Washington Gap Project Mammal Distribution Models

Summarized version of the Metadata:

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Johnson, R.E. and K.M. Cassidy

Publication_Date: 1997

Title: Washington Gap Project Mammal Distribution Models

Edition: Version 5

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Seattle, WA

Publisher:

Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

Online_Linkage: ftp://198.187.3.50/pub/gapdata/mammals

Description:

Abstract:

Mammal 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. Mammal models were based on a 1991 land cover classification with a minimum mapping unit of 100 hectares. Infromation on species range limits and habitat associations was based on location data (mostly museum records), information about current distribtuion, 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)

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None Planned

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Washington State

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -125

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -116.675

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 49

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 45.5

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Theme_Keyword: Mammals

Theme_Keyword: Modeled distribution

Theme_Keyword: Model

Theme_Keyword: Distribution

Theme_Keyword: Vertebrate model

Theme_Keyword: Habitat Modeling

---

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

No statistically valid accuracy assessment for errors of omission and comission 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 mammals. 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. Mammals 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 System 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

---

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.