Data Management Plan

This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for seagrass, coral reef, hard-bottom communities, and deep-sea coral for East Florida. Vector polygons in this data set represent seagrass, coral, and hard-bottom community distribution. Species specific abundance, seasonality, status, life history, and source information are stored in relational data tables (described below) designed to be used in conjunction with this spatial data layer. This data set comprises a portion of the ESI data for Florida. ESI data characterize the marine and coastal environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil. The ESI data include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources. Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) is more properly known as 'Sensitivity of Coastal Habitats and Wildlife to Spilled Oil' Atlases. The term 'ESI' is often used in reference to the whole dataset, but the term 'ESI' is really a reference to the classification system of shoreline types known as Environmental Sensitivity Index, that classifies a shoreline on a scale from 1 to 10 based upon overall sensitivity to spilled oil. FWRI contracted out updates for the East Florida ESI area of interest, with the exception of Human Use data, in 2019. These datasets were delivered as feature classes in overlapping-polygon format following the NOAA ESI Data Standard. The East Florida ESI data format is consistent with the previously delivered ESI data.

Lineage Statement:
The above digital and/or hardcopy sources were compiled by the project biologist to create the BENTHIC data layer. Depending on the type of source data, three general approaches are used for compiling the data layer: 1) information gathered during initial interviews and from hardcopy sources are compiled onto U.S. Geological Survey 1:24,000 topographic quadrangles and digitized; 2) hardcopy maps are digitized at their source scale; 3) digital data layers are evaluated and used "as is" or integrated with the hardcopy data sources. See the Lineage section for additional information on the type of source data for this data layer. The ESI, biology, and human-use data are compiled into the standard ESI digital data format. A second set of interviews with participating resource experts are conducted to review the compiled data. If necessary, edits to the BENTHIC data layer are made based on the recommendations of the resource experts, and final hardcopy maps and digital data are created.

Process Steps:

• 2020-03-01 00:00:00 - Two main sources of data were used to depict benthic habitats distribution and seasonality for this data layer: 1) digital survey and model data from NOAA, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), St. Johns River Water Management District, and Loxahatchee River District, and 2) personal interviews with resource experts. Deep sea coral habitat – Predictive models showing habitat suitability for 18 species of deep-sea corals were provided by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. All species were combined and mapped as ‘deep sea coral’ in the ESI atlas. Areas that had a ‘high’ or ‘very high’ likelihood of containing deepwater corals are combined into the ESI concentration ‘highly likely’. Areas that are categorized as having ‘medium-low’ to ‘medium’ likelihood are combined into the ESI concentration ‘potential’. The species aggregated as ‘deep sea corals’ include Lophelia pertusa, Madrepora spp., Madracis spp., Callogorgia spp., Bebryce spp., Hypnogorgia spp., the families Ellisellidae, Gorgoniidae, Paramuriceidae, Plexauridae, the orders Alcyonacea, Scleractinia (except Oculina spp.), and Antipatharia. (Citation: FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION - FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH INSTITUTE)
• 2020-03-01 00:00:00 - Additionally, coral points from the NOAA Deep Sea Coral Database were mapped as 500 m buffered polygons. Only coral points from the same taxa as those from the predictive model were included in the atlas, and points that had accuracies greater than 1000 m or had survey dates older than 50 years were excluded. Nearshore coral habitat – Nearshore coral habitat was provided by FWC as part of their Unified Reef Map v2.0. All classes in the Unified Reef Map that corresponded to some kind of coral or hardbottom habitat were included. In an effort to simplify the classifications, some of the Unified Reef Map classes were aggregated into single ESI classifications. These groupings are listed as follows, with ESI classification listed first, followed by each ESI classification's Unified Reef Map classes: coral patch reef: individual or aggregated patch reef; aggregate reef: aggregate reef, spur and groove; hardbottom reef: ridge, colonized pavement; scattered coral and rock: scattered coral/rock. Acropora and Orbicella corals – Corals that are listed with state or federal protection statuses were mapped in the ESI. These include boulder star coral (Orbicella franksi, FT, ST), mountainous star coral (Orbicella faveolata, FT, ST), lobed star coral (Orbicella annularis, FT, ST), elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata, FT, ST), and staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis, FT, ST). The three Orbicella species were mapped as 50 m buffers around survey points using data provided by FWC as part of their Florida Reef Resilience Program's Disturbance Response Monitoring (2005-2018). Acropora palmata and A. cervicornis were mapped as Acropora spp. in the ESI using data from FWC’s Acropora Priority Sites dataset. Seagrass – Seagrasses are a vitally important habitat within the estuaries and bays of Florida, forming the basis of a rich, diverse, and incredibly productive ecosystem. There are three species of seagrass that are most abundant within the purview of the East Florida ESI: Shoal grass (Halodule wrightii), turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum), and manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme). Additionally, three other species are found sparsely, and primarily in the Indian River Lagoon: star grass (Halophila engelmannii), paddle grass (Halophila decipiens), and Johnson’s seagrass (Halophila johnsonii). The most significant seagrass beds are found in the Indian River Lagoon, which suffered significant die-offs in 2011 due to deadly algal blooms but have seen recovery in recent years. In order to capture the potential recovery of these important habitats, a compilation of five years of mapping data (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017) was used, with concentrations of ‘continuous’ and ‘patchy’ indicating areas with greater than 50% coverage of seagrass and areas with less than 50% coverage, respectively. South of Indian River Lagoon, seagrass was mapped from a compilation dataset provided by FWC, in which mapped seagrass reflects data from the most recent survey for any given area, spanning surveys dates from 2007 to 2015. Johnson’s seagrass – Johnson’s seagrass (FT, ST) was mapped from three data sources: the NOAA designated critical habitat, expert knowledge of seagrass range, and survey maps produced by the Loxahatchee River District. Note that surveys for Johnson’s seagrass are not comprehensive and that any seagrass beds south of the mouth of Turkey Creek in Palm Bay in the Indian River Lagoon have the potential to contain Johnson’s seagrass. (Citation: FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION - FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH INSTITUTE)
• 2020-03-01 00:00:00 - The above digital and/or hardcopy sources were compiled by the project biologist to create the BENTHIC data layer. Depending on the type of source data, three general approaches are used for compiling the data layer: 1) information gathered during initial interviews and from hardcopy sources are compiled onto U.S. Geological Survey 1:24,000 topographic quadrangles and digitized; 2) hardcopy maps are digitized at their source scale; 3) digital data layers are evaluated and used "as is" or integrated with the hardcopy data sources. See the Lineage section for additional information on the type of source data for this data layer. The ESI, biology, and human-use data are compiled into the standard ESI digital data format. A second set of interviews with participating resource experts are conducted to review the compiled data. If necessary, edits to the BENTHIC data layer are made based on the recommendations of the resource experts, and final hardcopy maps and digital data are created. (Citation: FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION - FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH INSTITUTE)

Data can be accessed by downloading the zipped ArcGIS geodatabase from the Download URL (see Distribution Information). Questions can be directed to the ESI Program Manager (Point Of Contact).