Data Dictionary for Washington GAP Project (WAGAP) Bird Distributions - Distribution Models and Predicted Distributions Introduction The Bird Distribution Models (DMs) are described in Breeding birds of Washington State: Location data and modeled distributions by M. R. Smith, P. W. Mattocks, Jr., and K. M. Cassidy (see metadata for full citation and a summary of their derivation); they are used in conjunction with version 5 of the WAGAP Land Cover layer. The Predicted Distributions (PDs) are a generalized view of the DMs, and can be used without the land cover layer to reproduce the distribution maps in the "Species Accounts" section of Smith et al. (without the location data). In both cases, each species is represented by a separate compressed Arc/Info export file; the files are named for the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife species code. The species codes can be found in the file birdcodes.txt, along with the common and scientific names for the species. Distribution Models For each species, the DM is an INFO file that relates to the WAGAP Land Cover layer (Version 5) by the polygon ID. The land cover layer may be downloaded from ftp://wdfw.wa.gov/gapdata/lcv5, along with associated metadata and data dictionary information. In addition to the land cover polygon id, there are three additional items: COLUMN ITEM NAME WIDTH OUTPUT TYPE N.DEC 1 VERTCOVER5-ID 4 5 B - 5 P 1 1 I - 6 S 1 1 I - 7 T 1 1 I - Each of the three items P, S and T are populated by one of the following habitat suitability codes: 0 - Habitat not suitable 1 - Species present, no opinion on habitat quality available. (In practice, this code was never applied.) 2 - Good habitat in a vegetation zone core for that species. 3 - Adequate habitat in a vegetation zone core for that species. 4 - Land cover in a core zone that is suitable if it contains appropriate habitat below our mapping resolution, termed 'contingently suitable, core zone'. 5 - Good habitat in a vegetation zone peripheral for that species. 6 - Adequate habitat in a vegetation zone peripheral for that species. 7 - Land cover in a peripheral vegetation zone that is suitable if it contains appropriate habitat below our mapping resolution, termed 'contingently suitable, peripheral zone'. The item 'P' contains the habitat suitability code for the primary land cover type for a given polygon. The items 'S' and 'T' contain the habitat suitability codes for the secondary and tertiary cover types, respectively, if applicable. To determine the actual cover types, as well as how much of a given polygon is occupied by the (possibly) multiple cover types, one must look at the land cover layer's polygon attribute table. NOTE: Species were not modeled in primary, secondary or tertiary habitat that occupied less than 5% of a polygon's total area (occupancy class 1). Predicted Distributions For each species, the PD is an Arc/Info polygon coverage with one item over and above the normal polygon attributes, called HABZONE. For example, the item list for the PD for the Cassin's Finch (species code CACAS) is as follows: COLUMN ITEM NAME WIDTH OUTPUT TYPE N.DEC 1 AREA 4 12 F 3 5 PERIMETER 4 12 F 3 9 CACAS# 4 5 B - 13 CACAS-ID 4 5 B - 17 HABZONE 1 1 I - The item HABZONE takes the following values: 0 Habitat not suitable 1 Primary, secondary or tertiary habitat is in a vegetation zone considered core for that species (habitat suitability code 2, 3 or 4 in any of P, S or T in the DM) 2 Primary, secondary or tertiary habitat is in a vegetation zone considered peripheral for that species (habitat suitability code 5,6 or 7 in any of P, S or T in the DM) The PDs were derived from the DMs and the land cover layer by reselecting on the items P, S and T as indicated above, and then dissolving on HABZONE. These generalized predicted distribution coverages were created in order to more easily facilitate the reproduction of the species distribution maps in Smith et al., and to provide a more portable and simplified view of the full distribution models.