profits, lost savings, or other incidental or consequential damages arising from the use of or the inability to use this data set.
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Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
100 Eighth Avenue Southeast