Washington Gap Project Breeding Bird Distribution Models

Summarized version of the Metadata:

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Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: M. R. Smith, P. W. Mattocks, Jr., and K. M.

Cassidy

Publication_Date: 1997

Title:

Washington Gap Project Breeding Bird Distribution

Models

Edition: Version 5

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Seattle, WA

Publisher:

Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research

Unit

Online_Linkage: ftp://ftp.dfw.wa.gov/pub/gapdata/birds

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Seattle, WA

Publisher: Seattle Audubon Society

Other_Citation_Details:

Volume 4 of the Washington State Gap Analysis

Final Report

Description:

Abstract:

Breeding bird distribution models for Washington State were

created as part of the Washington State Gap Analysis Project

(WAGAP). WAGAP is part of the national Gap Analysis Project,

funded by the US Geological Survey-Biological Resources

Division. Bird models were based on a 1991 land cover

classification with a minimum mapping unit of 100 hectares.

Information on species range limits and habitat associations

was based on location data (mostly breeding bird records for

1987-1996), information about current distribution,

literature review, and expert opinion.

Purpose:

Models were created as part of a larger study (the

Washington State Gap Analysis Project) to establish

conservation priorities in Washington State. Conservation

priorities were based on land cover and breeding terrestrial

vertebrate distributions. The modeled distributions

themselves, however, have value beyond the original study.

Currentness_Reference:

Modeled distributions were based on 1991 land cover

information (Gap land cover, version 5)

Use_Constraints:

None, but the user should be aware of scale limitations

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Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

No statistically valid accuracy assessment for errors of

omission and commission was conducted. However, we did a

non-random assessment for errors of omission for the

amphibians and reptiles, which were modeled in the same way

as the birds. For the amphibians and reptiles, after the

initial models were constructed, we used 2,838 new records

not used to construct the models to test for errors of

omission. These "new" points consisted of museum records

that had not been obtained prior to the first modeling

attempts, locations from recent studies, and incidental

observations. The latter were often reported because the

observer knew the specimen was outside or at the edge of its

known range. Results were that 96% of the amphibian points

and 95% of the reptile points fell within the modeled

distributions. Most errors were due to new points falling

outside the original modeled range, rather than errors of

habitat association. Bird models tended to be less

conservation than herp models with respect to range limits.

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Planar:

Grid_Coordinate_System:

Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: State Plane Coordinate

ÝÝÝSystem 1927

State_Plane_Coordinate_System:

SPCS_Zone_Identifier: 4602

Lambert_Conformal_Conic:

Standard_Parallel: 45.8333

Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -120.5

Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 45.83333

False_Easting: 609601.2192

False_Northing: 0

Planar_Coordinate_Information:

Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair

Coordinate_Representation:

Abscissa_Resolution: 82.02

Ordinate_Resolution: 82.02

Planar_Distance_Units: Survey Feet

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1927

Ellipsoid_Name: Clarke 1866

Semi-major_Axis: 6378206.4

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 294.98

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Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: Washington Department of Fish and

Wildlife

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing Address

Address: 600 Capitol Way North

City: Olympia

State_or_Province: Washington

Postal_Code: 98501

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 360-902-2543

Hours_of_Service: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday Through

Friday

Distribution_Liability:

Although these data have been processed successfully on a

computer system at the Washington Department of Fish and

Wildlife, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the

accuracy or utility of the data on any other system or for

general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution

constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to

individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data. It

is strongly recommended that these data are directly acquired

from a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife server, and not

indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data

in some way. It is also strongly recommended that careful

attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated

with these data. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the

data described and/or contained herein.