Georgia Gap
Vertebrate Distribution Maps
The purpose of the GAP vertebrate species distribution maps is to provide
more precise information about the current predicted distribution of individual
native species within their general ranges. With this information, better
estimates can be made about the actual amounts of habitat area and the
nature of its configuration.
Previous to this effort there were no maps available, digital or otherwise,
showing the likely present-day distribution of species by habitat type
across their ranges. Because of this, ordinary species (i.e., those not
threatened with extinction or not managed as game animals) are generally
not given sufficient consideration in land-use decisions in the context
of large geographic regions or in relation to their actual habitats. Their
decline because of incremental habitat loss can, and does, result in one
threatened or endangered species "surprise" after another. Frequently,
the records that do exist for an ordinary species are truncated by state
boundaries. Simply creating a consistent spatial framework for storing,
retrieving, manipulating, analyzing, and updating the totality of our
knowledge about the status of each animal species is one of the most necessary
and basic elements for preventing further erosion of biological resources.
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