Holly Birk



Holly Birk

LIS 688-01

June 25, 2014

Assignment #5

Written Pathfinder

From the Eyes of a West Indian Manatee:

Navigating the State of Florida

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The life of a West Indian manatee has changed throughout the history of Florida. Rapid expansion and commercial development have significantly altered the coastlines and terrain in Florida. Examples of this human influence present modern challenges and have contributed to the population decline of these animals. This pathfinder shows some natural perspectives of Florida and highlights the issues and concerns from the viewpoint of a West Indian manatee.

Suggested Resources

This list of resources is intended to provide researchers with a diverse selection of materials pertaining to the life of a West Indian manatee living in Florida. Call numbers are provided for resources that are available at the New York Public Library.

Atlases:

Raisz, E. (1964). Atlas of Florida. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida Press.

NYPL Call No. Map Div.+ (Florida) (Raisz, E. J. Atlas of Florida. 1964)

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This beautifully illustrated resource contains a broad variety of thematic maps and charts pertaining to Florida. The maps in this atlas covering the vegetation and wildlife of Florida are particularly useful for researchers interested in understanding the geographic correlation between plant and animal ranges.

Smith, R. C., Miller, J. J., Kelley, S. M., & Harbin, L. G. (1997). An atlas of maritime Florida. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida.

NYPL Call No. Map Div. 97-3100

For people interested in the maritime history and industry of Florida, this resource provides an excellent overview. Thematic maps illustrate the historic and modern use of Florida’s waterways and ports.

Sheet Maps:

Foster, E. [2001]. A map of Florida [map]. Scale not given. [Florida]: [n.p.].

NYPL Call No. Map Div. 03-322

This colorful map includes many illustrations detailing periods of historical rule in Florida. The map highlights the influence of maritime travel and tropical leisure in Florida with attractive drawings.

Hampson, P. S. (1984). Wetlands in Florida [map]. (ca. 1:2,000,000.) Florida Bureau of Geology map series, no. 109. Tallahassee, FL: Florida Dept. of Natural Resources, Bureau of Geology.

NYPL Call No. Map Div. 92-108 no. 109

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The distribution of Florida’s varying wetlands is depicted in this map. There is also a written section that explains the importance of wetlands to Florida and describes the unique plants and animals that depend on these ecosystems.

Websites:

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission



This is an excellent website for GIS resources and conservation efforts pertaining to Florida manatees. Aerial surveys and population monitoring of Florida manatees are some of the included resources on this website. A large section for downloading GIS data layers and marine maps is of particular use to researchers interested in the distribution and mortality of Florida manatees.

Florida's Springs: Protecting Nature's Gems



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Locating and describing natural springs in Florida are central focuses of this website. Details on recreational activities and restoration efforts are provided for a number of individual springs in Florida. There are also many photographs of West Indian manatees swimming in the extraordinarily clear waters of these natural springs in Florida.

Guidebooks:

Huff, S. (2001). Paddler's guide to the sunshine state. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida.

NYPL Call No. JFE 02-13263

This guidebook is specifically geared toward canoeists and kayakers interested in exploring the rivers throughout Florida. The length and difficulty of each river is discussed, and an accompanying route diagram is also provided. Another useful section of this guidebook covers the dangerous flora and fauna that may be encountered around these rivers.

Witherington, B. (2007). Florida's living beaches: A guide for the curious beachcomber. Sarasota, FL: Pineapple Press, Inc.

Exploring the diverse wildlife native to Florida’s numerous beaches is a major theme of this guidebook. A large collection of range maps and colorful images is included for many of the individual plant and animal species found along Florida’s beaches.

Gazetteers:

Florida Gazetteer: City Profiles, Physical & Cultural Features



This frequently updated website is an excellent gazetteer for the cities and counties of Florida. Each county contains hyperlinked lists of physical, cultural, and historical features. This website also includes interactive maps and links to detailed census records for the cities and counties in Florida.

State of Florida Information Portal



The information found on this website differs from traditional gazetteers because the organization is based on subject matter rather than geographic location. Due to the particularly broad nature of the subjects covered on this website, this gazetteer provides a great portal for browsing with links to various Florida websites.

Geography:

Whitney, E., Means, D. B., & Rudloe, A. (2004). Priceless Florida: Natural ecosystems and native species. Sarasota, FL: Pineapple Press, Inc.

This resource provides excellent information on the topography and ecosystems of Florida. Threatened plant and animal species native to Florida are covered in detail with colorful maps and photographs. This resource concludes with a great section on the uncertainty of Florida’s ecological future.

Histories of Florida Cartography:

Findlay, J. A. (2002). Florida, the making of a state: A cartographic adventure: January 17-March 28, 2002. Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Bienes Center for the Literary Arts.

NYPL Call No. Map Div. 02-2941

The quality of this resource for historical timelines of Florida may be overshadowed by its beautiful and intricate cover. Each era of historical rule in Florida is covered with accompanying cartographic information for map resources that illustrate these time periods. A detailed timeline spanning several pages in this resource provides an accurate description of Florida over the course of hundreds of years.

Virga, V. & Wright, L. E. (2011). Florida, mapping the sunshine state through history: Rare and unusual maps from the Library of Congress. Guilford, CT: Globe Pequot Press.

NYPL Call No. *R-Map Div. G1315.V6 2011

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This resource provides an excellent selection of maps from the early exploration and colonization years of Florida’s history. Railroad and tourism maps are also displayed in this resource. Of particular interest, there is a section on the historical viewpoints and current destruction of the Everglades.

Map Libraries:

Florida Geological Survey Research Library



This library contains an expansive selection of geological books and periodicals that can be searched for with the library’s online catalog. In addition, thousands of historic and modern geological maps are available for researchers. To assist with researching changes in the wetlands and waterways of Florida, the library also maintains a special collection that archives the field research and maps of sinkhole occurrences.

Map & Imagery Library at the University of Florida



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As one of the largest academic map libraries in the country, this resource provides an incredibly large range of cartographic resources. In addition to maps, a large number of aerial photographs are available to visitors. The library website not only provides access to their catalog, but it also displays a selection of maps and images from the library.

Cartobibliography:

Espejo, O. (1995). The West Indies and Florida to 1900: An annotated carto-bibliography. Chicago, IL: American Library Association.

NYPL Call No. *R-Map Div. Z6027.W53 E76 1995

This cartobibliography includes two extensive sections listing cartographic resources covering the West Indies and Florida. Included in the listings are descriptions of the resources along with some black and white images of certain maps.

Local Tales:

Hausman, G. (2012). Mermaids, manatees & bimini blind snakes: My life on a Florida barrier island. Bokeelia, FL: Irie Books.

The author of this entertaining book provides some fun stories detailing the interesting and occasionally bizarre experiences he had while living on a Florida barrier island. Arranged as a series of short stories, there are facts about wildlife native to the area interspersed with local tales and mythical legends involving these creatures.

Kilby, R. (2013). Finding the fountain of youth: Ponce de León and Florida's magical waters. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida.

NYPL Call No. JFF 13-1114

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Colorful photographs and historical advertisements detailing the legend of Ponce de León’s Fountain of Youth are spread throughout this entertaining and informational book. The author provides many examples of efforts made to capitalize on the belief that Florida’s natural springs have restorative qualities and describes some of the uniquely themed tourist attractions that arose from these efforts.

Miscellaneous:

Reynolds, J. E., III, & Wells, R. S. (2003). Dolphins, whales, and manatees of Florida: A guide to sharing their world. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida.

NYPL Call No. JFD 04-16918

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This comprehensive and detailed guide covers all of the marine mammals that are native to Florida by providing information in an approachable and understandable format. In addition to details on the Floridian marine environment and natural history, conservation efforts and wildlife protection laws are covered for each of these animals. Suggestions are also given on actions that readers can take to protect marine mammals and their habitats.

USGS Southeast Ecological Science Center: Manatee - Sirenia Project



This website contains many useful resources covering the research of the Sirenia Project. Individuals who have an interest in the West Indian manatee will be able to find detailed descriptions of current research initiatives and conservation efforts being conducted. The website also includes pages that contain manatee information, vivid photographs, and project bibliographies.

Final Notes

The resources described in this pathfinder should be able to provide a starting point for researchers interested in understanding the state of Florida and its role as a habitat for manatees. The future of the West Indian manatee may depend on conservation efforts that are currently underway. In order to assist with these efforts, it is important to become familiarized with the natural history of Florida and understand how the presence of humans has had a profound negative impact on ecosystems.

Images

Image of West Indian manatee on page 2 downloaded from . All other images are taken from the pathfinder resource they appear under in the list.

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