USGS:Biology Biological Informatics Program Vegetation Characterization Program Glacier National Park Field Plots Data Metadata

Field Plots Data Metadata

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Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, 2630 Fanta Reed Road, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54603

Publication_Date: 2007

Title:

Vegetation Classification Plots - Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

Series_Information:

Series_Name: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program

Issue_Identification:

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Denver, Colorado

Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Biological Informatics

Other_Citation_Details:

A detailed report on how this data set was created is available to download from the Vegetation Mapping Program's Web site. The report discusses methods and results, and includes plant community descriptions and dichotomous keys, map classification and descriptions, and AA contingency tables.

Online_Linkage: <http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/glac/fielddata.html>

Description:

Abstract:

The classification of vegetation project was conducted to support an international effort to produce the first park-wide vegetation map for the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (WGIPP). Photointerpreters, ecologists, and botanists from the U.S. and Canada collaborated to develop the map classification scheme. A detailed vegetation analysis of the Park along with information collected during previous classification projects were used to develop the map classification scheme, in accordance with the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) System plant associations (communities). A total of 682 vegetation plot samples were sampled for the map classification project, 628 within Glacier National Park and 54 from Waterton Lakes National Park. Vegetation samples from other previous sampling efforts were also used, to provide over 1,100 sampling plots of data for the vegetation analysis project. This project was conducted under the guidance of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)-National park Service (NPS) Vegetation Mapping Program. Participants include; the USGS Center for Biological Informatics, NPS Biological Resources Management Division, USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC), NPS Glacier National Park (GNP), Parks Canada Waterton Lakes National Park (WLNP), NatureServe, and the Montana Natural Heritage Program. The vegetation plots spatial database contains background information on the locations of the vegetation plots and plant associations. These data are distributed as shapefile format geographic information system (GIS) data, projected to Universal Transverse Mercator zone 12 mapping coordinates, North American Datum 1983.

Purpose:

The USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program (VMP) is a cooperative effort by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Park Service (NPS) to classify, describe, and map existing vegetation of national park units for the Natural Resource Inventory and Monitoring Program. The goals of the WGIPP vegetation mapping project were to (1) adequately describe and map plant communities of WGIPP and (2) provide the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program, resource managers, and biological researchers with useful baseline vegetation information.

Supplemental_Information:

A detailed report on the vegetation plot is available. This report also documents how these data were used to create the map classification scheme for Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, and how the vegetation map was created. The vegetation plots sampled for the mapping project were collected in Glacier National Park (GNP) from 1999 through 2002, and within Waterton Lakes National Park (WLNP) in 1999. The GNP grassland ecology data were collected from 1999 through 2001. The WLNP ecological land classification data were collected during 1994 and 1995. These data were entered into the PLOTS Database System, for analysis and classification.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 19940607

Ending_Date: 20020905

Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Glacier National Park and Waterton Lakes National Park

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -114.404447

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -113.244166

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 49.214757

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 48.206314

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: none

Theme_Keyword: vegetation plot

Theme_Keyword: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program

Theme_Keyword: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park

Theme_Keyword: Glacier National Park

Theme_Keyword: Waterton Lakes National Park

Theme_Keyword: National Park Service

Theme_Keyword: Parks Canada

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: none

Place_Keyword: Glacier National Park

Place_Keyword: Waterton Lakes National Park

Place_Keyword: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park

Place_Keyword: United States of America

Place_Keyword: Canada

Place_Keyword: Montana

Place_Keyword: Alberta

Place_Keyword: Flathead County

Place_Keyword: Glacier County

Taxonomy:

Keywords/Taxon:

Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Taxonomic_Keywords: Standardized National Vegetation Classification System

Taxonomic_Keywords: vegetation classification

Taxonomic_Keywords: alliance

Taxonomic_Keywords: community association

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom

Taxon_Rank_Value: Plantae

Access_Constraints: none

Use_Constraints: none

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address

Address:

U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Biological Informatics, MS 302, Room 8000, Building 810, Denver Federal Center

City: Denver

State_or_Province: Colorado

Postal_Code: 80225

Country: United States of America

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (303) 202-4220

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (303) 202-4219

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.2.2.1350

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

Several accuracy checks were made against the automated data and the original reports or data sheets, during and after data entry.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

The southeastern corner/edge of each vegetation plot was estimated using a global positioning system (GPS) receiver or topographic map. The mapping coordinates were recorded on data sheets, which was later entered into a digital database. The database was converted into a geographic information system (GIS) data set, containing point features.

Completeness_Report:

Data forms were filled out for each vegetation plot sampled. Each set of data sheets had a data record recorded for that site in the GIS data set.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

The locations of the vegetation plots were recorded using global positioning system (GPS) receivers. If a GPS reading wasn't possible, the location of the vegetation plot was estimated using a topographic map.

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Achuff, P.L., R.L. McNeil, M.L. Coleman, C. Wallis, and C. Wershler.

Publication_Date: 2002

Title:

Ecological land classification of Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. Vol. I: integrated resource description.

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: report

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Waterton Park, Alberta

Publisher: Parks Canada,

Type_of_Source_Media: report

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 2002

Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Achuff 2002a

Source_Contribution:

Provided additional information about the vegetation types and communities within Waterton Lakes National Park.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Damm, C.

Publication_Date: 2001

Title:

A phytosociological study of Glacier National Park, Montana, U.S.A., with notes on the syntaxonomy of alpine vegetation in western North America.

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: report

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Gottingen, Germany

Publisher: University of Gottingen

Online_Linkage: <http://webdoc.sub.gwdg.de/diss/2001/damm/index.html>

Type_of_Source_Media: report

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 2001

Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Damm 2001

Source_Contribution:

Provided additional information about the vegetation types and communities within Glacier National Park.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Shea, D., S. Olin, and J. Asebrook.

Publication_Date: Unknown

Title:

Glacier National Park Eastside Grasslands Ecology Project Draft Final Report.

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: report

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: West Glacier, MT

Publisher: Glacier National Park,

Type_of_Source_Media: unpublished report

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 2004

Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Shea et. al., 2004

Source_Contribution: Unknown

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program

Originator: The Nature Conservancy

Originator: Environmental Systems Research Institute

Publication_Date: Unknown

Title:

Standardized National Vegetation Classification System, USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: report

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Denver, Colorado

Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Biological Informatics

Other_Citation_Details:

This document has two fundamental purposes. First, it is to describe the structure, content, and origins of the Standard National Vegetation Classification System proposed for adoption by the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program. Second, it is to describe the process by which the system is to be applied to changing requirements.

Online_Linkage: <http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/classification/index.html>

Type_of_Source_Media: report

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 199411

Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: USGS/NPS Veg. Classification

Source_Contribution:

Contains the standard operating procedures used by individuals classifying vegetation for the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program

Originator: The Nature Conservancy

Originator: Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.

Publication_Date: 199412

Title:

Field Methods for Vegetation Mapping, USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: report

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Denver, Colorado

Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Biological Informatics

Other_Citation_Details:

This report proposes a standardized planning and field methods process that will meet the objectives of the NBS/NPS Vegetation Mapping Project.

Online_Linkage: <http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/fieldmethods/index.html>

Type_of_Source_Media: report

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: unknown

Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: USGS-NPS Field Procedures

Source_Contribution:

Contains the standard field procedures used by individuals classifying vegetation for the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Key environmental variables thought to be driving vegetation pattern were identified, including elevation, aspect, fire history, and soils. These data were analyzed, to locate areas with unique combinations (i.e., biophysical units (BPUs)). Areas containing clusters of different BPUs were identified, especially those within close proximity to roads and hiking trails.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: USGS-NPS Veg. Classification

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: USGS-NPS Field Procedures

Process_Date: 1999 through 2002

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Field crews visited and established vegetation plots within the BPUs. Using procedures and methods outlined in the Plot Sampling Form and Field Manual (Appendix C, U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park project report), the field crews filled out detailed sampling forms for each sampling site. Note: If the field crews noticed a unique vegetation community as they were navigating to their appointed sampling site, this information was relayed to their field supervisor. In some incidences, additional vegetation plots were collected to record this information.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: USGS-NPS Veg. Classification

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: USGS-NPS Field Procedures

Process_Date: Unknown

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

A database was compiled that contained the geographic coordinates of each vegetation plot, the park location that was sampled (Glacier or Waterton), the vegetation association classification for the plot, along with additional coding and locational information. These data were then converted to a geographic information system (GIS) point file.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: USGS-NPS Veg. Classification

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: USGS-NPS Field Procedures

Process_Date: 2004

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector

Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Entity point

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 1113

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Planar:

Grid_Coordinate_System:

Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator

Universal_Transverse_Mercator:

UTM_Zone_Number: 12

Transverse_Mercator:

Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600

Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -111.000000

Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.000000

False_Easting: 500000.000000

False_Northing: 0.000000

Planar_Coordinate_Information:

Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair

Coordinate_Representation:

Abscissa_Resolution: 0.000001

Ordinate_Resolution: 0.000001

Planar_Distance_Units: meters

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983

Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80

Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: WGIPP_VegPlots

Entity_Type_Definition:

The attribute table for the point file of the vegetation plot locations.

Entity_Type_Definition_Source:

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: FID

Attribute_Definition:

Internal feature number. These numbers are automatically generated by the software program ArcInfo Workstation, and are used by the software to track individual polygon features stored in shapefiles. Most software program will not display these numbers when the data set's attribute table is displayed.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Shape

Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: PLOT_SITE

Attribute_Definition:

Character codes used to link individual plot locations to the data sheets prepared for that site. Each sampling site has a unique ID number.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Random IDs defining the features.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: ASSN_CEGL

Attribute_Definition:

Association codes used to link individual records to one of the 190 different vegetation associations identified for the park.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Association codes used to link individual records to one of the 190 different vegetation associations identified for the park.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: ASSN_NAME

Attribute_Definition:

The scientific names of the major vegetation types associated with each vegetation association. A complete plant species list (linking common name to scientific names) is available in Appendix F of the project report. Detailed descriptions of the plant associations are available in Appendix G.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

The scientific names of the major vegetation types associated with each vegetation association. A complete plant species list (linking common name to scientific names) is available in Appendix F of the project report. Detailed descriptions of the plant associations are available in Appendix G.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: PROJECT

Attribute_Definition:

The name of the project each vegetation plot was associated with.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

The name of the project each vegetation plot was associated with..

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: LOCATION

Attribute_Definition:

The abbreviation code of the park associated with each vegetation plot.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: GLAC

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Glacier National Park

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: WATE

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Waterton Lakes National Park

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: QUAD_24K

Attribute_Definition:

The name of the 1:24,000-scale topographic quadrangle associated with each vegetation plot.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

The name of the 1:24,000-scale topographic quadrangle associated with each vegetation plot.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: X_EASTING

Attribute_Definition:

The east/west (e.g., longitude) mapping coordinate that marks the southeastern corner of each vegetation plot.

Attribute_Definition_Source: GPS receiver or USGS topographic quadrangle

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinate defining features

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Y_NORTHING

Attribute_Definition:

The north/south (e.g., latitude) mapping coordinate that marks the southeastern corner of each vegetation plot.

Attribute_Definition_Source: GPS receiver or USGS topographic quadrangle

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinate defining features

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: PLOT_DATE

Attribute_Definition:

The calendar date each plot was sampled, recorded as YYYYMMDD (Y=year, M=month, and D=day).

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Dates defining features

Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20030609

Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20051004

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

USGS Biological Resources Division, Center for Biological Informatics

Contact_Person: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Physical Address

Address: USGS

Address: Biological Resources Division, CBI

Address: Building 810, Room 8000

City: Denver

State_or_Province: Colorado

Postal_Code: 80225-0046

Country: USA

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing Address

Address: USGS

Address: Biological Resources Division, CBI

Address: PO BOX 25046, DFC, MS302

City: Denver

State_or_Province: Colorado

Postal_Code: 80225-0046

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (303) 202-4220

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (303) 202-4229

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (303) 202-4219 (org)

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov

Resource_Description: Downloadable Data

Distribution_Liability:

The U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. These data and related graphics (if available) are not legal documents and are not intended to be used as such.

The information contained in these data is dynamic and may change over time. The data are not better than the original sources from which they were derived. It is the responsibility of the data user to use the data appropriately and consistent within the limitations of geospatial data in general and these data in particular. Any related graphics (if available) are intended to aid the data user in acquiring relevant data; it is not approriate to use the related graphics as data.

The U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data. It is strongly recommended that these data are directly acquired from an U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service servers and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the utility of the data on another 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 also strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this metadata report does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U. S. Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey and National Park Service.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: HTML

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: <http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/glac/fielddata.html>

Fees: None

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20070718

Metadata_Review_Date: 20080130

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address

Address:

U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Biological Informatics, MS 302,
Room 8000, Building 810, Denver Federal Center

City: Denver

State_or_Province: Colorado

Postal_Code: 80225

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (303) 202-4220

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (303) 202-4219

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov

Metadata_Standard_Name:

FGDC-STD-001.1-1999 Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata, 1998 Part 1: Biological Data Profile, 1999

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Extensions:

Online_Linkage:

<http://metadata.nbii.gov/portal/community/Communities/Toolkit/Metadata/FGDC_Metadata/>

Profile_Name: Biological Data Profile FGDC-STD-001.1-1999