St. Lucie & Martin counties 1990-1993 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 extends from northern St. Lucie County south through Martin County to northern Palm Beach County. In St. Lucie, the area began just south of the Indian river County line, covered Ft. Pierce Inlet and Ft. Pierce Power Plant and extended southward through the Indian River Lagoon and Intracoastal Waterway. In Martin County, the area extended southward including St. Lucie Inlet and St. Lucie River (both the North and South forks) and Hope and Jupiter sounds, ending at the Jupiter Inlet in northern Palm Beach County.FWC及其他机构的海洋哺乳动物生物学家采用航空分布调查方法，以探明海牛的季节性分布格局。绝大多数调查由小型四座高翼飞机（塞斯纳172或182型）执行，飞行高度为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。调查将沿标准化理论航线飞行，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生境。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航迹线数据。调查区域北起圣露西县（St. Lucie County）北部，向南经马丁县（Martin County）延伸至棕榈滩县（Palm Beach County）北部。在圣露西县境内，调查区域始于印第安河县界以南，覆盖皮尔斯堡水道与皮尔斯堡发电厂，向南经印第安河潟湖与海岸内陆航道延伸。在马丁县境内，调查区域向南覆盖圣露西水道、圣露西河（含南北两支）以及霍普湾与木星湾，最终终止于棕榈滩县北部的木星水道。