Western Pinellas County 2008-2010 Manatee Distribution Survey Theoretical Flight Path

Aerial distribution surveys are used by marine mammal biologists from FWC and other agencies to determine the seasonal distribution of manatees. Most surveys are conducted from small, four-seat, high-winged airplanes (Cessna 172 or 182) flying at a height of 500-1000 ft at a speed of 70-90 kts. Small helicopters may be used instead of fixed wing aircraft in urban areas or where waters are particularly opaque and hovering may be required. Surveys are flown along a standardized, theoretical flight route, which was designed to cover all likely manatee habitats in the study area. This "theoretical flight path" indicates the area that was covered during each survey, but it may not be the actual flight route flown on every survey. GPS tracklines recorded during surveys may be available for some flights. The survey area includes western Pinellas County along the Gulf of Mexico coast from Fort DeSoto north to the Pinellas/Pasco County border.来自佛罗里达鱼类和野生动物保护委员会（FWC）及其他机构的海洋哺乳动物生物学家，会借助航空分布调查来探明海牛的季节性分布范围。绝大多数调查采用四座高翼小型飞机（赛斯纳172或182）开展，飞行高度设定为500至1000英尺，飞行速度为70至90节。在城市区域或水域透明度极低、需要悬停作业的场景中，可改用小型直升机替代固定翼飞机。调查沿标准化的理论飞行航线开展，该航线的设计初衷是覆盖研究区域内所有潜在的海牛栖息地。这条“理论飞行航线”标示了每次调查所覆盖的区域，但实际执行的飞行路线未必与之一致。部分飞行任务会留存调查期间记录的GPS航迹数据。本次调查区域涵盖墨西哥湾沿岸的皮尼拉斯县西部区域，范围从德索托堡向北延伸至皮尼拉斯县与帕斯科县的交界地带。