Biscayne National Park map merge project
(Book - Regular Print)

Includes bibliographical references.

Biscayne National Park released a draft General Management Plan (GMP) in 2011 that identifies alternatives for future management prescriptions within the park. While these alternatives are focused on enhancing the condition of natural resources, each alternative will impact resources differently. The South Florida / Caribbean Network of the National Park Service (NPS) supported the GMP by quantifying levels of natural resource affected by each alternative presented. An accuracy evaluation of the inshore map produced by PhotoScience, Inc. in 2009 based on Braun-Blanquet histograms and remote sensing data revealed that, with some basic modifications, the map is 86.5 % and 78.9% accurate respectively. This map was merged with an offshore benthic and a terrestrial vegetation map using ESRI ArcGIS v. 10 to produce a comprehensive map for the park. A geospatial analysis based on the final product provided the area of coverage for major ecosystems present in the park. The map was also used to calculate the area of specific habitats impacted under the several alternatives presented in the GMP. The final product is a valuable tool for park managers and stakeholders. Geospatial comparisons with previous efforts can monitor ecosystem change and help develop appropriate management strategies to address present and future challenges.