operations. These include monitoring the wetlands by periodically updating a random sample of 
3650 4-sq mi sample plots. This is done with the use of aerial photography to measure land 
changes over time. In addition, the Fish and Wildlife Service has determined additional 
information is needed to assess wetland acreage trends in key regions of the country. More 
accurate regionalized trend data are being produced for the Gulf and Atlantic coastal flats, the 
Great Lakes watershed, the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Plain, and the Prairie Pothole Region. 
Specialized study areas or ’Hot Spots' of wetland loss are further identified. These are areas 
where wetland changes can be detected and analyzed for discrete geographical units (usually 
counties). Collier County is currently being studied. There are a number of crosscutting tasks 
relating to status and trends work. Some of these tasks include: developing projection 
methodologies and modeling; database development and maintenance; GIS development; 
remotely sensed image acquisition and analysis; USGS topographic maps; NOAA charts; soil 
surveys; and other data.^ 
9.1.4.3. Ecological Services 
Although the Ecological Services Vero Beach Field Office does not generate large amounts of 
data, the organization uses existing data to document distribution of wildlife, produce simple 
habitat use models for wildlife, review impact of proposed development or restoration projects 
on species of wildlife and ecosystems in general. A variety of derived data that vary in 
precision is used. Species distribution/habitat use models are probabilistic in nature and their 
use to predict impact is dependent on sampling methodology, scope of search, precision of 
measurements, and biology of the species.^ 
9.1.5. National Biological Survey 
Land cover maps are being created statewide by the National Biological Survey (NBS) Florida 
Biological Diversity Project to serve as a base for modeling potential habitat and species- 
richness of terrestrial vertebrates and butterflies. The spatially-explicit species-richness 
coverages are being compared to coverages of lands owned for conservation purposes to locate 
gaps in biodiversity protection. Land cover is being mapped from classification of Landsat 
satellite imagery at 30 m resolution. The hierarchical classification scheme is a modification of 
the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) scheme. Faunal distributions and habitat 
associations are being compiled from museum records, literature, and expert consultation. 
Spatial GIS models of potential habitat of each species are being constructed and will be used in 
overlays to generate maps of species richness. Spatial resolution of the faunal maps will vary 
depending on the appropriate scale for the individual species.* 
9.1.6. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
9.1.6.1. National Ocean Service 
9.1.6.1.1. Tide gauges 
The tide station locations in Florida Bay were retrieved from the Tides Automated Login and 
Retrieval System (TALARS) and are listed in Table 17 (M. Gibson, NOAA/NOS, Silver Spring, 
MD, personal communication, 1994). Some historic sites have not been listed yet in TALARS. 
The data typically available for these stations are: times and heights of high and low tides, 
hourly heights, 6-min heights, summary information (monthly tidal extremes and other 
^ T. E. Dahl, US Fish and Wildlife Service, 9720 Executive Center Dr., Ste 101, St. Petersburg, FL 33702. 
A R. Pace, USFWS, P.O. Box 2676, Vero Beach, FL 32962. 407 562 3909. 
L. Pearlstine, Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, P.O. Box 110450, Gainesville, FL 32611-0450. 904 392 
1861. 
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