Florida Freshwater and Tidal Stream Fish Distribution Mapping: Phase I - Panhandle

North America contains the greatest temperate freshwater biodiversity on Earth. The United States in particular is home to 10% of all freshwater fish species, 30% of all freshwater mussels, and 61% of all freshwater crayfish that have been described worldwide. However, this diversity is disappearing at an alarming rate (Sowa et al. 1994, Jelks et al. 2008). The objectives of this project were to create predictive species distribution models for at least 25 species of fish documented to occur in the freshwater streams of Florida's Panhandle. Modeling potential species habitat is an increasingly important tool for ecology, conservation, invasive species management, and climate change research (Pearson 2007). DesktopGARP was used to search for non-random associations between 20 environmental characteristics of localities of known occurrence versus those of the overall study region. The potential habitat ranges of 55 species of fish known to occur in Florida's panhandle region were mapped. Overall, GARP was able to predict the location of the validation points with acceptable accuracy (80% or better). This research can be used as a guide for mapping all of the freshwater fish occurring throughout Florida, as well as freshwater invertebrates such as mussels and crayfish. These maps will be valuable in increasing the long-term capacity for conservation and management of multiple freshwater fish and invertebrate species, aid in decision making regarding water and surrounding land acquisitions, aid in monitoring species and habitats, and aid in the coordination and integration of conservation efforts at the stream segment, landscape and regional levels.