Wakulla County 1994-1996 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 two major rivers in Wakulla County (Wakulla and St. Marks rivers), the nearby Gulf coast waters, and Spring Creek. The study area is confined to the lower 23 km of the St. Marks River beginning at the St. Marks Spring. The study area also includes open Gulf of Mexico waters from the St. Marks River west to Spring Creek.来自FWC（佛罗里达鱼类与野生动物保护委员会）及其他机构的海洋哺乳动物生物学家，会通过航空分布调查确定海牛的季节性分布格局。多数调查采用四座小型上单翼飞机（塞斯纳172或182，Cessna 172/182）开展，飞行高度为500至1000英尺，航速维持在70至90节。在城市区域、水体透明度极低或需要悬停作业的场景中，可使用小型直升机替代固定翼航空器。调查沿标准化理论航线实施，该航线的设计目标是覆盖研究区域内所有潜在的海牛栖息地。该"理论飞行路径"划定了单次调查的覆盖范围，但实际执行的飞行航线未必与理论航线完全一致。部分飞行任务的调查过程中，会留存调查期间记录的GPS航迹线数据。调查区域涵盖沃库拉县（Wakulla County）境内的两条主要河流——沃库拉河（Wakulla River）与圣马克斯河（St. Marks River）、邻近的墨西哥湾沿岸海域，以及斯普林克里克（Spring Creek）。研究范围限定为圣马克斯河从圣马克斯泉（St. Marks Spring）起始的下游23公里河段。研究区域同时涵盖圣马克斯河以西至斯普林克里克之间的墨西哥湾开阔海域。