The MAP

• LARGE COPY--A large (48" x 18") copy of the boundary map, in color, and on high quality, glossy paper, is available for $12. (postage, handling, & FL sales tax included).--click here
• PRINT COPY--A jpg file (282X935 pixels) of Fig. 1a, Ridge Soils, that will fit on an 8.5" X 11" sheet of paper is available.--click here

The ARTICLE

• Weekley, C.W., E.S. Menges, and R.L Pickert. 2008. An ecological map of Florida’s Lake Wales Ridge: A new boundary delineation and an assessment of post-Columbian habitat loss. Florida Scientist 71:45-64.--PDF file of article, 26.7 MB

Abstract: Although the Lake Wales Ridge (LWR) has long been recognized as a distinctive geomorphological and biogeographical feature of peninsular Florida, no precise, documented boundary map exists. We provide an ecological boundary map of the LWR based on soils, topography, vegetation, land use, and species distributions. Our boundary is similar to previous maps, but includes the endemic-rich LWR State Forest and the Royce Tract of the LWR Wildlife and Environmental Area, and excludes the “Apopka Knob” lowlands. We also find that there is little support for the delineation of the intraridge valley or the Carlton Ranch Ridge of previous authors. We determined the areal extent of post-Columbian xeric upland habitat loss on the LWR based on soils maps overlain on aerial photographs (1979-1990). Overall, 78% of xeric upland communities on the LWR was lost by 1990; more recent estimates suggest losses of > 85%. Losses were greatest on yellow sands at the northern end of the Ridge, and least on white sands near the southern end. Most LWR edges have been altered by residential and agricultural development. The Lake Wales Ridge, which provides habitat for globally unique and endemic-rich ecosystems, continues to lose wildlands to development. Poster-sized hardcopy and digital versions of the map are available through our website (www.archbold-station.org).

Errata

• page 51, Fig. 1d. In the legend, “Fitapatrick & Friedman” should read “Fitzpatrick & Friedman.” This error is corrected in the ancillary image listed below.
• page 52, line 10. “northwest Hardee County” should be “northeast Hardee County.”
• Page 52, lines 32 & 33. “Apopka knob” should be “Apopka Knob.”
• Page 54, line 37. “Lake Jackson” should be “Lake June.”
• Page 59, Fig. 3b. In the legend, the names for areas 45 and 46 are transposed. Area 45 should be "LWRWEA - Highlands Ridge" and Area 46 should be "LWRWEA - Highlands Park Est." This error is corrected in the ancillary image listed below.

Ancillary Images

• Click on thumbnails below for digital versions (jpg files) of the figures contained in the paper.
• Request shape files of any of the figures from Archbold's GIS Lab. send e-mail.
• When using any of these images in a report, manuscript, or presentation, please provide a full citation as follows: Weekley, C.W., E.S. Menges, and R.L Pickert. 2008. An ecological map of Florida’s Lake Wales Ridge: A new boundary delineation and an assessment of post-Columbian habitat loss. Florida Scientist 71:45-64.