Online Habitat Map Help
- % Total Invasive - This query summarizes total percent cover information for 22 non-native species that are considered to be invasive by Seattle Urban Nature within the City of Seattle. The legend on the map shows which color corresponds to level of percent cover. Invasive species are plants that are dispersed by birds, animals, wind or people and that can reproduce in low-light forest conditions in natural areas. In many cases these species are able to form thickets and exclude native plant species from their native habitat.
Table 1 lists the 22 species considered to be invasive in Seattle.
Table 1. Non-native invasive species in Seattle Scientific Name Common Name Clematis sp. clematis Convolvulus arvensis field bindweed Cotoneaster sp. cotoneaster Crataegus monogyna oneseed hawthorn Crataegus sp. horticultural hawthorne species Cytisus scoparius scotch broom Geranium robertianum herb Robert Hedera helix English ivy Ilex aquifolium English holly Iris pseudacorus yellow flag iris Lythrum salicaria purple loosestrife Phalaris arundinacea reed canarygrass Polygonum sp. knotweed Prunus laurocerasus bay laurel, cherry laurel Prunus lusitanica Portugal laurel Ranunculus repens creeping buttercup Rubus discolor Himalayan blackberry Rubus laciniatus evergreen blackberry Solanum dulcamara deadly nightshade Sorbus aucuparia European mountain ash Sorbus sp. mountain ash Tanacetum vulgare common tansy - % Total Native - This query summarizes the total percent cover of native species in Seattle in each habitat. The legend on the map shows which color corresponds to level of percent cover.
- % Ivy - This query shows the percent cover of ivy (Hedera helix) in each habitat throughout the city. The legend on the map shows which color corresponds to level of percent cover.
- % Blackberry - This query shows the percent cover of Himalayan blackberry (Rubus discolor) in each habitat throughout the city. The legend on the map shows which color corresponds to level of percent cover.
- Conifer Forests - This query shows the location of all conifer forests in the city.
- Deciduous Forests - This query shows the location of all deciduous forests in the city.
- Madrone Forests - This query shows the location of all madrone forests in the city.
About the Map :
In 1999-2000, SUN mapped the vegetation and wildlife habitat on approximately 8,000 acres of Seattle's public land. Habitat data included details such as structural plant community type, plant species lists, aerial cover estimates for each plant species, and their geographic distribution. It is the only city-wide comprehensive survey of its type. To learn more about the data behind the map, please visit our background page.
These maps have been used by public agencies and community groups in support of a variety of projects around the city, including the Green Seattle Partnership. Hardcopy and digital versions of the data and maps are available to the public through our website and bound map atlases can be found in many libraries throughout Seattle. However, we are excited to now make this data available to internet users for free!
Navigating Google Earth:
Centering the map:
To move around in the map, scroll your mouse to the area of interest. Left click on an area of interest to center the map. You can locate yourself by using the window in the lower left hand corner. You can click and drag on the box to find an area of interest.
Zooming:
To zoom in and out, click on the arrows in the upper left hand corner.
Using the Online Habitat Map:
Finding GSP Restoration Sites
Habitat Information:
The habitat information overlay shows the habitat type of each area classified during the 1999-2000 Seattle Public Lands Habitat Survey. To see information for each habitat, use the hand tool to click on a colored area on the map. Information will appear in a gray box on the right side of the page with the name of the open space and the habitat type you selected. There are two links under the habitat type. To view all the species that were found in that habitat type, click on the "Display Polygon Species" link. To view all the species associated with the entire park or open space, click on the "Display Park Species" link. To learn about all 33 habitats classified during the survey and to see photos, please visit our Habitat Descriptions table. To learn about how SUN classified these habitats during the survey, visit our Habitat Key.
Habitat Descriptions
Species Information:
The species information overlay has two sections:
This section contains eight selected queries that summarize city-wide information.
Clicking on the radio button for "All Species" shows a screen listing all the species found during the 1999-2000 Seattle Public Lands Habitat Survey. Selecting any species will show its distribution and amounts in the city. The legend on the map shows which color corresponds to level of percent cover.
The species can be sorted by scientific name by clicking on the "Scientific" radio button and by common name by clicking on the "Common" radio button. Use the arrows or drag the bar on the right side of the box to scroll through the species list.
