Vegetation Mapping of St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge

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Frequently-anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

    Title: Vegetation Mapping of St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge
    Abstract:
    The natural resource management staff at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge determined the need for an updated map of plant communities on the refuge including the main island (St. Vincent Island) and the Pig Island unit (located in St. Joe Bay). A vegetation map was developed from 1:32,500 scale color infrared aerial photography acquired in December 1992. The area was mapped to USGS Topographic quadrangles (total of 4).

  1. How should this data set be cited?

    U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division's National W, 1999, Vegetation Mapping of St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge.

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -85.38
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -85.03
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 29.7
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 29.62

  3. What does it look like?

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Calendar_Date: 1992
    Currentness_Reference: Observed

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Digital vector data

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      Indirect_Spatial_Reference: St. Vincent NWR
      This is a Vector data set.

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
      Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
      UTM_Zone_Number: 16
      Transverse_Mercator:
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -87
      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0
      False_Easting: 500000
      False_Northing: 0
      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: .9996

      Planar coordinates are encoded using Coordinate Pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest .61
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest .61
      Planar coordinates are specified in meters

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    Vegetation
    Major vegetation patterns that describe the synonyms, extent, topography, soils, appearance, ecology, and associated plant species. (Source: Grace, Sue. Final Report of the Vegetation Survey and Map Project St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center)

    Vegetation
    Vegetation classes (Source: Grace, Sue. Final Report of the Vegetation Survey and Map Project St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center)

    ValueDefinition
    PN - Pine flatwoodsMesic slash pine flatwoods, mesic flatwoods, slash pine-mixed understory, slash pine-saw palmetto-Ilex, Pinus elliottii var. elliottii
    PP - Pine-cabbage palm flatwoodsWet slash pine-cabbage palm flatwoods, pocosin, cabbage palm/pine savanna, hydric flatwoods, wet flatwoods, slash pine-cabbage palm flatwoods, Pinus elliottii var. elliottii / (Sabal Palmetto) / Serenoa repens - Ilex glabra woodland.
    CP - Cabbage palm hammockMaritine hammock, coastal hammock, maritime forest, tropical hammock, Sabal palmetto seasonally flooded woodland, Sabal Palmetto woodland, Quercus virginiana - Sabal palmetto - Persea borbonia / Serenoa repens - Ilex vomitoria.
    SO - ScrubSand pine scrub, Florida scrub, sand scrub, rosemary scrub, oak scrub, scrub oak, Pinus clausa / Quercus myrtifloia - Quercus geminata - Quercus chapmanii woodland, Ceratiola ericoides shrubland, and Ceratiola ericoides - Quercus geminata - Serenoa repens / Cladonia spp. - Cladina spp. shrubland.
    SP - Sand pine-scrubScrub, Florida scrub, sand scrub, rosemary scrub, oak scrub, scrub oak, Pinus clausa / Quercus myrtifolia - Quercus geminata - Quercus chapmanii woodland, Ceratiola ericoides shrubland, Ceratiola ericoides - Quercus geminata - Serenoa repens / Cladonia spp. - Cladina spp. shrubland.
    LO - Live oak hammockXeric hammock, xeric forest, sand hammock, live oak forest, oak woodland, oak hammock, live oak, mixed live oak-scrub oak, live oak dunes, live oak-grass dunes, Quercus geminata - (Quercus virginiana) / Serenoa repens - Lyonia fruticosa forest, Quercus virginiana / Ilex vomitoria / Oplismenus setarius forest, Quercus virginiana / Serenoa repens forest, Quercus virginiana / vaccinium arboreum - Ilex vomitoria forest.
    HH - Hardwood hammockMaritime hammock, coastal hammock, maritime forest, tropical hammock, Quercus virginiana - Sabal palmetto - Juniperus virginiana ver. silicicola / Persea borbonia, Quercus virginiana - Sabal palmetto - Persea borbonia / Serenoa repens - Ilex vomitoria.
    GR - Coastal grasslandCoastal savanna, salt flat, overwash plain, slash pine-grass, Uniola paniculata - Schizachyricum maritimum - Hydrocotyle bonariensis herbaceous vegetation.
    EMf - Palustrine marshSwale, sawgrass-emergent marsh, cattail, freshwater marsh, slough, Cladium mariscoides Herbaceous Vegetation, Cladium mariscoides - Eleocharis equisetoides Herbaceous Vegetation
    SSf - Palustrine shrubBaygall, swales, Salix caroliniana shrubland, Salix caroliniana woodland, Cyrilla racemiflora - Persea palustris - Magnolia virginiana shrubland
    UBf - Palustrine open waterCoastal dune lake, freshwater pond, Ceratophyllum demersum herbaceous vegetation Najas guadalupensis - Ceratophyllum demersum - Utricularia inflata herbaceous vegetation.
    EMb - Estuarine marshSaltwater marsh, coastal dune lake, estuarine tidal marsh, tidal marsh, brackish marsh, coastal marsh, Spartina patens - Juncus roemerianus tidal herbaceous vegetation, Juncus roemerianus high marsh vegetation, Juncus roemerianus low marsh vegetation, Distichlis spicata - Spartina spp. tidal herbaceous vegetation, Spartina bakeri - Spartina patens herbaceous vegetation.
    SSb - Estuarine shrubEstuarine tidal marsh, Baccharis halimifolia - Iva frutescens shrubland, Baccharis halimifolia - Iva frutescens / Panicum virgatum shrubland, Iva frutescens / Spartina spartinae shrubland, Iva frutescens shrubland, Myrica cerifera - Baccharis halimifolia / Spartina spartinae shrubland.
    UBe - Estuarine open waterCoastal dune lakes, saltwater ponds, lagoons, Ruppia, maritima herbaceous vegetation, Potamogeton pectinatus - Ruppia maritima herbaceous vegetation, Potamogeton perfoliatus - Zannichellia palustris herbaceous vegetation.
    BD - Beach dunesBeach
    IZ - Intertidal zoneUnconsolidated shoreline, unconsolidated substrate, beach, tidal flat.
    MOL - Oyster reefsMollusk reefs, oyster bed
    FL - Intertidal flatsUnconsolidated substrate, saltflats, mudflats, tidal flats.
    DV - DevelopedUrban, developed sites
    EMm - Managed marshThe marshes surrounding these open water sites have been impacted by the flooding regimes and saltwater exchange allowed in these areas. Most recently, a significant amount of cattail (Typha spp.) was reduced by humans as a result of flood management projects.
    UBm - Managed open waterThe vegetation, predominately submersed vegetation, will be impacted as flooding regimes and salinities change with management activities.


Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    The U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center would like to acknowledge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, St. Vincent NWR for their assistance in the development of the data set.

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center
    c/o Dr.Sue Grace and Larry Handley
    Principal Investigators
    700 Cajundome Blvd
    Lafayette, LA 70506
    USA

    337-266-8500 (voice)
    337-266-8513 (FAX)
    sue_grace@usgs.gov larry_handley@usgs.gov


Why was the data set created?

To provide information within a GIS for use in the management of refuge wildlife, fire, hydrology, and recreation activities.


How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    CIR (source 1 of 3)
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), 19921212, Color Infrared Aerial Photography: NASA, NASA Ames, CA.

    Type_of_Source_Media: Stable-based material
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 32500
    Source_Contribution:
    Primary data for photo interpretation and identification of vegetation classes.

    USGS quads (source 2 of 3)
    U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 19830101, USGS Topographic Quadrangles, standard 7.5 minute series maps: USGS, Reston, VA.

    Type_of_Source_Media: Paper
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 24000
    Source_Contribution:
    Provided base maps for vegetation layer information. Also provided colateral information for interpretation.

    USDA soil (source 3 of 3)
    U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service , 1994, Soil Survey of Franklin County, Florida: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, FL.

    Type_of_Source_Media: Paper
    Source_Contribution: Provided colateral information for interpretation.

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: 1999 (process 1 of 1)
    NASA high altitude 1:32,500 color infrared aerial photography were photo interpreted for vegetation classification. The vegetation layer was overlaid onto USGS quad base maps to create the map. Field surveys were conducted to record groundtruth data and to correlate photographic signatures. Following quality assurance procedures, the hard copy maps were digitized. The data was edited, complied and converted into an ARC/Info format for final map production.

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

    U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center, 20000301, Final Report of the Vegetation Survey and Map Project St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, Apalachicola, Florida: U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette, LA.


How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    Interpreted photos were quality checked by two photointerpreters for attribute classification. Field verification was performed to assure signatures. The mylar-based maps were checked by cartographic personnel for line and labelwork. The attribute accuracy for the digital data is tested by manually comparing hard copy plots with the source materials.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    The horizontal positional accuracy is tested by visual comparison of hard copy check plots to the source materials and verifying the location of the data on-screen relative to other data layers in the same geographic area.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

    Not applicable

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    For cartographic process, accordance with nationally accepted mapping standards and conventions are followed.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    Procedures and techniques used in the mapping process were derived from, and are in accordance with, nationally accepted standards and conventions for map accuracy and habitat mapping. GIS software is used to create and maintain topological relationships between features. There are no duplicate features, but coincident lines are maintained between data layers where appropriate. Polygonal features begin and end at the same point, contain no overshoots or undershoots, and contain a single label. Linear features, if present, are continous, i.e., dangling arcs are removed if they are not required.


How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints:
It is strongly recommended that this data is directly acquired from the distributor described above or from another USGS Biological Resources Division server and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. The distributor makes no claims as to the data's suitability for other purposes.
Use_Constraints:
Acknowledgement of the U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center as a data source would be appreciated in products developed from these data, and such acknowledgment as is standard for citation and legal practices for data source is expected by users of this data. Sharing new data layers developed directly from these data would also be appreciated by U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center staff. Users should be aware that comparison with other data sets for the same area from other time periods may be inaccurate due to inconsistencies resulting from changes in mapping conventions, data collection, and computer processes over time. The distributor shall not be liable for improper or incorrect use of this data, based on the description of appropriate/inappropriate uses described in this metadata document. These data are not legal documents and are not to be used as such.

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 2)

    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge
    c/o Thom Lewis
    Biologist
    479 Market Street
    Apalachicola, FL 32320-0447
    USA

    850-653-8808 (voice)
    850-653-9893 (FAX)

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    Please contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for its distribution liability statement.

  4. How can I download or order the data?


  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 2 of 2)

    U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center
    c/o Larry Handley
    Geographer
    700 Cajundome Blvd
    Lafayette, LA 70506
    USA

    337-266-8691 (voice)
    337-266-8513 (FAX)
    larry_handley@usgs.gov

    Hours_of_Service: 8am to 4pm CST Monday thru Friday
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data on any other 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 strongly recommended that these data are directly acquired from a Biological Resources Division server, and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. It is also strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data. U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. So, these data are provided "as is" and without any express or implied warranties, including, without limitation, the implied warranties or merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Also, use of trade names or commercial products in this metadata is solely for the purpose of providing specific information, and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Government. Any downloading and use of these data signifies a user's agreement to comprehension and compliance of the U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center Standard Disclaimer. Insure all portions of metadata are read and clearly understood before using these data in order to protect both user and U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center interests.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

  5. Is there some other way to get the data?

    None


Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 11-May-2000
Last Reviewed: 27-Nov-2001

Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center
c/o Helena Schaefer
Geographer
700 Cajundome Blvd
Lafayette, LA 70506
USA

337-266-8696 (voice)
337-266-8616 (FAX)
helena_schaefer@usgs.gov

Hours_of_Service: 8am to 4pm CST, Monday thru Friday
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

Metadata extensions used:


Generated by mp version 2.7.11 on Tue Nov 27 12:59:22 2001