Name: Indian River, Brevard and St. Lucie counties 1985-1987 Manatee Distribution Survey Theoretical Flight Path
Display Field: Id
Type: Feature Layer
Geometry Type: esriGeometryPolyline
Description: 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. This survey was flown as part of a larger study that includede six east coast counties divided into five survey segments from north to south; Indian River, southern Brevard and St. Lucie counties were within segment 4. This area includes S. Indian River Lagoon and each inlet to the Atlantic Ocean, but the Atlantic shoreline was not surveyed.
Service Item Id: 1ce138b6d75b4cd983ca1295597b81de
Copyright Text: The flight path was developed and digitized by FWC staff.