No formal metadata exists for the old ID-GAP vertebrate habitat models (ID_VERTS). Because there has been a lot of confusion over how this data layer is organized and can be properly used, we offer the following information. We would like to state that these models have been supplanted by newer models for Idaho's wildlife and the user, in all likelihood, should be using these unless he/she knows what their doing.
Projection Parameters:
Projection: Lambert conformal conic
Units: meters
Datum: NAD27
Spheroid: Clarke1866
Parameters:
1st standard parallel: 33 00 00
2nd standard parallel: 45 00 00
central meridian: -114 00 00
Origin of latitude: 42 00 00
false easting: 0.0
false northing: 0.0
Data Structure:
The ID_VERTS coverage consists of three major tables with the following relationships and significant items. Other tables and items may exist, but they are not supported at present. Interpretation of their contents is at your own risk.
| id_verts.code - Table of wildlife species with descriptive attributes | ||
| Description: | This table contains a row for each species and descriptive attributes for each species. | |
| Relates to: | id_verts.matrix | |
| Relationship | one record in .code table to one item in .matrix | |
| Significant Items: | ||
| SPECIES | Species number that relates to items in .matrix table. | |
| VCACODE | Species Element Code | |
| SCINAME | Scientific name | |
| COMNAME | Common name | |
| MODNAME | Description of GAP model type used for this species | |
| STATUS | native, or introduced | |
| CLASS | Taxonomic class: amphibian, reptile, bird, mammal | |
| id_verts.matrix - Table of predicted wildlife species occurrence for each polygon | ||
| Description: | This table contains a row for each polygon in the .PAT and an item for each species. Zero (0) denotes that the species is not predicted to occur in that polygon, a one (1) denotes that the species is predicted to occur within that polygon. | |
| Relates to: | id_verts.code and id_verts.pat | |
| Relationship | one record in .code table to one item in .matrix one record in .matrix table to one record in .pat |
|
| Significant Items: | ||
| VERTS# | polygon number that relates to the polygon number in the .PAT table. | |
| SPXXX | Species prediction item where XXX equals the species number from the .CODE table. | |
| id_verts.pat - Polygon attribute table for ID_VERTS coverage | ||
| Description: | This table contains a row for each polygon in the coverage | |
| Relates to: | id_verts.matrix | |
| Relationship | one record in .PAT table to one record in .MATRIX | |
| Significant Items: | ||
| VERTS# | polygon number that related to the VERTS# number in the .MATRIX table | |
Using the ID_VERTS coverage:
To display a species' range, you must first append the .MATRIX table to the .PAT table. In ArcInfo, this can be accomplished using a RELATE on the VERTS# item. In ArcView, this is best accomplished by joining the tables on the VERTS# item. Once the tables are joined, identify a species in the .CODE table and find its SPECIES number. Then query the joined table (or relate) on the SPXXX item corresponding to the species of interest.
For example, if we wanted to display the distribution of the Western Toad (Bufo boreas), we would look up that species in the .CODE table and find that its SPECIES number is 6. We would then query the joined (related) table on SP6 = 1.
Conversely, you can generate species lists for specific areas by identifying the polygon numbers in the coverage. Then look up the polygon number in the .MATRIX table and recurse through all of the SPXXX items looking for those items = 1. Species richness can also be calculated in this manner.
Good luck!!!