Washington
Gap Project Reptile and Amphibian Distribution Models
Summarized version of the Metadata:
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Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originators: K. M. Dvornich, K.R. McAllister, and K.
Aubry
Publication_Date: 1997
Title:
Washington Gap Project
Reptile and Amphibian 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/herps
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Seattle, WA
Publisher:
Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Other_Citation_Details:
Volume 2 of the
Washington State Gap Analysis
Final Report
Description:
Abstract:
Reptile and Amphibian 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 museum 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
нннSystem 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.