Identification_Information:
  Citation:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator: Wyoming Gap Analysis
      Publication_Date: 19961201
      Title: Predicted Terrestrial Vertebrate Species Distributions for Wyoming
      Edition: 1
      Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: Laramie, Wyoming
        Publisher: Wyoming Water Resources Center
      Online_Linkage: <URL:http://www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/wbn/atlas>Vertebrates

  Description:
    Abstract:
      This individual species distribution is derived from a GIS modeling process using
      species habitat assocation rules in combination with species geographic
      range. There are a total of 445 individual terrestrial vertebrate species
      distributions generated for Wyoming by the Wyoming Gap Analysis project.
    Purpose:
      The purpose of the vertebrate species maps developed for gap analysis
      is to provide more precise information about the current distribution of
      individual native species within their general ranges than is generally
      available from published range maps. Range maps which rely only on
      the location of specimens do not include information on the ecological
      conditions that favor the presence of the species.  Habitat features,
      such as vegetation, can enhance traditional approaches despite some
      limitations (Scott et al. 1993). Using both point locality records and
      habitat conditions, these predicted distributions provide better
      estimates  about the actual amount of habitat area and the nature of
      its configuration.

      Besides gap analysis, the predicted terrestrial vertebrate species
      distributions may be used to answer a wide variety of management,
      planning, and research questions relating to individual species or
      groups of species.

  Time_Period_of_Content:
    Time_Period_Information:
      Range_of_Dates/Times:
        Beginning_Date: 1950
        Ending_Date: 1994

    Currentness_Reference:
      Publication date, specific to individual datasets used to compile
      information on species occurrences and habitat associations.
  Status:
    Progress: complete
    Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency:
      Irregular. As funding/time permits. Species distributions are by nature
      dynamic and these distributions are presented as a model which must
      receive further input (new locality records, improved habitat information)
      in order to become better representative of species' actual distribution.

  Spatial_Domain:
    Bounding_Coordinates:
      West_Bounding_Coordinate: -111.04334522
      East_Bounding_Coordinate: -103.83352708
      North_Bounding_Coordinate: 45.10795123
      South_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.95004394

  Keywords:
    Theme:
      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: none
      Theme_Keyword: species distribution
      Theme_Keyword: species habitat
      Theme_Keyword: species range
      Theme_Keyword: habitat model
      Theme_Keyword: land cover model
      Theme_Keyword: elevation model
      Theme_Keyword: riparian model
      Theme_Keyword: terrestrial vertebrates
      Theme_Keyword: Gap Analysis
    Place:
      Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: none
      Place_Keyword: Wyoming

  Taxonomy:
    Taxonomic_Keywords: terrestrial vertebrates
    Taxonomic_Keywords: mammals
    Taxonomic_Keywords: birds
    Taxonomic_Keywords: amphibians
    Taxonomic_Keywords: reptiles
    Taxonomic_Coverage:
      Specific_Taxonomic_Information:
        Kingdom: Animal
        Division-Phylum: Chordata/Vertebrata
      General_Taxonomic_Coverage:
        >TIGER SALAMANDER: AMBYSTOMA TIGRINUM, NORTHERN SHRIKE: LANIUS EXCUBITOR
        >BOREAL WESTERN TOAD: BUFO BOREAS BOREAS, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE: LANIUS LUDOVICIANUS
        >GREAT PLAINS TOAD: BUFO COGNATUS, SOLITARY VIREO: VIREO SOLITARIUS
        >WYOMING TOAD: BUFO HEMIOPHRYS BAXTERI, WARBLING VIREO: VIREO GILVUS
        >WOODHOUSE'S TOAD: BUFO WOODHOUSII, RED-EYED VIREO: VIREO OLIVACEUS
        >BOREAL CHORUS FROG: PSEUDACRIS TRISERIATA, TENNESSEE WARBLER: VERMIVORA PEREGRINA
        >PLAINS SPADEFOOT TOAD: SCAPHIOPUS BOMBIFRONS, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: VERMIVORA CELATA
        >GREAT BASIN SPADEFOOT: SCAPHIOPUS INTERMONTANUS, NASHVILLE WARBLER: VERMIVORA RUFICAPILLA
        >BULLFROG: RANA CATESBEIANA, VIRGINIA'S WARBLER: VERMIVORA VIRGINIAE
        >NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG: RANA PIPIENS, NORTHERN PARULA: PARULA AMERICANA
        >SPOTTED FROG: RANA PRETIOSA, YELLOW WARBLER: DENDROICA PETECHIA
        >WOOD FROG: RANA SYLVATICA, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER: DENDROICA PENSYLVANICA
        >COMMON LOON: GAVIA IMMER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER: DENDROICA MAGNOLIA
        >PIED-BILLED GREBE: PODILYMBUS PODICEPS, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER: DENDROICA CAERULESCENS
        >HORNED GREBE: PODICEPS AURITUS, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER: DENDROICA CORONATA
        >RED-NECKED GREBE: PODICEPS GRISEGENA, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER: DENDROICA NIGRESCENS
        >EARED GREBE: PODICEPS NIGRICOLLIS, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER: DENDROICA TOWNSENDI
        >WESTERN GREBE: AECHMOPHORUS OCCIDENTALIS, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER: DENDROICA FUSCA
        >CLARK'S GREBE: AECHMOPHORUS CLARKII, BLACKPOLL WARBLER: DENDROICA STRIATA
        >AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: PELECANUS ERYTHRORHYNCHOS, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: MNIOTILTA VARIA
        >DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: PHALACROCORAX AURITUS, AMERICAN REDSTART: SETOPHAGA RUTICILLA
        >AMERICAN BITTERN: BOTAURUS LENTIGINOSUS, OVENBIRD: SEIURUS AUROCAPILLUS
        >GREAT BLUE HERON: ARDEA HERODIAS, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH: SEIURUS NOVEBORACENSIS
        >GREAT EGRET: CASMERODIUS ALBUS, MACGILLIVRAY`S WARBLER: OPORORNIS TOLMIEI
        >SNOWY EGRET: EGRETTA THULA, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: GEOTHLYPIS TRICHAS
        >CATTLE EGRET: BUBULCUS IBIS, WILSON'S WARBLER: WILSONIA PUSILLA
        >BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON: NYCTICORAX NYCTICORAX, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT: ICTERIA VIRENS
        >WHITE-FACED IBIS: PLEGADIS CHIHI, SUMMER TANAGER: PIRANGA RUBRA
        >TUNDRA SWAN: CYGNUS COLUMBIANUS, WESTERN TANAGER: PIRANGA LUDOVICIANA
        >TRUMPETER SWAN: CYGNUS BUCCINATOR, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: PHEUCTICUS LUDOVICIANUS
        >GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: ANSER ALBIFRONS, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK: PHEUCTICUS MELANOCEPHALUS
        >SNOW GOOSE: CHEN CAERULESCENS, BLUE GROSBEAK: GUIRACA CAERULEA
        >CANADA GOOSE: BRANTA CANADENSIS, LAZULI BUNTING: PASSERINA AMOENA
        >WOOD DUCK: AIX SPONSA, INDIGO BUNTING: PASSERINA CYANEA
        >GREEN-WINGED TEAL: ANAS CRECCA, DICKCISSEL: SPIZA AMERICANA
        >MALLARD: ANAS PLATYRHYNCHOS, GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE: PIPILO CHLORURUS
        >NORTHERN PINTAIL: ANAS ACUTA, RUFOUS-SIDED TOWHEE: PIPILO ERYTHROPHTHALMUS
        >BLUE-WINGED TEAL: ANAS DISCORS, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW: SPIZELLA ARBOREA
        >CINNAMON TEAL: ANAS CYANOPTERA, CHIPPING SPARROW: SPIZELLA PASSERINA
        >NORTHERN SHOVELER: ANAS CLYPEATA, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: SPIZELLA PALLIDA
        >GADWALL: ANAS STREPERA, BREWER'S SPARROW: SPIZELLA BREWERI
        >AMERICAN WIGEON: ANAS AMERICANA, FIELD SPARROW: SPIZELLA PUSILLA
        >CANVASBACK: AYTHYA VALISINERIA, VESPER SPARROW: POOECETES GRAMINEUS
        >REDHEAD: AYTHYA AMERICANA, LARK SPARROW: CHONDESTES GRAMMACUS
        >RING-NECKED DUCK: AYTHYA COLLARIS, SAGE SPARROW: AMPHISPIZA BELLI
        >LESSER SCAUP: AYTHYA AFFINIS, LARK BUNTING: CALAMOSPIZA MELANOCORYS
        >HARLEQUIN DUCK: HISTRIONICUS HISTRIONICUS, SAVANNAH SPARROW: PASSERCULUS SANDWICHENSIS
        >SURF SCOTER: MELANITTA PERSPICILLATA, BAIRD'S SPARROW: AMMODRAMUS BAIRDII
        >WHITE-WINGED SCOTER: MELANITTA FUSCA, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: AMMODRAMUS SAVANNARUM
        >COMMON GOLDENEYE: BUCEPHALA CLANGULA, FOX SPARROW: PASSERELLA ILIACA
        >BARROW'S GOLDENEYE: BUCEPHALA ISLANDICA, SONG SPARROW: MELOSPIZA MELODIA
        >BUFFLEHEAD: BUCEPHALA ALBEOLA, LINCOLN'S SPARROW: MELOSPIZA LINCOLNII
        >HOODED MERGANSER: LOPHODYTES CUCULLATUS, WHITE CROWNED SPARROW: ZONOTRICHIA LEUCOPHRYS
        >COMMON MERGANSER: MERGUS MERGANSER, HARRIS' SPARROW: ZONOTRICHIA QUERULA
        >RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: MERGUS SERRATOR, DARK-EYED JUNCO: JUNCO HYEMALIS
        >RUDDY DUCK: OXYURA JAMAICENSIS, MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR: CALCARIUS MCCOWNII
        >TURKEY VULTURE: CATHARTES AURA, LAPLAND LONGSPUR: CALCARIUS LAPPONICUS
        >OSPREY: PANDION HALIAETUS, CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: CALCARIUS ORNATUS
        >BALD EAGLE: HALIAEETUS LEUCOCEPHALUS, SNOW BUNTING: PLECTROPHENAX NIVALIS
        >NORTHERN HARRIER: CIRCUS CYANEUS, BOBOLINK: DOLICHONYX ORYZIVORUS
        >SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: ACCIPITER STRIATUS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD: AGELAIUS PHOENICEUS
        >COOPER'S HAWK: ACCIPITER COOPERII, WESTERN MEADOWLARK: STURNELLA NEGLECTA
        >NORTHERN GOSHAWK: ACCIPITER GENTILIS, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: XANTHOCEPHALUS XANTHOCEPHALUS
        >BROAD-WINGED HAWK: BUTEO PLATYPTERUS, BREWER'S BLACKBIRD: EUPHAGUS CYANOCEPHALUS
        >SWAINSON'S HAWK: BUTEO SWAINSONI, COMMON GRACKLE: QUISCALUS QUISCULA
        >RED-TAILED HAWK: BUTEO JAMAICENSIS, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD: MOLOTHRUS ATER
        >FERRUGINOUS HAWK: BUTEO REGALIS, ORCHARD ORIOLE: ICTERUS SPURIUS
        >ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: BUTEO LAGOPUS, NORTHERN ORIOLE: ICTERUS GALBULA
        >GOLDEN EAGLE: AQUILA CHRYSAETOS, SCOTT'S ORIOLE: ICTERUS PARISORUM
        >AMERICAN KESTREL: FALCO SPARVERIUS, ROSY FINCH: LEUCOSTICTE ATRATA
        >MERLIN: FALCO COLUMBARIUS, PINE GROSBEAK: PINICOLA ENUCLEATOR
        >PEREGRINE FALCON: FALCO PEREGRINUS, PURPLE FINCH: CARPODACUS PURPUREUS
        >PRAIRIE FALCON: FALCO MEXICANUS, CASSIN'S FINCH: CARPODACUS CASSINII
        >GRAY PARTRIDGE: PERDIX PERDIX, HOUSE FINCH: CARPODACUS MEXICANUS
        >CHUKAR: ALECTORIS CHUKAR, RED CROSSBILL: LOXIA CURVIROSTRA
        >RING-NECKED PHEASANT: PHASIANUS COLCHICUS, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL: LOXIA LEUCOPTERA
        >BLUE GROUSE: DENDRAGAPUS OBSCURUS, COMMON REDPOLL: CARDUELIS FLAMMEA
        >WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN: LAGOPUS LEUCURUS, PINE SISKIN: CARDUELIS PINUS
        >RUFFED GROUSE: BONASA UMBELLUS, LESSER GOLDFINCH: CARDUELIS PSALTRIA
        >SAGE GROUSE: CENTROCERCUS UROPHASIANUS, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: CARDUELIS TRISTIS
        >SHARP-TAILED GROUSE: TYMPANUCHUS PHASIANELLUS, EVENING GROSBEAK: COCCOTHRAUSTES VESPERTINUS
        >COLUMBIAN SHARP-TAILED GROUSE: TYMPANUCHUS PHASIANELLUS COLUMBIANUS, CINERUS OR MASKED SHREW: SOREX CINEREUS
        >WILD TURKEY: MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO, PREBLE'S SHREW: SOREX PREBLEI
        >NORTHERN BOBWHITE: COLINUS VIRGINIANUS, VAGRANT SHREW: SOREX VAGRANS
        >VIRGINIA RAIL: RALLUS LIMICOLA, DUSKY OR MONTANE SHREW: SOREX MONTICOLUS
        >SORA: PORZANA CAROLINA, DWARF SHREW: SOREX NANUS
        >AMERICAN COOT: FULICA AMERICANA, WATER SHREW: SOREX PALUSTRIS
        >SANDHILL CRANE: GRUS CANADENSIS, MERRIAM'S SHREW: SOREX MERRIAMI
        >WHOOPING CRANE: GRUS AMERICANA, PYGMY SHREW: SOREX HOYI
        >BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER: PLUVIALIS SQUATAROLA, HAYDEN'S SHREW: SOREX HAYDENI
        >LESSER GOLDEN PLOVER: PLUVIALIS DOMINICUS, EASTERN MOLE: SCALOPUS AQUATICUS
        >SNOWY PLOVER: CHARADRIUS ALEXANDRINUS, LITTLE BROWN MYOTIS: MYOTIS LUCIFUGUS
        >SEMIPALMATED PLOVER: CHARADRIUS SEMIPALMATUS, YUMA MYOTIS: MYOTIS YUMANENSIS
        >PIPING PLOVER: CHARADRIUS MELODUS, KEEN'S MYOTIS: MYOTIS KEENII
        >KILLDEER: CHARADRIUS VOCIFERUS, LONG-EARED MYOTIS: MYOTIS EVOTIS
        >MOUNTAIN PLOVER: CHARADRIUS MONTANUS, FRINGED MYOTIS: MYOTIS THYSANODES
        >BLACK NECKED STILT: HIMANTOPUS MEXICANUS, LONG-LEGGED MYOTIS: MYOTIS VOLANS
        >AMERICAN AVOCET: RECURVIROSTRA AMERICANA, CALIFORNIA MYOTIS: MYOTIS CALIFORNICUS
        >GREATER YELLOWLEGS: TRINGA MELANOLEUCA, WESTERN SMALL-FOOTED MYOTIS: MYOTIS CILIOLABRUM
        >LESSER YELLOWLEGS: TRINGA FLAVIPES, SILVER-HAIRED BAT: LASIONYCTERIS NOCTIVAGANS
        >SOLITARY SANDPIPER: TRINGA SOLITARIA, BIG BROWN BAT: EPTESICUS FUSCUS
        >WILLET: CATOPTROPHORUS SEMIPALMATUS, RED BAT: LASIURUS BOREALIS
        >SPOTTED SANDPIPER: ACTITIS MACULARIA, HOARY BAT: LASIURUS CINEREUS
        >UPLAND SANDPIPER: BARTRAMIA LONGICAUDA, SPOTTED BAT: EUDERMA MACULATUM
        >WHIMBREL: NUMENIUS PHAEOPUS, TOWNSEND'S BIG-EARED BAT: PLECOTUS TOWNSENDII
        >LONG-BILLED CURLEW: NUMENIUS AMERICANUS, PALLID BAT: ANTROZOUS PALLIDUS
        >MARBLED GODWIT: LIMOSA FEDOA, BRAZILIAN FREE-TAILED BAT: TADARIDA BRASILIENSIS
        >SANDERLING: CALIDRIS ALBA, AMERICAN PIKA: OCHOTONA PRINCEPS
        >SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: CALIDRIS PUSILLA, EASTERN COTTONTAIL: SYLVILAGUS FLORIDANUS
        >WESTERN SANDPIPER: CALIDRIS MAURI, MOUNTAIN (NUTTALL'S) COTTONTAIL: SYLVILAGUS NUTTALLII
        >LEAST SANDPIPER: CALIDRIS MINUTILLA, DESERT COTTONTAIL: SYLVILAGUS AUDUBONII
        >BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: CALIDRIS BAIRDII, SNOWSHOE HARE: LEPUS AMERICANUS
        >PECTORAL SANDPIPER: CALIDRIS MELANOTOS, WHITE-TAILED JACK RABBIT: LEPUS TOWNSENDII
        >STILT SANDPIPER: CALIDRIS HIMANTOPUS, BLACK-TAILED JACK RABBIT: LEPUS CALIFORNICUS
        >LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: LIMNODROMUS SCOLOPACEUS, PYGMY RABBIT: BRACHYLAGUS IDAHOENSIS
        >COMMON SNIPE: GALLINAGO GALLINAGO, LEAST CHIPMUNK: TAMIAS MINIMUS
        >WILSON'S PHALAROPE: PHALAROPUS TRICOLOR, YELLOW-PINE CHIPMUNK: TAMIAS AMOENUS
        >RED-NECKED PHALAROPE: PHALAROPUS LOBATUS, CLIFF CHIPMUNK: TAMIAS DORSALIS UTAHENSIS
        >FRANKLIN'S GULL: LARUS PIPIXCAN, UINTA CHIPMUNK: TAMIAS UMBRINUS
        >BONAPARTE'S GULL: LARUS PHILADELPHIA, YELLOW-BELLIED MARMOT: MARMOTA FLAVIVENTRIS
        >RING-BILLED GULL: LARUS DELAWARENSIS, UINTA GROUND SQUIRREL: SPERMOPHILUS ARMATUS
        >CALIFORNIA GULL: LARUS CALIFORNICUS, THIRTEEN-LINED GROUND SQUIRREL: SPERMOPHILUS TRIDECEMLINEATUS
        >HERRING GULL: LARUS ARGENTATUS, ALLEN'S THIRTEEN-LINED GROUND SQUIRREL: SPERMOPHILUS TRIDECEMLINEATUS ALLENI
        >CASPIAN TERN: STERNA CASPIA, SPOTTED GROUND SQUIRREL: SPERMOPHILUS SPILOSOMA
        >COMMON TERN: STERNA HIRUNDO, GOLDEN-MANTLED GROUND SQUIRREL: SPERMOPHILUS LATERALIS
        >FORSTER'S TERN: STERNA FORSTERI, WYOMING GROUND SQUIRREL: SPERMOPHILUS ELEGANS
        >BLACK TERN: CHLIDONIAS NIGER, BLACK-TAILED PRAIRIE DOG: CYNOMYS LUDOVICIANUS
        >MOURNING DOVE: ZENAIDA MACROURA, WHITE-TAILED PRAIRIE DOG: CYNOMYS LEUCURUS
        >BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO: COCCYZUS ERYTHROPTHALMUS, ABERT'S SQUIRREL: SCIURUS ABERTI
        >YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO: COCCYZUS AMERICANUS, EASTERN FOX SQUIRREL: SCIURUS NIGER
        >COMMON BARN OWL: TYTO ALBA, RED SQUIRREL: TAMIASCIURUS HUDSONICUS
        >FLAMMULATED OWL: OTUS FLAMMEOLUS, NORTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL: GLAUCOMYS SABRINUS
        >EASTERN SCREECH OWL: OTUS ASIO, NORTHERN POCKET GOPHER: THOMOMYS TALPOIDES
        >WESTERN SCREECH OWL: OTUS KENNICOTTII, WYOMING POCKET GOPHER: THOMOMYS CLUSIUS
        >GREAT-HORNED OWL: BUBO VIRGINIANUS, IDAHO POCKET GOPHER: THOMOMYS IDAHOENSIS
        >NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL: GLAUCIDIUM GNOMA, PLAINS POCKET GOPHER: GEOMYS BURSARIUS
        >BURROWING OWL: ATHENE CUNICULARIA, OLIVE-BACKED POCKET MOUSE: PEROGNATHUS FASCIATUS
        >GREAT GRAY OWL: STRIX NEBULOSA, PLAINS POCKET MOUSE: PEROGNATHUS FLAVESCENS
        >LONG-EARED OWL: ASIO OTUS, SILKY POCKET MOUSE: PEROGNATHUS FLAVUS
        >SHORT-EARED OWL: ASIO FLAMMEUS, GREAT BASIN POCKET MOUSE: PEROGNATHUS PARVUS
        >BOREAL OWL: AEGOLIUS FUNEREUS, HISPID POCKET MOUSE: PEROGNATHUS HISPIDUS
        >NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL: AEGOLIUS ACADICUS, ORD'S KANGAROO RAT: DIPODOMYS ORDII
        >COMMON NIGHTHAWK: CHORDEILES MINOR, AMERICAN BEAVER: CASTOR CANADENSIS
        >COMMON POORWILL: PHALAENOPTILUS NUTTALLII, PLAINS HARVEST MOUSE: REITHRODONTOMYS MONTANUS
        >CHIMNEY SWIFT: CHAETURA PELAGICA, WESTERN HARVEST MOUSE: REITHRODONTOMYS MEGALOTIS
        >WHITE-THROATED SWIFT: AERONAUTES SAXATALIS, DEER MOUSE: PEROMYSCUS MANICULATUS
        >BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD: ARCHILOCHUS ALEXANDRI, WHITE-FOOTED MOUSE: PEROMYSCUS LEUCOPUS
        >CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD: STELLULA CALLIOPE, CANYON MOUSE: PEROMYSCUS CRINITUS
        >BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD: SELASPHORUS PLATYCERCUS, PINON MOUSE: PEROMYSCUS TRUEI
        >RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: SELASPHORUS RUFUS, NORTHERN GRASSHOPPER MOUSE: ONYCHOMYS LEUCOGASTER
        >BELTED KINGFISHER: CERYLE ALCYON, BUSHY-TAILED WOOD RAT: NEOTOMA CINEREA
        >LEWIS' WOODPECKER: MELANERPES LEWIS, SOUTHERN RED-BACKED VOLE: CLETHRIONOMYS GAPPERI
        >RED-HEADED WOODPECKER: MELANERPES ERYTHROCEPHALUS, HEATHER VOLE: PHENACOMYS INTERMEDIUS
        >WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER: SPHYRAPICUS THYROIDEUS, MEADOW VOLE: MICROTUS PENNSYLVANICUS
        >RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER: SPHYRAPICUS NUCHALIS, MONTANE VOLE: MICROTUS MONTANUS
        >DOWNY WOODPECKER: PICOIDES PUBESCENS, LONG-TAILED VOLE: MICROTUS LONGICAUDUS
        >HAIRY WOODPECKER: PICOIDES VILLOSUS, PRAIRIE VOLE: MICROTUS OCHROGASTER
        >THREE-TOED WOODPECKER: PICOIDES TRIDACTYLUS, WATER VOLE: MICROTUS RICHARDSONI
        >BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER: PICOIDES ARCTICUS, SAGEBRUSH VOLE: LEMMISCUS CURTATUS
        >NORTHERN FLICKER: COLAPTES AURATUS, MUSKRAT: ONDATRA ZIBETHICUS
        >OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: CONTOPUS BOREALIS, PREBLE'S MEADOW JUMPING MOUSE: ZAPUS HUDSONIUS PREBLEI
        >WESTERN WOOD PEWEE: CONTOPUS SORDIDULUS, BEAR LODGE MEADOW JUMPING MOUSE: ZAPUS HUDSONIUS CAMPESTRIS
        >WILLOW FLYCATCHER: EMPIDONAX TRAILLII, WESTERN JUMPING MOUSE: ZAPUS PRINCEPS
        >LEAST FLYCATCHER: EMPIDONAX MINIMUS, COMMON PORCUPINE: ERETHIZON DORSATUM
        >HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER: EMPIDONAX HAMMONDII, COYOTE: CANIS LATRANS
        >DUSKY FLYCATCHER: EMPIDONAX OBERHOLSERI, GRAY WOLF: CANIS LUPUS
        >GRAY FLYCATCHER: EMPIDONAX WRIGHTII, RED FOX: VULPES VULPES
        >CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER: EMPIDONAX OCCIDENTALIS, SWIFT FOX: VULPES VELOX
        >EASTERN PHOEBE: SAYORNIS PHOEBE, GRAY FOX: UROCYON CINEREOARGENTEUS
        >SAY'S PHOEBE: SAYORNIS SAYA, BLACK BEAR: URSUS AMERICANUS
        >ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER: MYIARCHUS CINERASCENS, GRIZZLY OR BROWN BEAR: URSUS ARCTOS
        >CASSIN'S KINGBIRD: TYRANNUS VOCIFERANS, RINGTAIL: BASSARISCUS ASTUTUS
        >WESTERN KINGBIRD: TYRANNUS VERTICALIS, COMMON RACCOON: PROCYON LOTOR
        >EASTERN KINGBIRD: TYRANNUS TYRANNUS, AMERICAN MARTEN: MARTES AMERICANA
        >HORNED LARK: EREMOPHILA ALPESTRIS, FISHER: MARTES PENNANTI
        >TREE SWALLOW: TACHYCINETA BICOLOR, ERMINE: MUSTELA ERMINEA
        >VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW: TACHYCINETA THALASSINA, LEAST WEASEL: MUSTELA NIVALIS
        >NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: STELGIDOPTERYX SERRIPENNIS, LONG-TAILED WEASEL: MUSTELA FRENATA
        >BANK SWALLOW: RIPARIA RIPARIA, BLACK-FOOTED FERRET: MUSTELA NIGRIPES
        >CLIFF SWALLOW: HIRUNDO PYRRHONOTA, MINK: MUSTELA VISON
        >BARN SWALLOW: HIRUNDO RUSTICA, NORTH AMERICAN WOLVERINE: GULO GULO LUSCUS
        >GRAY JAY: PERISOREUS CANADENSIS, AMERICAN BADGER: TAXIDEA TAXUS
        >STELLER'S JAY: CYANOCITTA STELLERI, EASTERN SPOTTED SKUNK: SPILOGALE PUTORIUS
        >BLUE JAY: CYANOCITTA CRISTATA, WESTERN SPOTTED SKUNK: SPILOGALE GRACILIS
        >SCRUB JAY: APHELOCOMA COERULESCENS, STRIPED SKUNK: MEPHITIS MEPHITIS
        >PINYON JAY: GYMNORHINUS CYANOCEPHALUS, NORTHERN RIVER OTTER: LUTRA CANADENSIS
        >CLARK'S NUTCRACKER: NUCIFRAGA COLUMBIANA, MOUNTAIN LION: FELIS CONCOLOR
        >BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE: PICA PICA, LYNX: LYNX CANADENSIS
        >AMERICAN CROW: CORVUS BRACHYRHYNCHOS, BOBCAT: LYNX RUFUS
        >COMMON RAVEN: CORVUS CORAX, WAPITI OR ELK: CERVUS ELAPHUS
        >BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: PARUS ATRICAPILLUS, MULE OR BLACK-TAILED DEER: ODOCOILEUS HEMIONUS
        >MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE: PARUS GAMBELI, WHITE-TAILED DEER: ODOCOILEUS VIRGINIANUS
        >PLAIN TITMOUSE: PARUS INORNATUS, MOOSE: ALCES ALCES
        >BUSHTIT: PSALTRIPARUS MINIMUS, PRONGHORN: ANTILOCAPRA AMERICANA
        >RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: SITTA CANADENSIS, AMERICAN BISON: BISON BISON
        >WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: SITTA CAROLINENSIS, MOUNTAIN GOAT: OREAMNOS AMERICANUS
        >PYGMY NUTHATCH: SITTA PYGMAEA, MOUNTAIN SHEEP: OVIS CANADENSIS
        >BROWN CREEPER: CERTHIA AMERICANA, COMMON SNAPPING TURTLE: CHELYDRA SERPENTINA
        >ROCK WREN: SALPINCTES OBSOLETUS, WESTERN PAINTED TURTLE: CHRYSEMYS PICTA
        >CANYON WREN: CATHERPES MEXICANUS, ORNATE BOX TURTLE: TERRAPENE ORNATA
        >BEWICK'S WREN: THRYOMANES BEWICKII, WESTERN SPINY SOFTSHELL TURTLE: TRIONYX SPINIFERUS
        >HOUSE WREN: TROGLODYTES AEDON, NORTHERN EARLESS LIZARD: HOLBROOKIA MACULATA
        >MARSH WREN: CISTOTHORUS PALUSTRIS, EASTERN SHORT-HORNED LIZARD: PHRYNOSOMA DOUGLASI
        >AMERICAN DIPPER: CINCLUS MEXICANUS, NORTHERN SAGEBRUSH LIZARD: SCELOPORUS GRACIOSUS
        >GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: REGULUS SATRAPA, NORTHERN PLATEAU LIZARD: SCELOPORUS UNDULATUS ELONGATUS
        >RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET: REGULUS CALENDULA, RED-LIPPED PRAIRIE LIZARD: SCELOPORUS UNDULATUS ERYTHROCHEILUS
        >BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: POLIOPTILA CAERULEA, NORTHERN PRAIRIE LIZARD: SCELOPORUS UNDULATUS GARMANI
        >EASTERN BLUEBIRD: SIALIA SIALIS, NORTHERN TREE LIZARD: UROSAURUS ORNATUS
        >MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: SIALIA CURRUCOIDES, NORTHERN MANY-LINED SKINK: EUMECES MULTIVIRGATUS
        >TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE: MYADESTES TOWNSENDI, PRAIRIE LINED RACERUNNER: CNEMIDOPHORUS SEXLINEATUS
        >VEERY: CATHARUS FUSCESCENS, RUBBER BOA: CHARINA BOTTAE
        >SWAINSON'S THRUSH: CATHARUS USTULATUS, EASTERN YELLOWBELLY RACER: COLUBER CONSTRICTOR FLAVIVENTRIS
        >HERMIT THRUSH: CATHARUS GUTTATUS, PLAINS HOGNOSE SNAKE: HETERODON NASICUS
        >AMERICAN ROBIN: TURDUS MIGRATORIUS, PALE MILK SNAKE: LAMPROPELTIS TRIANGULUM
        >CATBIRD: DUMETELLA CAROLINENSIS, SMOOTH GREEN SNAKE: OPHEODRYS VERNALIS
        >NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD: MIMUS POLYGLOTTOS, GREAT BASIN GOPHER SNAKE: PITUOPHIS MELANOLEUCUS DESERTICOLA
        >SAGE THRASHER: OREOSCOPTES MONTANUS, BULLSNAKE: PITUOPHIS MELANOLEUCUS SAYI
        >BROWN THRASHER: TOXOSTOMA RUFUM, BLACK HILLS REDBELLY SNAKE: STORERIA OCCIPITOMACULATA PAHASAPAE
        >AMERICAN (WATER) PIPIT: ANTHUS RUBESCENS, WANDERING GARTER SNAKE: THAMNOPHIS ELEGANS VAGRANS
        >SPRAGUE'S PIPIT: ANTHUS SPRAGUEII, WESTERN PLAINS GARTER SNAKE: THAMNOPHIS RADIX HAYDENII
        >BOHEMIAN WAXWING: BOMBYCILLA GARRULUS, COMMON GARTER SNAKE: THAMNOPHIS SIRTALIS
        >CEDAR WAXWING: BOMBYCILLA CEDRORUM, PRAIRIE RATTLESNAKE: CROTALUS VIRIDIS
        >MIDGET FADED RATTLESNAKE: CROTALUS VIRIDIS CONCOLOR

  Access_Constraints:
    Because of the large number of items in this database (445 items
    for species and additional items), this database will not import directly
    into PC Arc/Info. Indirectly, it can be brought into PC Arc/Info as
    an ArcView shapefile and converted with the shapearc command. The IMPORT71
    command must be used in order to bring the complete database into
    Arcview (IMPORT alone will not import all the items). Additional attribute
    files can be accessed in ArcView by adding new tables in INFO format
    and accessing these files within the info directory that is created when
    the dataset has been imported.

  Use_Constraints:
    This dataset was produced with an intended application at the state or
    ecoregion level - geographic areas from several hundred thousand to
    millions of hectares in size. The data provide a course-filter approach
    to analyses, meaning that not every occurrence of animal habitat is
    mapped; only large, generalized distributions are mapped, based on
    the USGS 1:100,000 mapping scale in both detail and precision.
    Therefore, this dataset can be used appropriately for coarse-scale
    (> 1:100,000) applications, or to provide context for finer-level maps
    or applications.

    >Appropriate uses include:
    >1. statewide biodiversity planning;
    >2. regional and large area resource planning;
    >3. coarse-filter evaluation of potential impacts or benefits of major
    >projects/initiatives on biodiversity - such as utility or transportation
    >corridors, wilderness proposals, open space or recreation proposals;
    >4. environmental impact assessment for large projects
    >such as military activities;
    >5. education at all levels for both students and citizens.

    >Inappropriate uses of this data include:
    >1. Generating specific measurements from the data finer than the
    >nearest thousand hectares;
    >2. Establishing exact boundaries for regulation or acquisition;
    >3. Establishing definite presence or absence of any element;
    >4. Determining abundance, health, or condition of any element;
    >5. Establishing a measure of accuracy of any other data by
    >comparison with this dataset;
    >6. Combining this data with any other data finer than
    >1:100,000-scale for analysis;
    >7. Use of this data to map small areas (less than thousands of
    >hectares) typically requiring mapping resolution at 1:24,000-scale
    >and using aerial photographs or ground surveys;
    >8. Altering the data in anyway and redistributing it as a GAP product.

  Point_of_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Person_Primary:
        Contact_Person: GIS lab coordinator
        Contact_Organization: Wyoming Water Resources Center
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing address
        Address: Box 3067 University Station
        City: Laramie
        State_or_Province: Wyoming
        Postal_Code: 82071
        Country: USA
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 307-766-2735
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: n/a
      Hours_of_Service: 8:00 - 5:00 MST

  Browse_Graphic:
    Browse_Graphic_File_Name: <URL:http://www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/images/gapvert.gif>vert.gif
    Browse_Graphic_File_Description: Predicted distribution of the American Marten.
    Browse_Graphic_File_Type: gif

  Native_Data_Set_Environment:
    The data was created in and is stored in Arc/Info 7.0.4. software for
    the UNIX operating system in vector polygon format with associated INFO
    database files. The dataset is available as one statewide coverage, or in
    56 statewide units (1:100,000-scale quadrangles), each containing codes
    for all 445 species distributions, or as 445 individual statewide coverage,
    one for each species distribution.

  Cross_Reference:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator: Baxter, G.T. and M.D. Stone.
      Publication_Date: 1985
      Title: Amphibians and Reptiles of Wyoming.
      Edition: 2
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: Cheyenne, Wyoming
        Publisher: Wyoming Game and Fish Dept.
      Other_Citation_Details: Range maps for creating species distributions
  Cross_Reference:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator: Clark, T.W. and M.R. Stromberg.
      Publication_Date: 1987
      Title: Mammals in Wyoming
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: Lawrence, Kansas
        Publisher: Mus. of Nat. Hist. U. Kansas
      Other_Citation_Details: Ranges maps for creating species distributions
  Cross_Reference:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator:
        Edwards, T.C.,Jr., C.H. Homer, S.D. Bassett, A. Falconer, R.D. Ramsey,
        and D.W. Wright.
      Publication_Date: 1995
      Title: Utah Gap Analysis: an environmental information system.
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: Logan, Utah
        Publisher: Utah Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
      Other_Citation_Details: related methods to Wyoming Gap
  Cross_Reference:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator: Garber, C.S.
      Publication_Date: 1995
      Title: Wyoming vertebrate species of concern list (unpublished report)
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: Laramie, Wyoming
        Publisher: Wyoming Natural Diversity Database
      Other_Citation_Details: Sensitivity rankings for Wyoming species
  Cross_Reference:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator:
        Merrill, E.H., T.W. Kohley, M.E. Berendsen, W.A. Reiners, K.L.
        Diese, R.W. Marrs, S.H. Anderson.
      Publication_Date: 1996
      Title: Wyoming Gap Analysis: a geographic analysis of biodiversity.
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: Laramie, Wyoming
        Publisher: Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
      Other_Citation_Details: Complete methods and results of Wyoming Gap
  Cross_Reference:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator: Oakleaf, B., B. Luce, S. Ritter and A. Cervoski.
      Publication_Date: 1992
      Title: Wyoming bird and mammal atlas.
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: Cheyenne, Wyoming
        Publisher: Wyoming Game and Fish Department
      Other_Citation_Details: Species distribution and habitat information.
  Cross_Reference:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator: Schrupp, D.L. and A.L. Cade.
      Publication_Date: 1990
      Title: Colorado wildlife species database.
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: Denver, Colorado.
        Publisher: Colorado Division of Wildlife
      Other_Citation_Details: Species habitat information.
  Cross_Reference:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator:
        Scott, J.M., F.Davis, B.Csuti, R. Noss, B. Butterfield, C.Groves,
        H. Anderson, S. Caicco, F. D'Erchia, T.C. Edwards, J. Ulliman and
        G. Wright.
      Publication_Date: 1993
      Title:
        Gap Analysis: a geographic approach to protection of biological
        diversity.
      Publication_Information:
        Publisher: Wildlife Monograph 123
        Publication_Place: n/a
  Cross_Reference:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator: White, D., J. Kimmerling, and W.S. Overton
      Publication_Date: 1992
      Title:
        Cartographic and geometric components of a global sampling design
        for environmental monitoring.
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: n/a
        Publisher: Cartogr. and Geogr. Info. Sys. 19:5-22.
      Other_Citation_Details: Information on hexagon grid.

Data_Quality_Information:
  Attribute_Accuracy:
    Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
      Some of the attributes in this dataset were derived from 4 other
      datasets produced by Wyoming Gap Analysis and distributed by
      the Wyoming Water Resources Center, including:

      >land cover <url:http://www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/clearinghouse/metadata/landcov.html>
      >150m elevation contours derived from USGS 90m digital elevation model,
      >riparian/aquatic model,
      >EMP hexagons

      See metadata for these datasets for more details about descriptions
      and QA processes related to development of predicted species
      distributions.

      The attributes specifically related to species distributions are 445
      items which are element codes for identifying species, and are coded
      to indicate the distribution for that species both in primary and
      secondary habitat.

      Properly designed, long-term field surveys provide the best source
      of independent data to assess our predicted vertebrate distributions.
      The large size of the Wyoming and the high number of vertebrate
      species in this analysis precluded any sort of field survey for
      accuracy assessment. Initial attempts to have the reviewers provide
      an accuracy rating for each map were abandoned because it
      resulted in excessive demands on the reviewers time. Assessment
      therefore was based on an approach used by UT-GAP (Edwards et
      al. 1995), comparing the predicted species distributions to existing
      species checklists.

      To obtain the estimate of accuracy for this dataset, we
      compared lists of predicted species to checklists of terrestrial
      vertebrate species developed for Yellowstone National Park,
      Devils Tower National Monument, Seedskadee and Elk National
      Wildlife Refuges, Thunder Basin National Grassland, Bighorn
      National Forest, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, and a
      bird observation checklist developed for Jackson Hole which
      encompassed Grand Teton National Park. The species checklists
      compiled for all the areas were derived from published and
      unpublished reports that were not used directly in developing the
      WY-GAP databases.  Of the 8 test areas, only 3 of them (Devils
      Tower National Monument, Yellowstone National Park, and the
      Bighorn National Recreation Area) had complete checklists for all
      4 taxonomic groups.  The other areas had checklists for either
      birds or mammals.

      By comparing the checklists of these areas with a list of species
      predicted to occur in these areas based on the modeling process,
      omission and commission errors and an overall accuracy rating for
      each site and taxonomic group. To determine the influence of the
      modeling strategies on the accuracy of species distributions, we
      conducted the accuracy assessment based on models generated
      both with and without inclusion of modeled riparian/aquatic areas.

      Comission error = the number of species predicted to occur within
      an area that are missing from the area's field observation checklist.
      Omission error = the number of species not predicted to occur within
      an area which are listed on the area's field observation checklist.
      Accuracy = number of matches (species that are both predicted to occur
      within the area and are listed on the area's checklist) divided by
      the total number of species present on both lists.

      When species predictions were based on modeled riparian/aquatic
      areas, our accuracy averaged 79.5% across sites and taxa, falling to
      76.9 % when the modeled riaprian/aquatic areas were removed.
      The exclusion of modeled riparian areas generally had little to no
      affect on accuracy of predicting reptiles and mammals, but
      reduced the accuracy of predicting the occurrence of  birds and
      amphibians at some sites by 10 - 30%.  The reduction in accuracy
      was the result of species such as waterfowl, shorebirds and
      riparian- or water-dependent birds and amphibians.

      Errors of omission averaged 12.2% (0 - 36.6%) for all taxonomic
      groups, and were often high for birds, indicating that our models
      tended to under-predict the presence of bird species. Among the
      birds, 96% of the omission errors were the result of no recorded
      occurrence of the species within any of the hexagons
      encompassing the accuracy assessment area(s).

      Errors of commission averaged 8.3% (0 - 34.8%) for all taxonomic
      groups and were highest for mammals, indicating that our models
      tended to over-predict the presence of mammal species.  Most of
      the commission errors for mammals were the result of over-
      predictions of bat, rodent and rabbit/hare species.  For example, of
      the 40 species having an error(s) of commission, 31 species were
      in these three taxa. Over-predicted distributions of  bat, rodent, and
      rabbit/hare species were related to a lack of point locality data used
      to define range extent.  Lack of information resulted in the
      inclusion of many hexagons labeled as Possible in the
      distributions of these taxa because published range maps showed
      these species widely distributed across large portions of the state.

      In mapping and reviewing species distributions in Wyoming, we
      identified species for which data were insufficient for modeling
      purposes and found several important factors that may contribute
      to potential errors in these maps that should be recognized when
      using them.

      Limits to a species' range were determined by defining the
      presence of a species within hexagons using locality records.  For
      many species there were an inadequate number of locality records
      to confidently determine its range.  For example, sightings of the
      fisher (Martes pennanti) were infrequent and often questioned by
      our reviewers resulting in limited data for describing the overall
      range of the fisher.  In particular, there was a dearth of information
      for many bat species and some small mammals which was most
      likely due to their inconspicuousness and nocturnal behavior.  In
      one instance, we did not have sufficient new data to map the
      distribution of the three, recently-recognized species of rosy finch
      (Leucosticte tephrocotis,  L. atrata,  L. australis) because existing
      locality records for the rosy finch did not differentiate between
      these new species.

      To compensate for the lack of locality records for amphibians,
      reptiles, and mammals, we used existing range maps from Baxter
      and Stone (1985) and Clark and Stromberg (1987) to assign the
      presence of a species in a hexagon and labeled these hexagons as
      Possible.  In contrast, range maps of Wyoming did not exist for
      birds and we relied solely on point locality records and expert
      opinion to determine ranges of birds.  During the review process,
      we found that the reviewers of the maps were hesitant to
      extrapolate the range of birds far beyond known occurrences or to
      contract the ranges of amphibians, reptiles and mammals from
      published range maps.  As a result, the number of hexagons
      designated as Possible is much lower for birds than for herptiles
      and mammals and maps of bird distributions are more fragmented.
      These differences may affect future management area evaluations.
      Our accuracy assessment indicated that the inclusion of Possible
      hexagons increased the overall accuracy of the mammal and
      herptile distribution maps. It is not known if inclusion of more
      Possible hexagons, based on regional range maps, would increase
      the accuracy of the bird distribution maps.

      Distributions of some species were identified by reviewers as
      problematic due to possible misidentification in locality records
      where species' ranges overlap.  Species with a high probability of
      misidentification included cottontail species (Sylvilagus floridanus,
      S. nuttallii, and S. audubonii); the least weasel (Mustela nivalis)
      and the ermine (M. erminea); the gray fox (Urocyon
      cinereoargenteus ocythous) and the swift fox (Vulpes velox velox);
      the Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis); the California myotis
      (Myotis californicus); the grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus
      savannarum) and savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandichensis);
      and many of the empidonax flycatchers.  Thus, the mapped
      distributions of these species should be used with some caution.

      The point locality data, and the reviewers themselves, may have
      introduced biases into the distribution maps due to opportunistic
      rather than systematic sampling (i.e., uneven sampling).  The
      location of species locality records collected in the field are
      undoubtedly influenced by population densities and existing
      transportation routes.  For example, members of the Audubon
      Society Chapters in Casper, Jackson and Buffalo volunteered to
      participate in our review.  These areas also had the highest
      diversity of birds.  Likewise, the lack of reviewers for the Thunder
      Basin National Grassland may, in part, have contributed to the low
      bird diversity in this area.  Thus, areas of high or low species
      richness may be an artifact of mere data collection intensity or
      effort.  In addition, locality records are likely biased against
      species with nocturnal behavioral (e.g., bats, rubber boa (Charina
      bottae)) and of small size/or inconspicuous habits.  While we are
      confident that the review process reduced the omission errors in
      the species distribution maps, we must acknowledge the potential
      biases associated with overconfidence of experts.

      The reliability of predicting species distributions based primarily
      on vegetation that is mapped on a coarse scale is questionable.
      Working with remotely sensed data limited our ability to map
      micro-habitats (e.g., caves, cliffs) and small pocket habitats such
      as juniper, aspen, or bitterbrush shrub which occur in narrow strips
      along ridges or within canyons. We mapped the distribution of
      other micro-habitat specialists by assigning them to broad land
      cover types, based on the assumption that certain land cover
      polygons contain the micro-habitat features of importance.  For
      example, the distribution of the cliff chipmunk (Tamias dorsalis
      utahensis) and the canyon mouse (Peromyscus crinitus doutii)
      were predicted using juniper cover, even though these species are
      limited to rock outcrops that are usually encompassed by juniper
      habitats.  As a result the distribution of these species are over-
      estimated.  Our use of small geographic units such as the hexagon
      minimized the extent of this over-prediction for micro-habitat
      specialists with restricted ranges, such as the canyon wren
      (Catherpes mexicanus), and the chimney swift (Chaetura
      pelagica), but it was difficult to minimize over-prediction for
      micro-habitat specialists with broad ranges.  Many species of bats
      have broad geographic ranges, but may actually be limited within
      these extents because of special roosting requirements, features
      such as caves, abandoned mine shafts and buildings that could not
      be mapped at the scale of our land cover map.  We have
      documented most of these micro-habitat mapping problems
      (Merrill et al. 1996b) and data users should be cognizant of these
      limitations.

      These predicted species distributions should not be regarded as a
      substitute for detailed biological inventories on species
      distributions. Rather they are a methodology for organizing.
      existing data into static maps that represent dynamic distributions.
      Uncertainty exists in the current predictions of species due to
      incomplete information, data biases, map resolution, habitat
      models, and dynamics of species populations.  To date, there have
      been only a few efforts to quantify the effects of the uncertainty in
      the data used to map species distributions and its effect on the
      interpretation of the program's results.

    Quantitative_Attribute_Accuracy_Assessment:
      Attribute_Accuracy_Value: 79.5% for all taxonomic groups
      Attribute_Accuracy_Explanation:
        Comparison of lists of predicted species for certain areas with species
        checklists previously compiled for those same areas.

  Logical_Consistency_Report:
    All polygons are closed and adjacent polygons do not have
    identical attributes. Each polygon has one and only one attribute.

  Completeness_Report:
    Species distribution attributes for all the polygons in vertmodel
    are complete (value 0 is not a null value).
    Because of the probablistic and dynamic nature of species
    distributions, it is not possible to determine how complete
    the information is related to their distribution, as far as
    correctness.

    The number of terrestrial vertebrate species (445) included in
    this dataset are complete for Wyoming based on the following
    selection criteria:
    >Year-round, summer, or winter residents (Oakleaf et al. 1992)
    >Neotropical migratory birds, not including those listed as
    >"accidental" or "rare" migrants (Oakleaf et al. 1992)
    >Exotic game species;
    >Species and subspecies of management concern (federally listed
    >species and species with a Nature Conservancy state ranking
    >of 1 or 2)
    >Subspecies recognized as the only representative of its species
    >in Wyoming;
    >All amphibians and reptile species and subspecies in Wyoming as
    >listed by Baxter and Stone (1985).

    Other attributes in this dataset associated with the land cover,
    elevation, hexagon and riparian buffer components are complete based on
    the decision rules used to derive those components.

  Positional_Accuracy:
    Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
      Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:
        Does not apply since this dataset is a model and because of the
        generalization of the source datasets used to generate this coverage.

  Lineage:
    Source_Information:
      Source_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: Wyoming Gap Analysis
          Publication_Date: 19961201
          Title: Land Cover types for Wyoming
          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: Laramie, WY
            Publisher: Univ. of Wyoming Dept. of Botany
          Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map
      Source_Contribution:
        Used to produce the composite "habitat" layer for modeling species
        distributions.
      Type_of_Source_Media: digital map
      Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
        Time_Period_Information:
          Single_Date/Time:
            Calendar_Date: 1994
        Source_Currentness_Reference: n/a
      Source_Citation_Abbreviation: landcov

    Source_Information:
      Source_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: Wyoming Gap Analysis
          Publication_Date: 19961201
          Title: 150 m elevation contours for Wyoming
          Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map
          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: Laramie, WY
            Publisher: Wyoming Water Resources Center
          Other_Citation_Details:
            The elevation contour maps is not available as a standalone product,
            since its only purpose was to enhance the predicted species distributions
      Source_Scale_Denominator: 250000
      Type_of_Source_Media: digital map
      Source_Contribution:
        The elevation GIS layer was unioned with other GIS layers in order
        to produce the composite "habitat" layer for modeling species
        distributions.
      Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
        Time_Period_Information:
          Single_Date/Time:
            Calendar_Date: 1994
        Source_Currentness_Reference: n/a
      Source_Citation_Abbreviation: elev

    Source_Information:
      Source_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: Wyoming Gap Analysis
          Publication_Date: 19961201
          Title: Riparian/Aquatic model for predicted species distributions in Wyoming
          Other_Citation_Details:
            The riparian/aquatic model is not available as a standalone product,
            since its only purpose was to enhance the predicted species distributions
            for Wyoming. Details of development of this model and its limitations
            are available in the Wyoming Gap Analysis Final Report (Merrill et al 1996).
      Source_Scale_Denominator: 100000
      Type_of_Source_Media: digital model
      Source_Contribution:
        The riparian/aquatic model was unioned with other GIS layers in
        order to produce the composite "habitat" layer for modeling species
        distributions.
      Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
        Time_Period_Information:
          Single_Date/Time:
            Calendar_Date: 1995
        Source_Currentness_Reference: n/a
      Source_Citation_Abbreviation: riparian

    Source_Information:
      Source_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: EPA
          Publication_Date: unknown
          Title: Hexagon grid
          Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map
          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: Laramie, WY
            Publisher: Wyoming Water Resources Center
          Other_Citation_Details:
            This dataset was produced by the EPA as a grid system to encompass
            the entire world, for analysis purposes. The hexagons, which are
            635 square km in area, are available for the United States or
            just for Wyoming. There are 436 hexagons encompassing Wyoming.
      Type_of_Source_Media: digital map
      Source_Contribution:
        The hexagon grid was unioned with other GIS layers in
        order to produce the composite "habitat" layer for modeling species
        distributions.
      Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
        Time_Period_Information:
          Single_Date/Time:
            Calendar_Date: unknown
        Source_Currentness_Reference: n/a
      Source_Citation_Abbreviation: hex

    Source_Information:
      Source_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: Colorado Division of Wildlife
          Publication_Date: 1990
          Title: Wildlife Habitat Relationships database
          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: Denver, CO
            Publisher: Colorado Division of Wildlife
      Type_of_Source_Media: digital database
      Source_Contribution:
        This database was used as the base for the Wyoming Wildlife Habitat
        Relationship database, linking wildlife assocations to the land cover,
        elevation, and riparian model datasets for modeling of distribution.
      Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
        Time_Period_Information:
          Range_of_Dates/Times:
            Beginning_Date: unknown
            Ending_Date: 1990
        Source_Currentness_Reference: n/a
      Source_Citation_Abbreviation: none

    Process_Step:
      Process_Description:
        Criteria were developed to choose which species would be modeled.
        There are over 600 terrestrial vertebrate species that have been
        recorded in Wyoming, but many of these species (especially birds)
        are rare or accidental and have been documented within the state only
        a few times. These species were excluded. Exotic/introduced species
        were also excluded, unless they were of importance as a game species.
        A total of 445 species distributions were modeled for this dataset.
      Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: none
      Process_Date: 1992
    Process_Step:
      Process_Description:
        The distributional limits of each species were defined
        by recording the species presence or absence within the Environmental
        Protection Agency (EPA) hexagon grid system for Wyoming (hex).
        Species were recorded within each of the 436 hexagons for
        Wyoming using 1 of 7 definitions. We used only the data classified in the
        first 4 categories to actually create species distributions. Statement of
        probabilities in these descriptors were used as guidelines to subjectively
        qualify the occurrence of a species within a hexagon consistent with the
        descriptions.  At this time, they do not represent a quantified analysis of
        the probability of occurrence

        CONFIRMED (C) The species is confidently assumed (> 95% certain) or
        known to occur in the hexagon.  Information sources confirming
        occurrence within a hexagon included species locality records and
        expert opinion.

        PREDICTED (PR) The species is predicted to occur in the hexagon based
        on the fact-pattern (i.e., presence of suitable habitat or conditions and
        historical record and/or presence in adjacent hexagons[s]); at least 80%
        certain that the species occurs in the hexagon, based on expert opinion
        only.

        POSSIBLE (PO)  The species possibly or potentially occurs in the hexagon;
        its estimated likelihood of occurrence in the hexagon is thought to be
        between 80% and 10% , based on expert opinon or published range maps.

        HISTORICAL (H) The species is confidently assumed (> 95% certain) or
        known to have occurred in the hexagon prior to 1950, based on locality
        records or expert opinion.  The historical presence within the hexagon
        was included as part of the species' current distribution.

        HISTORICAL (Hx) The species is confidently assumed (> 95% certain) or
        known to have occurred in the hexagon prior to 1950, based on locality
        records, however experts did not feel the species was likely to occur in the
        hexagon at present.

        QUESTIONABLE (?) The occurrence of the species within a hexagon was
        still in question after having been reviewed by experts.  Hexagons coded as
        questionable were not included as part of the species' current distribution.

        EXCLUDED (X) The documented occurrence of a species was excluded by
        expert review after once having been coded as confirmed, predicted, or
        possible.

        Three primary sources of information were used to document the occurrence
        (or expected occurrence) of a species within a hexagon: (1) species locality
        records, (2) published range maps, and (3) the opinions of experts.  Species
        locality records (i.e., recorded occurrences of observed, trapped, or killed
        individuals) were obtained from 16 existing wildlife databases (listed in the
        citations section) collected from state and federal agencies, conservation
        groups, museums, and outdoor science schools in Wyoming. Fifteen of the
        species databases were non-spatial, tabular databases which included Public
        Land Survey System (PLSS) descriptions or coordinates for the location of
        observed species.  PLSS locational descriptions were converted to latitude-
        longitude coordinates for import into Arc/Info using a fortran program called
        TR-LL. Hexagons encompassing locality records with a date > 1950 were
        coded as Confirmed, while those populated with locality records < 1950 were
        coded as Historical. Range maps published by Clark and Stromberg (1987) and
        Baxter and Stone (1985) also were used to document the occurrence of species
        within hexagons for mammal and herptile species.  Wyoming-specific range
        maps for birds did not exist.  For mammals and herptiles, the geographic range
        of each species was manually transferred from paper maps to the computerized
        hexagon grid using a mouse to select the hexagons which overlapped with
        range map polygons.  Hexagons populated in this manner were coded as
        Possible.
        In developing the database for species distributions for Wyoming, we did not
        differentiate between breeding and winter ranges for bird species.
      Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: hex
      Process_Date: 1992-1994

    Process_Step:
      Process_Description:
        Once species were documented within the appropriate hexagons,
        we assigned species to spatially-explicit polygons of mapped habitat,
        specifically land cover, elevation, and presence of riparian/aquatic feature
        Information used create the Wildlife Habitat Relationships (WHR) database
        came from existing WHR databases, published and unpublished literature, and
        individuals having expert knowledge of a particular species.  The majority of
        the WHR information was provided by the Colorado Division of Wildlife
        (Schrupp and Cade 1990).  In addition, we used WHR information from the
        UT-GAP and regional species guides to check and supplement WHRs defined
        by Colorado.  We also completed an extensive literature review on habitat
        associations for 103 species of concern and on Wyoming species that were not
        recorded in the Colorado database.

        Use of land cover in mapping habitat relationships -
        See the metadata available for the WY-GAP land cover
        for more information about the 41 land cover types mapped for Wyoming.
        A cross-walk was developed between habitat types listed in the Colorado
        Wildlife Habitat Relationship Database to the 41 habitat types
        in Wyoming in order to assign species to correct habitat.

        Use of riparian/aquatic areas in mapping habitat relationships -
        GAP has adopted a 40-ha MMU standard for delineating riparian and other
        wetland features in the land cover map.  Although this is a
        significant reduction from the 100-ha unit used in mapping upland land cover
        types, even with a 40-ha MMU, many small riparian and aquatic features still
        are not distinguished from upland cover types. Based on the assumption that
        riparian vegetation occurs along streams and other water bodies, we modeled
        riparian areas by creating buffers around hydrographic features.  A similar
        approach was taken by the Idaho GAP (ID-GAP) and UT-GAP.  They created
        buffers of 200 - 400 meters (Idaho) or 100 meters (Utah) around hydrographic
        features (Scott et al. 1993, Edwards et al. 1995).  We developed a riparian
        model using a system of variable buffer widths related to stream order,
        assuming that width of riparian areas along streams increases with stream
        order.  Larger buffers were assigned to streams of higher order than streams
        of  low order, based on average riparian widths for ordered streams measured
        off of TM imagery.

        >Buffers used for stream orders:
        >1st order: 40m each side
        >2nd order: 40m
        >3rd order: 60m
        >4th order: 90m
        >5th order: 120m
        >6th order: 150m
        >7th order: 210m
        >rivers represented by two shorelines on USGS 1:100,000 maps: 300m
        >lakes reservoirs and ponds: 90m.

        Buffer widths were determined by overlaying
        hydrographic features from USGS 1:100,000 digital lines graphs on a Landsat
        Thematic Mapper image of the southeast corner of the stat and measuring
        widths of riparian vegetation along the hydrography at approximately 1-km
        intervals. Buffers widths were averaged by order and values rounded to the
        nearest 10m, and the values listed above were used to buffer all the perennial
        water features in the USGS digital line graphs according to their Strahler
        order. See associated metadata for the ordered USGS digital line graphs
        for more details on this process (also available from the Wyoming Water
        Resources Center). The buffers were combined with the land cover layer and
        labelled "unclassified riparian" except where the buffers intersected with
        land cover polygons labelled riparian (either primary or secondary coverage),
        in which case the buffers inherited the riparian land cover designation.
        This riparian modeling approach allowed us to approximate the location and
        amount of area in riparian vegetation zones.  Unlike other riparian mapping
        approaches, such as aerial videography, it did not allow us to determine the
        vegetative composition or structure within the buffer.  Another major
        limitation with our approach is that it did not identify wetlands associated
        with groundwater, which constitutes a significant proportion of total wetland
        habitat. Our reviewers agreed that despite the fact that the majority of the
        modeled riparian was not classified by vegetation, associating species to the
        unclassified riparian was still likely to portray a more accurate representation
        of the species distribution than the riparian types in the land cover map alone,
        and this was confirmed in our accuracy assessment of riparian species.

        Use of elevation contours in mapping habitat relationships -
        Elevational ranges used by vertebrate species were obtained from the Colorado
        database or literature sources. In cases where there were no specific literature
        sources documenting species-elevation associations for Wyoming, sources
        from other states within the region (CO, MT, ID, UT) were used.  In these
        cases, we adjusted the elevational range documented in the literature to similar
        ranges in Wyoming using the treeline elevation as a reference for adjustment.
        Elevation contours with an interval of 150 m were derived from a Digital
        Elevation Model (DEM) of 90-meter resolution. The 150 m interval was
        chosen because it corresponded closely to values given for elevational ranges
        of species reported by literature sources.
      Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: landcov, elev, riparian, hex
      Process_Date: 1994-1995

    Process_Step:
      Process_Description:
        The completed GIS layers of hexagons, land cover, elevation, and
        riparian/aquatic areas were combined in a GIS overlay process to develop a
        composite habitat layer for predicting species distributions.
        Tiny sliver polygons (<.2 ha in size) created by this GIS process were
        eliminated to reduce the size of the coverage for processing purposed.
        Species occurrence was predicted in polygons if: (1) occurrence was documented
        in the hexagon, (2) suitable land cover was present, and (3) the land cover was
        within the documented elevational range for the species.  Both the primary
        (land cover occupying the largest proportion of the area of each polygon) and
        secondary (land cover occupying the second largest proportion of the area of
        each polygon) types were used to place a species in a polygon of associated
        habitat. Our modeling process sometimes resulted in species distributions
        which ended abruptly at the edge of hexagons, even when suitable habitat was
        present outside of the hexagon where species occurrence was not documented.
        To mitigate this problem, species distributions were extrapolated beyond the
        hexagon boundaries into immediately adjacent polygons of suitable habitat.
      Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: landcov, elev, riparian, hex
      Process_Date: 1995

    Process_Step:
      Process_Description:
        Hardcopy maps of predicted species distributions were reviewed by over 60
        acknowledged experts including state and federal biologists, university
        professors, and Audobon society members. Participants were asked to review
        and change if necessary both the hexagon distributions as well as the WHR
        information used to predict species distributions. Changes made on the hardcopy
        maps were then used to update the digital data.
      Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: none
      Process_Date: 1994-1995

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
  Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
  Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:
    SDTS_Terms_Description:
      SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: GT-polygon composed of chains
      Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 201941


Spatial_Reference_Information:
  Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
    Planar:
      Map_Projection:
        Map_Projection_Name: Lambert Conformal Conic
        Lambert_Conformal_Conic:
          Standard_Parallel: 45
          Standard_Parallel: 33
          Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -107.5
          Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 41
          False_Easting: 0.00000
          False_Northing: 0.00000
      Planar_Coordinate_Information:
        Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair
        Coordinate_Representation:
          Abscissa_Resolution: 1.0
          Ordinate_Resolution: 1.0
        Planar_Distance_Units: METERS
    Geodetic_Model:
      Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
      Ellipsoid_Name: GRS1980
      Semi-major_Axis: 6378137
      Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
  Overview_Description:
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
      The only attribute is the species element code, with three values:
      0,1 and 2.

      >0 = species not present
      >1 = species predicted to be present within primary habitat
      >2 = species predicted to be present within secondary habitat

    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: none

Distribution_Information:
  Distributor:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Person_Primary:
        Contact_Person: GIS lab coordinator
        Contact_Organization: Spatial Data and Visualization Center
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing address
        Address: Box 3067 University Station
        City: Laramie
        State_or_Province: Wyoming
        Country: USA
        Postal_Code: 82071
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 307-766-2735
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: n/a
  Distribution_Liability:
    The distributor shall not be held liable for improper or
    incorrect use of this data, based on the description of
    appropriate/inappropriate used described in this metadata document.
    It is strongly recommended that this data is directly acquired
    from the distributor described above or from another
    U.S.G.S. Biological Resource Division server and not indirectly
    through other sources which may have changed the data in some way.
    This data was developed and is meant to be used at the
    1:100,000-scale (or smaller scale) for the purpose of assessing
    the conservation status of vertebrate species over large
    geographic regions. The distributor makes no claims as to the
    data's suitability for other purposes.
  Standard_Order_Process:
    Digital_Form:
      Digital_Transfer_Information:
        Format_Name: ARCE (Arc/Info export)
        Format_Version_Number: 7.0.4
        Format_Version_Date: 1995
        File_Decompression_Technique: pkzip
      Digital_Transfer_Option:
        Online_Option:
          Computer_Contact_Information:
            Network_Address:
              Network_Resource_Name: ftp.sdvc.uwyo.edu or www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/clearinghouse
          Access_Instructions:
            The data can be accessed online two different ways:
            by anonymous ftp or by the world wide web.
            The anonymous ftp server is ftp.sdvc.uwyo.edu,
            and the data is stored in the /pub/gis/gap directory.
            The WWW page for the dataset is http://www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/clearinghouse.
            Instructions are provided on-line for downloading and
            importing the data.
          Online_Computer_and_Operating_System:
            Both the ftp and WWW server which this data is available
            from is a Silicon Graphics Challenge server, running
            the IRIX 6.2 UNIX operating system.

    Fees:
      No fees for downloading the data that is on-line. Some
      fees may be required to cover cost of tapes if data
      is required on tape media.

Metadata_Reference_Information:
  Metadata_Date: 199804
  Metadata_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Person_Primary:
        Contact_Person: Margo Berendsen
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing address
        Address: Box 3067 University Station
        City: Laramie
        State_or_Province: Wyoming
        Postal_Code: 82071
        Country: USA
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 307-766-2751
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: meh@uwyo.edu
  Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
  Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998