Critical Habitat for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Distinct Population Segment of Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)

Metadata also available as

Metadata:

Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service's Office of Protected Resources
Publication_Date: 20140710
Title:
Critical Habitat for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Distinct Population Segment of Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: St. Petersburg, FL
Publisher:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
Online_Linkage: <http://myfwc.com/research/>
Description:
Abstract:
Critical habitat constitutes areas considered essential for the conservation of a listed species. These data identify, in general, the areas of critical habitat for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Distinct Population Segment of Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), providing notice to the public and managers of the importance of the areas to the conservation of this species. Special protections and/or restrictions are possible in areas where Federal funding, permits, licenses, authorizations, or actions occur or are required.
Purpose:
The purpose of these data is to visually represent the critical habitat areas for GIS analysis and display.
Supplemental_Information:
The spatial data contained herein and their associated coordinates are not the legal source for determining the critical habitat boundaries described in this dataset, but are used to identify areas which contain the physical and biological features essential to the conservation of the species or areas otherwise determined to be essential. Inherent in any dataset used to develop graphical representations, are limitations of accuracy as determined by, among others, the source, scale and resolution of the data. While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Fisheries Service has made every effort to represent the critical habitat data contained herein as completely and accurately as possible (given existing time and resource constraints), NOAA's Fisheries Service gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data. In addition, NOAA's Fisheries Services shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the spatial data described and/or contained herein. Graphical representations provided by the use of these data do not represent a legal description of the critical habitat boundary. The user is referred to the critical habitat textual description in the appropriate final rule for this species as published in the Federal Register. These data are to be used only in the context of the definition and purpose of critical habitat. This primarily relates to Section 7 consultation under the Endangered Species Act. These data may be used for planning and management purposes. They are not to be used for legal survey use. Please refer to Federal Register Citation Number Vol. 79, pg. 39855, published July 10, 2014 for the legal critical habitat information.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Single_Date/Time:
Calendar_Date: 20140710
Currentness_Reference: Publication date
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None Planned
Spatial_Domain:
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -98.809625
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.587090
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 38.435930
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 23.200901
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: Caretta caretta
Theme_Keyword: biota
Theme_Keyword: Loggerhead sea turtle
Theme_Keyword: critical habitat
Theme_Keyword: NOAA
Theme_Keyword: NMFS
Theme_Keyword: winter
Access_Constraints:
These data are unrestricted. Where possible, always acquire this dataset directly from NOAA: NMFS as other sources may have altered the original data.
Use_Constraints:
The spatial data contained herein and their associated coordinates are not the legal source for determining the critical habitat boundaries described in this dataset, but are used to identify areas which contain the physical and biological features essential to the conservation of the species or areas otherwise determined to be essential. Inherent in any dataset used to develop graphical representations, are limitations of accuracy as determined by, among others, the source, scale and resolution of the data. While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Fisheries Service has made every effort to represent the critical habitat data contained herein as completely and accurately as possible (given existing time and resource constraints), NOAA's Fisheries Service gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data. In addition, NOAA's Fisheries Services shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the spatial data described and/or contained herein. Graphical representations provided by the use of these data do not represent a legal description of the critical habitat boundary. The user is referred to the critical habitat textual description in the appropriate final rule for this species as published in the Federal Register. These data are to be used only in the context of the definition and purpose of critical habitat. This primarily relates to Section 7 consultation under the Endangered Species Act. These data may be used for planning and management purposes. They are not to be used for legal survey use. Please refer to Federal Register Citation Number Vol. 79, pg. 39855, published July 10, 2014 for the legal critical habitat information.
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service's Office of Protected Resources
Contact_Person: Jeffrey Adams
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing
Address: NOAA Fisheries Service
Address: Office of Protected Resources
City: Silver Spring
State_or_Province: MD
Postal_Code: 20910
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 301-427-8434
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Jeff.Adams@noaa.gov
Data_Set_Credit:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service's Office of Protected Resources
Native_Data_Set_Environment:
Microsoft Windows 7 Version 6.1 (Build 7601) Service Pack 1; Esri ArcGIS 10.2.2.3552
Data_Quality_Information:
Logical_Consistency_Report:
No integrity tests were completed by FWC staff. QA was assumed to be conducted by the source agency, NOAA: NMFS.
Completeness_Report:
No QA was conducted by FWC staff. The QC/QA was assumed to be completed by the source agency, NOAA: NMFS.
Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:
No QA was conducted by FWC staff. The QC/QA was assumed to be completed by the source agency, NOAA: NMFS.
Lineage:
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
The landward boundary and seaward boundaries of the winter habitat polygon are the 20 and 100 meter depth contours generated from 30 arc-second GEBCO bathymetry data, respectively. The landward boundary extends along the 20 meter contour from Cape Hatteras (35.27° N latitude) to Cape Fear (33.47° N latitude). The seaward boundary extends along the 100 meter contour from Cape Hatteras (35.27° N latitude) to 33.2° N latitude. To the north, the landward boundary is connected to the seaward boundary using a segment that extends due east at 35.27° N latitude. To the south, the landward boundary is connected to the seaward boundary using a segment that extends from the 20 meter contour at 33.47° N latitude, 77.58° W longitude to the 100 meter contour at 33.2° N latitude, 77.32° W longitude.
Process_Date: 20140710
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
The 5 feature classes representing Loggerhead Critical Habitat (breeding, constricted migratory, nearshore reproductive, sargassum, and winter) provided to FWC were MERGEd together into 1 dataset. Each of the original features were identified as to the originating feature class by a new field called "Type" which was populated with the categorization of the type of critical habitat.
Process_Date: 20140728
Process_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
Contact_Person: GISLibrarian
Contact_Position: GIS Data Librarian
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
Address: 100 Eighth Avenue Southeast
City: St. Petersburg
State_or_Province: Florida
Postal_Code: 33701
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 727-896-8626
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 727-893-1697
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: GISLibrarian@MyFWC.com
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:
Spatial_Reference_Information:
Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
Planar:
Map_Projection:
Map_Projection_Name: NAD 1983 2011 Florida GDL Albers
Albers_Conical_Equal_Area:
Standard_Parallel: 24.0
Standard_Parallel: 31.5
Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -84.0
Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 24.0
False_Easting: 400000.0
False_Northing: 0.0
Planar_Coordinate_Information:
Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair
Coordinate_Representation:
Abscissa_Resolution: 0.0001
Ordinate_Resolution: 0.0001
Planar_Distance_Units: meter
Geodetic_Model:
Horizontal_Datum_Name: D NAD 1983 2011
Ellipsoid_Name: GRS 1980
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.0
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222101
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Detailed_Description:
Entity_Type:
Entity_Type_Label: GIS.FWC.Loggerhead_InWater_CritHab_NMFS_fl_poly
Entity_Type_Definition:
Critical Habitat for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Distinct Population Segment of Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)
Entity_Type_Definition_Source: NOAA: NMFS
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: OBJECTID
Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.
Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: unit_num
Attribute_Definition: Critical habitat unit number.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service's Office of Protected Resources
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: text field
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Type
Attribute_Definition:
the reason that this polygonal area was identified as Critical Habitat
Attribute_Definition_Source:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service's Office of Protected Resources
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: Winter
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
We describe the physical and biological features (PBF) of winter habitat as warm water habitat south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina near the western edge of the Gulf Stream used by a high concentration of juveniles and adults during the winter months. Primary constituent elements (PCEs) that support this habitat are the following: (i) Water temperatures above 10° C from November through April; (ii) Continental shelf waters in proximity to the western boundary of the Gulf Stream; and (iii) Water depths between 20 and 100 meters.
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service's Office of Protected Resources
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: Sargassum
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
We describe the physical and biological features (PBF) of Sargassum habitat as developmental and foraging habitat for young loggerheads where surface waters form accumulations of floating material, especially Sargassum. Primary constituent elements (PCEs) that support this habitat are the following: (i) Convergence zones, surface-water downwelling areas, the margins of major boundary currents (Gulf Stream), and other locations where there are concentrated components of the Sargassum community in water temperatures suitable for the optimal growth of Sargassum and inhabitance of loggerheads; (ii) Sargassum in concentrations that support adequate prey abundance and cover; (iii) Available prey and other material associated with Sargassum habitat including, but not limited to, plants and cyanobacteria and animals native to the Sargassum community such as hydroids and copepods; and (iv) Sufficient water depth and proximity to available currents to ensure offshore transport (out of the surf zone), and foraging and cover requirements by Sargassum for post-hatchling loggerheads, i.e., >10 meters depth.
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service's Office of Protected Resources
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: Nearshore Reproductive
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
We describe the physical and biological features (PBF) of nearshore reproductive habitat as a portion of the nearshore waters adjacent to nesting beaches that are used by hatchlings to egress to the open-water environment as well as by nesting females to transit between beach and open water during the nesting season. Primary constituent elements (PCEs) that support this habitat are the following: (i) Nearshore waters directly off the highest density nesting beaches, as identified in 78 FR 43006, July 18, 2003, to 1.6 km (1 mile) offshore; (ii) Waters sufficiently free of obstructions or artificial lighting to allow transit through the surf zone and outward toward open water; and (iii) Waters with minimal man made structures that could promote predators (i.e., nearshore predator concentration caused by submerged and emergent offshore structures), disrupt wave patterns necessary for orientation, and/or create excessive longshore currents.
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service's Office of Protected Resources
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: Constricted Migratory
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
We describe the physical and biological features (PBF) of constricted migratory habitat as high use migratory corridors that are constricted (limited in width) by land on one side and the edge of the continental shelf and Gulf Stream on the other side. Primary constituent elements (PCEs) that support this habitat are the following: (i) Constricted continental shelf area relative to nearby continental shelf waters that concentrate migratory pathways; and (ii) Passage conditions to allow for migration to and from nesting, breeding, and/or foraging areas.
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service's Office of Protected Resources
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: Breeding
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
We describe the physical and biological features (PBF) of breeding habitat as sites with high densities of both male and female adult individuals during the breeding season. Primary constituent elements (PCEs) that support this habitat are the following: (i) High densities of reproductive male and female loggerheads; (ii) Proximity to primary Florida constricted migratory corridor; and (iii) Proximity to Florida nesting grounds.
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service's Office of Protected Resources
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Shape
Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.
Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Shape.area
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Shape.len
Distribution_Information:
Resource_Description: Downloadable Data
Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20140728
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
Metadata_Time_Convention: local time
Generated by mp version 2.9.12 on Fri Nov 08 16:14:26 2019