Charles M Russell NWR Prairie Dog Burrow Locations, 1995

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: Matchett et. al.

Publication_Date: 199507

Title: Prairie Dog Burrow Locations, 1995

Description:

Abstract:

This coverage shows the locations of active and inactive prairie dog burrows on portions of the UL Bend and Charles M Russell National Wildlife Refuges in central Montana.

Purpose:

The information is being used to facilitate black-footed ferret reintroduction and management.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 199507

Currentness_Reference: Ground condition

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -108.875

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -106.125

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 48.125

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 47.250

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Theme_Keyword: Prairie dog

Theme_Keyword: burrow

Theme_Keyword: ferret

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Place_Keyword: MT

Place_Keyword: Charles M. Russell NWR

Place_Keyword: UL Bend NWR

Place_Keyword: Phillips County

Access_Constraints: Inquire

Use_Constraints: Inquire

Point_of_Contact: See Section 7.4 contact information

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Trimble Pathfinder GPS, PFinder v2.40-07, PC ARC/INFO 3.4D

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

The main theme for this data set is the presence or absence of prairie dogs in prairie dog towns as indicated by the burrow condition. Burrows were classified as active or inactive based upon field examination of burrow opening condition and the presence or absence of scat. Maps of the data were created and field checked for quality control.

Logical_Consistency_Report: N/A

Completeness_Report:

Accuracy checks were performed in the field. The information given here is a brief summary. ( Download 1994 reference for more details). Relatively little time was spent searching for prairie dog scat during mapping, resulting in what may be a conservative estimate of activity. Great differences in burrow density (habitat quality) across the colonies were readily apparent. The total number of burrows mapped is a minimum. Flour was used to mark each burrow as GPS readings were being taken, so very little if any double mapping occurred, yet some burrows were missed. It is unknown how many burrows were missed, but perhaps 10% is a reasonable guess. In an effort to assess repeatability and mapping completeness, two observers mapped burrows independently in the same sample test area, i.e. within the fence surrounding the ferret camp at the old Locke Ranch site.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

Locational accuracy is thought to be ñ five meters or less with the methods we employed. Differential corrections (measurement space method) used a base station less than 100 miles away and QUICKMARK locations were interpolated based on ñ 5.0 seconds. All rover GPS units utilized a 15 degree elevation mask, 6.0 *DOP thresholds, and recorded positions once per second. Base stations used 10 degree elevation masks, 6.0 *DOP thresholds, and five second recording intervals. Given the type of mapping GPS equipment used, there will be an inherent "float" in the location of points. Nonetheless, an average of around 10 feet of float on a burrow location in a prairie dog colony spread across a square mile is remarkable. More important than the locational accuracy of any given burrow is the relative location and distribution of all burrows, of which these results are very useful. ( Download 1994 reference for more details)

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Matchett et. al.

Publication_Date: Unpublished material

Title: N/A

Type_of_Source_Media: GPS readings

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 199507

Source_Currentness_Reference: Ground conditions

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: GPS

Source_Contribution: Raw, uncorrected GPS locational data

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The following information is taken from a more detailed description of the project. ( Download 1994 reference for more details) Trimble Navigation, Ltd., Pathfinder Professional GPS receivers, with Corvalis Micro-Technology (CMT), MC-V data loggers were used. PATHLOG ver. 2.66 was loaded on each data logger. Processing was completed with PFINDER ver. 2.40-07. PC-Arc/Info, ver. 3.4D, was used for map production. Data dictionaries were created for each data logger to use the "QUICKMARK" feature of PATHLOG to record active and inactive prairie dog burrows. The location of each QUICKMARK (i.e. burrow location) was interpolated from the GPS positions collected 5 seconds pre- and post-recording the burrow. In addition to GPS recording these QUICKMARK features, a continuous "line" of points was recorded, once per second, for the travel path of each burrow mapper. All GPS data files were differentially corrected using CMR's Trimble Navigation, Ltd. GPS Community Base Station located in Lewistown, MT (47E 03' 05.264" N, 109E 26' 34.419" W, 1251.35 m HAE). This base station used a 6-channel receiver with ver. 2.06 Community Base Station software, and is located about 90 air miles from the ferret release site. Rover GPS antennas were mounted on poles 2-3 feet long that were attached to racks on four-wheel, All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs). The receivers and data loggers were also secured to each ATV. The data loggers were strapped across the gas tanks to hold them securely in place, make the displays visible, and buttons accessible. Portions of a prairie dog colony were identified for particular mapping sessions using drainages, roads, fences, flagging, etc. in a divide and conquer approach. An ATV was ridden to each burrow and positioned so the GPS antenna was above the burrow entrance. The burrow was recorded on the GPS data logger as active or inactive with a QUICKMARK. Presence of any prairie dog scat near the burrow, regardless of age, indicated an active burrow. Total number of burrows and number of active burrows were also recorded on mechanical clicker counters as a backup. The burrow was then visually marked with a squirt of flour from a plastic beverage dispenser to prevent re-mapping or skipping burrows. With a little practice, only a few seconds were required per burrow to determine if it had been previously mapped, position the GPS antenna, ascertain activity, record the location, punch the mechanical clickers, and mark the burrow with flour. Data is collected on the Trimble as WGS-84, and converted by the PFinder software in the Trimble GPS unit to NAD-27. The version of the Pfinder software in use at the time performs a molodensky transformation to NAD-27. This produces a data shift of 29.39 feet N and 199.44 feet E (for reference a NADCON transformation shift would be 9.85 feet N and 184.13 feet E).

Process_Date: 199507

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

In this case the entity for the file is the prairie dog burrows, and the related attribute information describes the condition of the burrows, bascially whether they are being used or not.

Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

The actual label for the major attribute in the data base is status', defined as the condition of the burrow. There are two possible values for this

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Distribution_Information:

Distributor: See Section 7.4 contact information

Distribution_Liability:

This data set was constructed for use by Refuge staff only. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. These data are not legal documents and are not intended to be used as such. It is the responsibility of the user to use the data appropriately and consistently recognizing its limitations. The USFWS gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data. It is strongly recommended that these data be acquired directly from the USFWS and not through other sources which may have changed the data. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data.

Standard_Order_Process:

Non-digital_Form: See Section 7.4 contact information

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: ARCE

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Offline_Option:

Offline_Media: 3.5" diskette

Recording_Format: tar, pkzip

Fees: In accordance with 41 CFR Part 105-60

Ordering_Instructions: ftp also available by request. See contact information.

Turnaround: Subject to limitations on staff availability.

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Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 19970311

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Steven Henry

Contact_Organization: Charles M. Russell NWR

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing Address

Address: P.O. Box 110

City: Lewistown

State_or_Province: MT

Postal_Code: 59457

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (406) 538-8706 x-269

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: steven_s_henry@fws.gov

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Randy Matchett

Contact_Organization: Charles M. Russell NWR

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing Address

Address: P.O. Box 110

City: Lewistown

State_or_Province: MT

Postal_Code: 59457

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (406) 538-8706 x-227

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: randy_matchett@fws.gov

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: CMR Refuge Manager

Contact_Organization: Charles M. Russell NWR

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing Address

Address: P.O. Box 110

City: Lewistown

State_or_Province: MT

Postal_Code: 59457

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (406) 538-8706

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: r6rw_cmr@fws.gov

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Standards for Digital Spatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: 19940608

Generated by mp on Mon Jun 2 09:01:48 1997
Keywords=GIS, data
Last Modified December 05, 2001 12:18 PM