East Panhandle 2019-2023 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. Flight paths curved parallel to the shoreline, and the airplane circled when manatees were spotted until a count of the number of animals in each group was obtained. Circling was limited to 3 passes unless a group was unusually large and aerial photos were used in some cases to confirm counts. Sightings data were recorded on paper maps and entered into a GIS shapefile for spatial analysis using NAIP 2019 imagery and recorded flight paths as a reference. GIS is a computer software system for representing data spatially and for conducting spatial analyses. This dataset includes data from 38 surveys. FWC staff members were primary observers for these flights, and dual observers (two observers, one in the front seat and one in the rear seat) were present on some or all of survey flights. The survey area includes the eastern panhandle of Florida from the Aucilla River to Lake Wimico.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，会通过航空分布调查来确定海牛的季节性分布范围。绝大多数调查采用小型四座高翼飞机（塞斯纳172或182）开展，飞行高度为500至1000英尺，飞行速度为70至90节。飞行航线呈平行于海岸线的弧形，当发现海牛时，飞机将盘旋直至完成对每一群海牛个体数量的计数。盘旋通场次数限定为3次，除非海牛群规模异常庞大；部分场景下还会借助航空照片辅助确认计数结果。目击数据最初记录于纸质地图，随后被录入地理信息系统（GIS）形状文件（shapefile），以2019年美国国家农业影像计划（NAIP）影像及已存档的飞行航线作为参考开展空间分析。地理信息系统（GIS）是一类可实现数据空间化呈现并开展空间分析的计算机软件系统。本数据集共包含38次调查的相关数据。本次飞行的主观察员均为FWC工作人员，部分或全部调查航班还配备了双观察员——即前排座椅与后排座椅各设置一名观察员。调查区域覆盖佛罗里达州东部狭长地带，范围从奥奇拉河延伸至威米科湖。