Flagler & St. Johns counties 2005-2007 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 included the Bulow Creek in Volusia County, Atlantic Coast, Intracoastal Waterway of Flagler and St. Johns Counties.来自佛罗里达鱼类与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，通过航空分布调查确定海牛的季节分布规律。绝大多数调查采用四座小型高翼飞机（赛斯纳172或182型）执行，飞行高度设定为500至1000英尺，飞行速度为70至90节。在城市区域或水体透明度极低、需要悬停作业的场景中，可使用小型直升机替代固定翼飞机开展调查。所有调查均沿标准化理论航线执行，该航线旨在覆盖研究区域内所有潜在的海牛栖息地。此‘理论飞行路径’标注了每次调查所覆盖的区域，但实际执行的飞行航线未必与该理论航线完全一致。部分飞行任务可获取调查期间记录的GPS航迹数据。本次调查区域涵盖沃卢西亚县布卢沃溪、大西洋沿岸，以及弗拉格勒县与圣约翰斯县境内的海岸内陆水道。