Systematic Mapping of Bedrock and Habitats along the Florida Reef Tract - Central Key Largo to Halfmoon Shoal (Gulf of Mexico): GIS Data

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Systematic Mapping of Bedrock and Habitats along the Florida Reef Tract - Central Key Largo to Halfmoon Shoal (Gulf of Mexico): GIS Data
Abstract:
The fragile coral reefs of the Florida Keys form the largest living coral reef ecosystem in the continental United States. Lining the shallow outer shelf approximately 5 to 7 km seaward of the keys, the reefs have national aesthetic and resource value. As recently as the 1970s, the coral reefs were the heart of a vibrant ecosystem. Since then, the health of all ecosystem components has declined markedly due to a variety of environmental stressors. Corals are succumbing to bleaching and diseases. Species that are the building blocks of solid reef framework are increasingly being replaced by species that do not construct reef framework. Algal proliferation is increasing competition for space and hard surfaces needed by coral larvae for settlement. Decline of the coral reef ecosystem has significant negative implications for economic vitality of the region, ranging from viability of the tourism industry attracted by the aesthetics to commercial fisheries drawn by the resources. At risk of loss are biologic habitats and reef resources, including interconnected habitats for endangered species in shoreline mangroves, productive nearshore marine and wetland nurseries, and economic offshore fisheries.
In 1997, the U.S. Geological Survey's Coastal and Marine Geology Program undertook a comprehensive 7-year-long mission to consolidate, synthesize, and map new (1997) and existing geologic and biologic information into a digitized regional database and one-volume reference source on the geologic history of the Florida Keys reef tract (this report). The project was conducted in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Sanctuary Program. The purpose was to examine the natural evolution and demise of several coral reef ecosystems over the past 325,000 years, with an eye toward gaining a better understanding of the cause of the reef decline observed today. Scientific data and datasets presented in this report are intended for use by others in ongoing efforts to delineate which components of reef decline in the Florida Keys may be natural and which may be a result of human activities.
Please see the following citations for more information: Systematic Mapping of Bedrock and Habitats along the Florida Reef Tract - Central Key Largo to Halfmoon Shoal (Gulf of Mexico) <http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/2007/1751/>
Environmental Quality and Preservation - Mapping benthic ecosystems and environments in the Florida Keys <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1002/report.pdf>
Environmental Quality and Preservation - Reefs, corals, and carbonate sands: guides to reef-ecosystem health and environments <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-164/>
Supplemental_Information:
The report associated with these data was published in 2007; however, the geospatial data were not published at this time. Requests for these data prompted metadata documentation and publication. Therefore, whereas these data are published in 2012 in geodatabase format, the data nor the 2007 report have not been updated with any additional surveys or information.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Lidz, B.H., Reich, C.A., and Shinn, E.A., 2012, Systematic Mapping of Bedrock and Habitats along the Florida Reef Tract - Central Key Largo to Halfmoon Shoal (Gulf of Mexico): GIS Data: Professional Paper 2007-1751, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, FL.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -82.618261
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -80.243708
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 25.207999
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.288583

  3. What does it look like?

    <http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/2007/1751/professional-paper/intro-images/bedrockLG.gif> (GIF)
    Map of digital vector data: Pleistocene bedrock surface along the Florida reef tract
    <http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/2007/1751/professional-paper/intro-images/sed-thicknessLG.gif> (GIF)
    Map of digital vector data: Holocene Sediment Thickness along the Florida reef tract
    <http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/2007/1751/professional-paper/intro-images/benthic-ecosystemsLG.gif> (GIF)
    Map of digital vector data: Benthic Ecosystems and Environments along the Florida reef tract

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Calendar_Date: 2012
    Time_of_Day: Unknown
    Currentness_Reference: Publication date of the GIS data

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • G-polygon (746)

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
      Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
      UTM_Zone_Number: 17
      Transverse_Mercator:
      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -81.000000
      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.000000
      False_Easting: 500000.000000
      False_Northing: 0.000000

      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000100
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000100
      Planar coordinates are specified in meters

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1927.
      The ellipsoid used is Clarke 1866.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378206.400000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/294.978698.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    Depth_Pleistocene_Bedrock
    Depth to Pleistocene bedrock surface along the Florida reef tract (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

    OBJECTID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    Shape_Length
    Length of feature in internal units. (Source: ESRI)

    Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

    Shape_Area
    Area of feature in internal units squared. (Source: ESRI)

    Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

    DEPTH
    Depth to Pleistocene bedrock. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:331
    Units:meters

    Reef_Sediment_Thickness
    Holocene sediment thickness along the Florida reef tract (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

    OBJECTID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    Shape_Length
    Length of feature in internal units. (Source: ESRI)

    Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

    Shape_Area
    Area of feature in internal units squared. (Source: ESRI)

    Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

    Thickness
    Holocene sediment thickness. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:46
    Units:meters

    Benthic_Ecosystem
    Benthic ecosystems and environments along the Florida reef tract (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

    OBJECTID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    Shape_Length
    Length of feature in internal units. (Source: ESRI)

    Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

    Shape_Area
    Area of feature in internal units squared. (Source: ESRI)

    Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

    BENTHIC_HA
    Benthic habitat classification (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

    The text name of the marine habitat classification.

    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    Geospatial data include descriptive and interpretive digitized maps that provide geologic and biologic baseline datasets for that part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary that extends from Key Largo to Halfmoon Shoal in the Gulf of Mexico. Detailed descriptions of benthic habitat classifications can be found within the detailed citation, here: <http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/2007/1751/professional-paper/benthic-ecosystems.html>
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
    Lidz, B.H., Reich, C.D., and Shinn, E.A., 2007, Systematic mapping of bedrock and habitats along the Florida reef tract: Central Key Largo to Halfmoon Shoal (Gulf of Mexico). U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1751 (DVD) and online at <http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/2007/1751>.
    See Also:
    Lidz, B.H., Shinn, E.A., Hudson, J.H., Multer, H.G., Halley, R.B., and Robbin, D.M., 2008, Controls on late Quaternary coral reefs of the Florida Keys, p. 9-74 in Riegl, B.M., and Dodge, R.E., (eds.), Coral Reefs of the World Vol. 1, Coral Reefs of the USA: Springer Science + Business Media B.V., Berlin, 803 p.
    Lidz, B.H., Reich, C.D., Peterson, R.L., and Shinn, E.A., 2006, New maps, new information: Coral reefs of the Florida Keys: Journal of Coastal Research, v. 22, no. 2, p. 61-83.
    Lidz, B.H., 2006, Pleistocene corals of the Florida Keys: Architects of imposing reefs‹Why? Journal of Coastal Research, v. 22, no. 4, p. 750-759.
    Lidz, B.H., Hine, A.C., Shinn, E.A., and Kindinger, J.L., 1991, Multiple outer-reef tracts along the South Florida bank margin: Outlier reefs, a new windward-margin model: Geology, v. 19, p. 115-118.
    Lidz, B.H., Shinn, E.A., Hine, A.C., and Locker, S.D., 1997, Contrasts within an outlier-reef system: Evidence for differential Quaternary evolution, South Florida windward margin, U.S.A.: Journal of Coastal Research, v. 13, no. 3, p. 711-731.

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Barbara H. Lidz
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Research Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL 33701
    USA

    727-803-8747 (voice)
    727-803-2030 (FAX)
    blidz@usgs.gov

    Hours_of_Service: 8:00AM - 5:00PM
    Contact_Instructions: Preferred contact method is electronic mail.

Why was the data set created?

To provide a synthesis of biologic and geologic data for the Florida reef tract, including depth to Pleistocene bedrock, thickness of Holocene sediments, and benthic habitat classification.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    1975_aerials (source 1 of 5)
    Florida Department of Transportation, 1975, 1975 Aerial photography: Florida Department of Transportation, Tallahassee, FL.

    Type_of_Source_Media: imagery
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 48000
    Source_Contribution:
    Aerial imagery was used to interpret types of seafloor environments.

    1992_aerials (source 2 of 5)
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1992, 1991 & 1992 Aerial photography: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, Md.

    Type_of_Source_Media: imagery
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 48000
    Source_Contribution:
    Aerial imagery was used to interpret types of seafloor environments.

    EPA_atlas (source 3 of 5)
    Agency, Environmental Protection , 1983, Florida Keys Seagrass and Coral Reef Inventory, v. 2, Sombrero Key to Marquesas Rock, February 1982: Report prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Minerals Management Service under Contract No. 68-03-3049: Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, NV.

    Type_of_Source_Media: Map
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 48000
    Source_Contribution: Interpretation of seafloor environments.

    seismics (source 4 of 5)
    Peery, G.M. et al., 2002, Archive of seismic reflection data collected during USGS cruise 97KEY01, upper and middle Florida Keys, 12 October-1 November 1997: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-421: Open-File Report 02-421, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, FL.

    Type_of_Source_Media: DVD
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 24000
    Source_Contribution:
    Seismic geophysical data provided the bedrock-surface data and the primary overlying reef and sediment thickness (isopatch) data source. This survey was combined with four other seismic surveys, which are largely unpublished data. Small sections of these seismic surveys have been published within the references cited in the Entity and Attribute Detail Citation.

    Enos (source 5 of 5)
    Enos, 1977, Holocene sediment accumulations of the South Florida shelf margin: Geological Society of America Memoir 147.

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Enos, P., 1977, Holocene sediment accumulations of the South Florida shelf margin, pt. I, in Enos, P., and Perkins, R.D., eds., Quaternary Sedimentation in South Florida: Geological Society of America Memoir 147, p. 1-130.
    Type_of_Source_Media: Hard-copy Print
    Source_Contribution:
    Publication provided supplemental information on Holocene sediment thcikness for the Florida reef tract.

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: 2007 (process 1 of 1)
    Five seismic surveys were merged to produce the most contiguous seismic coverage available in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Bedrock-surface and sediment-thickness data were read from the seismic records at 5-min intervals. These data provided distances (depths) from the water surface to the images or reflections marking the bedrock and sediment surfaces in milliseconds. Where significant changes in depth to bedrock or sediment thickness occurred between the 5-min intervals, readings were taken at shorter intervals. Seafloor-surface depth, bedrock depth, and sediment/reef thickness in milliseconds were then converted to depths in meters in an Excel spreadsheet. Isolated data on bedrock depth below sea level, interpolated from non-geolocated maps of Enos (1977, scale 1:80,645), supplemented the merged bedrock dataset. Data points on the final integrated datasets were then contoured manually with the aid of prior field knowledge and aerial photomosaics that provided visual clues regarding geomorphic shapes and trends. Coral and sediment cores and radiometric dating were used as supplemental evidence to determine bedrock depth and age, and Holocene thickness. Benthic features/ecosystems were primarily derived from aerial photomosaics. Mosaics were assembled by cropping 67 black-and-white overlapping frames of photos (1:48,000) taken in 1991 and 1992 by the National Ocean Service (NOS/NOAA/National Geodetic Survey) for the purpose of mapping shorelines along the Florida Keys. These mosaics supplemented those taken in 1975 by the Florida Department of Transportation to evaluate anthropogenic changes in the Keys. The 1975 photos were used in the published photomosaic study. Interpretation of the new photomosaics was supported where necessary with color photos taken in 1983 for an inventory of seagrass and coral reef coverage by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA volume available to this project covered the reef tract from Sombrero Key south of Vaca Key to just west of Cosgrove Shoal, located south-southwest of the Marquesas Keys in the Gulf of Mexico.

    Data sources used in this process:

    • seismics
    • Enos
    • 1992_aerials
    • 1975_aerials
    • EPA_atlas

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • Depth_Pleistocene_Bedrock
    • Reef_Sediment_Thickness
    • Benthic_Ecosystem

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    Attributes were checked against available data, reports, and supplemental information and reflect substantiated geologic and biotic interpretations.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    Digital data were compiled using source data at a scale of 1:48,000 and are not intended to be used at a larger (greater detail) scale. Positional accuracy of the seismic surveys from which most of the interpretations are based is +/-100 meters.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

    Vertical data related to depth and thickness of sedimentary layers are relative to sea level. Estimates of accuracy for the seismic data (the primary source of vertical data) have not been determined. These data should not be used for bathymetry.

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    Data layers are complete. No data were intentionally omitted. Several data layers from the report titled "Sedimentary Grains from 1989" are not available in digital vector format and are not included in this geodatabase, but they have been published at <http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/ofr/97-453/>.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    Coral and sediment cores and radiometric dating were used as supplemental evidence to determine bedrock depth and age, and Holocene thickness. And extensive field knowledge of the three authors as well as the aerial photomosaics was employed in classification of benthic habitats.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
The U.S. Geological Survey and Florida Geological Survey (FGS) request to be acknowledged as originators of the data in future products or derivative research. This digital publication was prepared by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed in this report, or represents that its use would not infringe on privately owned rights. Reference therein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. Any views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Although all data published in this report have been used by the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the U.S. Geological Survey as to the accuracy of the data and related materials and/or the functioning of the software. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in the use of there data, software, or related materials. Graphical map depictions are intended to be used within the map scale limits applicable to the source data. Although software enables the user to view data at various scales, the user is cautioned to refer to the source documentation for the appropriate map scale limitations.

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    U.S. Geological Survey
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL 33701
    USA

    727-803-8747 (voice)
    727-803-2030 (FAX)
    blidz@usgs.gov

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1751

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    This digital publication was prepared by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed in this report, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference therein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. Any views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Although all data published in this report have been used by the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the U.S. Geological Survey as to the accuracy of the data and related materials and/or the functioning of the software. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in the use of these data, software, or related materials. Graphical map depictions are intended to be used within the map scale limits applicable to the source data. Although software enables the user to view data at various scales, the user is cautioned to refer to the source documentation for the appropriate map scale limitations.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

  5. Is there some other way to get the data?

    For those who wish to order this publication on Disc, call 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747), visit <http://ask.usgs.gov>, contact any USGS Earth Science Information Center (ESIC), or write:
    USGS Information Services Box 25286 Denver, CO 80225

  6. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

    ArcGIS Desktop 9.X or higher is required to open the file geodatabase.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified:
Last Reviewed:
Metadata author:
Kathryn Smith
U.S. Geological Survey
Ecologist
600 4th Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
USA

727-803-8747 (voice)
727-803-2030 (FAX)
kelsmith@usgs.gov

Hours_of_Service: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Contact_Instructions: Electronic mail is preferred method of contact
Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
Metadata extensions used:

Generated by mp version 2.9.15 on Mon Jun 25 07:55:51 2012