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Wyoming Natural Diversity Database
1000 E. University Ave.
Department 3381
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: 307-766-3026
Email: wyndd@uwyo.edu

Data Dictionary for Occurrence Data Downloads

Source Feature Occurrence Records: source.shp or the results tab in the results.xlsx file

Distributed in data requests as individual observations of a single species or vegetation community at a specific location on a specific date, represented by polygons depicting the locational uncertainty distance in meters. Very precise location information will usually result in smaller polygons. Particular attention should be paid to the ID_CONFIRM and corresponding ID_NOTES fields when evaluating Source Feature data.

Sensitive Data Policy

Records are considered sensitive and therefore only distributed at the township scale if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

Record occurs on private land and is not documented in publicly available references, though WYNDD has permission from the land owner to archive and distribute at the township level.

Record was donated to WYNDD and the donor has requested that it be treated as sensitive.

Record contains a biologically sensitive component.

^eeorep only ^ssource only *Not distributed for sensitive records or township scale requests

ATTRIBUTE	DEFINITION
FEATURE_ID	Unique identification number for the shape (original point, line, or polygon) representing the Element Occurrence or Source Feature
OBS_ID^s	Unique identification number for each observation within a Source Feature
DATA_SENS	Record contains sensitive data: Y - Yes, records released at township scale only N - No, records may be released at the precise scale
AREA AREA_TR^s = request or buffer township for township scale requests	Request or Buffer Area Records within 4 miles of the request area are usually included in smaller scale data requests Request - Record intersects the request area Buffer - Record intersects the buffer area only
ELCODE	Element code assigned to species or vegetation community by NatureServe, consisting of the following 10-character structure: 1. A = vertebrate animal, P = vascular plant, C = community, I = invertebrate animal, N = nonvascular plant or fungus, G = geologic, O = other 2. Plants: P = pteridophyte (ferns and fern allies), G = gymnosperm, D = dicot, M = monocot; vertebrate animals: A = amphibian, B = bird, F = fish, M = mammal, R = reptile) 3. Plants: 1st digit of 3-digit family code, vertebrate animals: birds P = passerine, N = nonpasserine; fish - A = lampreys and hagfish, B = sharks and rays, C = bony fishes; for mammals, amphibians, and reptiles this character was not used to represent any information and was generally filled with an "A" merely as a placeholder 4. Plants: 2nd digit of 3-digit family code, vertebrate animals: order code 5. Plants: 3rd digit of 3-digit family code, vertebrate animals: family code 6. Plants and animals: 1st digit of 2-digit genus code 7. Plants and animals: 2nd digit of 2-digit genus code 8. Plants and animals: 1st digit of 2-digit species code 9. Plants and animals: 2nd digit of 2-digit species code 10. Plants and animals: subspecies code
ELEM_TYPE	Taxonomic grouping (Reptile, Mammal, Flowering Plant, etc.)
SNAME	Scientific name
COMNAME	Common name
G_RANK	Global Heritage Rank assigned by NatureServe
S_RANK	State Heritage Rank assigned by WYNDD biologists
USFWS_ESA	United States Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Act status
WY_BLM	Wyoming Bureau of Land Management WY BLM SSL - On Sensitive Species List
USFS	United States Forest Service S-USFS R2 - Sensitive in Region 2 S-USFS R4 - Sensitive in Region 4 SOLC-NF - Species of Local Concern in designated Forest
WGFD	Wyoming Game and Fish Department
TRACKSTAT	Tracking Status: Y - Tracked by WYNDD W - Watched for potential tracking
OBS_DATE^s SURVEYDATE^e FIRST_OBS^e LAST_OBS^e	♦ SOURCE - OBS_DATE: Date of observation ♦ EOREP - SURVEY DATE: Date of the last known survey at this location ♦ EOREP - FIRST_- and LAST_OBS: First and last date, respectively, the Element was observed at this location
OBSERVER^s*	Name of observer Nested within the EO_DATA field for eorep records
OBS_DATA^s*	Details of observation
POP_TYPE^s*	Population type (residence area, breeding area, etc.)
OBS_TYPE^s* EO_TYPE^e	Observation type (specimen, survey, etc.) Type of EO (specimen, survey, etc.)
REFERENCE*	The primary reference for the record
ID_CONFIRM ID_NOTES^s	Indicates whether identification has been confirmed by a reliable individual: Y - Yes ? - Questionable: source ID_NOTES provides details F - False: original identification is false and source ID_NOTES provides details. These records are not distributed in regular data requests, but requesters should be aware that we maintain these data to dispel rumors and maintain a data trail.
MAP_PRECIS^s DIST_UNIT^s PRECISION^e ACCURACY^e	♦ SOURCE - MAP_PRECIS Locational uncertainty in meters (10 m is the minimum distance assigned to point and line features) ♦ SOURCE - DIST_UNIT Unit of distance measure for MAP_PRECIS (always given in meters) ♦ EOREP - PRECISION Estimated precision of the location - old method, carried over from previous system; as records are updated in Biotics this value is deleted and the ACCURACY field is populated: G Low, within 7.5 km M Medium, within 700 S High, within 20 m ♦ EOREP ACCURACY Estimated accuracy of the location - new method, populated as data are updated in Biotics: Very High (>95%) High (>80%, <=95%) Medium (>20%, <=80%) Low (>0%, <=20%) Unknown
LOCATOR^s* TOWN_RANGE^e* TRS^e*	♦ SOURCE - LOCATOR Township/Range/Section (format: 045N118W Sec 23 SE4) and sometimes a brief description of specific location Data entered manually ♦ EOREP TOWN_RANGE Township/Range (format: T13NR86W, T13NR87W, T14NR86W) Data auto-generated in Biotics. ♦ EOREP - TRS Township/Range/Section (format: 012N084W Sec 15 SE4 * next TRS) Data auto-generated in Biotics
SOURCE_ID	♦ SOURCE Unique identification number for the Source Feature in Biotics ♦ EOREP Shape type and identification number for the Source Features associated with the EO in Biotics
EO_ID	Identification number for the Element Occurrence (EO)
EO_NUM	Element Occurrence number for the species or vegetation community
INDEPEN_SF^s	Independent Source Feature: Y - Yes, Source Feature is not incorporated in an Element Occurrence N - No, Source Feature is part of an Element Occurrence
DESCRIPTOR^s	A brief description of the Source Feature (also see POP_TYPE and OBS_TYPE) When the DESCRIPTOR field in the source file is populated with "HDMS DEFAULT CONVERSION VALUES", use the eorep file to view data - cross-reference on the EO_ID field
COUNTY^e	County name
MAPSHEET^e	USGS 1:24000 state quad code and name
MANAGED_BY^e	Land management area (i.e. agency land ownership)
DIRECTIONS_1^e* DIRECTIONS_2^e*etc.	Directions to (or description of) site - carried over into the _2 etc. fields after 255 characters
GEN_DESC_1^e* GEN_DESC_2^e*etc.	General habitat description for site - carried over into the _2 etc. fields after 255 characters
MIN_ELEV^e*	Minimum elevation in feet
MAX_ELEV^e*	Maximum elevation in feet
SPECIMEN^e*	Specimen or voucher information
EO_DATA_1^e* EO_DATA_2^e* etc.	Observation details of Source Features associated with Element Occurrence (name, date, etc.) - carried over into the _2 etc. fields after 255 characters
EO_RANK^e	An estimate of the relative value or viability of the Element Occurrence
SIZE_OF_EO^e	Size of Element Occurrence, in acres unless otherwise noted
C_LAST_MOD^s O_LAST_MOD^s E_LAST_MOD^e A_LAST_MOD^s	Date of last database modification for: C_LAST_MOD = core Source Feature attributes O_LAST_MOD = observation attributes E_LAST_MOD = Element Occurrence attributes A_LAST_MOD = additional Source Feature attributes (extended table) (ID_CONFIRM, ID_NOTES, DATA_SENS, TRS_NOTE, REFERENCE) Note: A_LAST_MOD is manually edited, not automated, and therefore may not always be accurate

ATTRIBUTE

DEFINITION

FEATURE_ID

Unique identification number for the shape (original point, line, or polygon) representing the Element Occurrence or Source Feature

OBS_ID^s

Unique identification number for each observation within a Source Feature

DATA_SENS

Record contains sensitive data:

Y - Yes, records released at township scale only

N - No, records may be released at the precise scale

AREA

AREA_TR^s = request or buffer township for township scale requests

Request or Buffer Area

Records within 4 miles of the request area are usually included in smaller scale data requests

Request - Record intersects the request area

Buffer - Record intersects the buffer area only

ELCODE

Element code assigned to species or vegetation community by NatureServe, consisting of the following 10-character structure:

1. A = vertebrate animal, P = vascular plant, C = community, I = invertebrate animal, N = nonvascular plant or fungus, G = geologic, O = other

2. Plants: P = pteridophyte (ferns and fern allies), G = gymnosperm, D = dicot,

M = monocot; vertebrate animals: A = amphibian, B = bird, F = fish, M = mammal, R = reptile)

3. Plants: 1st digit of 3-digit family code, vertebrate animals: birds P = passerine, N = nonpasserine; fish - A = lampreys and hagfish, B = sharks and rays, C = bony fishes; for mammals, amphibians, and reptiles this character was not used to represent any information and was generally filled with an "A" merely as a placeholder

4. Plants: 2nd digit of 3-digit family code, vertebrate animals: order code

5. Plants: 3rd digit of 3-digit family code, vertebrate animals: family code

6. Plants and animals: 1st digit of 2-digit genus code

7. Plants and animals: 2nd digit of 2-digit genus code

8. Plants and animals: 1st digit of 2-digit species code

9. Plants and animals: 2nd digit of 2-digit species code

10. Plants and animals: subspecies code

ELEM_TYPE

Taxonomic grouping (Reptile, Mammal, Flowering Plant, etc.)

SNAME

Scientific name

COMNAME

Common name

G_RANK

Global Heritage Rank assigned by NatureServe

S_RANK

State Heritage Rank assigned by WYNDD biologists

USFWS_ESA

United States Fish and Wildlife Service

Endangered Species Act status

WY_BLM

Wyoming Bureau of Land Management

WY BLM SSL - On Sensitive Species List

USFS

United States Forest Service

S-USFS R2 - Sensitive in Region 2

S-USFS R4 - Sensitive in Region 4

SOLC-NF - Species of Local Concern in designated Forest

WGFD

Wyoming Game and Fish Department

TRACKSTAT

Tracking Status:

Y - Tracked by WYNDD

W - Watched for potential tracking

OBS_DATE^s

SURVEYDATE^e

FIRST_OBS^e

LAST_OBS^e

♦ SOURCE - OBS_DATE: Date of observation

♦ EOREP - SURVEY DATE: Date of the last known survey at this location

♦ EOREP - FIRST_- and LAST_OBS: First and last date, respectively, the Element was observed at this location

OBSERVER^s*

Name of observer
Nested within the EO_DATA field for eorep records

OBS_DATA^s*

Details of observation

POP_TYPE^s*

Population type (residence area, breeding area, etc.)

OBS_TYPE^s*

EO_TYPE^e

Observation type (specimen, survey, etc.)

Type of EO (specimen, survey, etc.)

REFERENCE*

The primary reference for the record

ID_CONFIRM

ID_NOTES^s

Indicates whether identification has been confirmed by a reliable individual:

Y - Yes

? - Questionable: source ID_NOTES provides details

F - False: original identification is false and source ID_NOTES provides details. These records are not distributed in regular data requests, but requesters should be aware that we maintain these data to dispel rumors and maintain a data trail.

MAP_PRECIS^s

DIST_UNIT^s

PRECISION^e

ACCURACY^e

♦ SOURCE - MAP_PRECIS

Locational uncertainty in meters (10 m is the minimum distance assigned to point and line features)

♦ SOURCE - DIST_UNIT

Unit of distance measure for MAP_PRECIS (always given in meters)

♦ EOREP - PRECISION

Estimated precision of the location - old method, carried over from previous system; as records are updated in Biotics this value is deleted and the ACCURACY field is populated:

G Low, within 7.5 km
M Medium, within 700
S High, within 20 m

♦ EOREP ACCURACY

Estimated accuracy of the location - new method, populated as data are updated in Biotics:

Very High (>95%)
High (>80%, <=95%)
Medium (>20%, <=80%)
Low (>0%, <=20%)
Unknown

LOCATOR^s*

TOWN_RANGE^e*

TRS^e*

♦ SOURCE - LOCATOR

Township/Range/Section (format: 045N118W Sec 23 SE4) and sometimes a brief description of specific location

Data entered manually

♦ EOREP TOWN_RANGE

Township/Range (format: T13NR86W, T13NR87W, T14NR86W)

Data auto-generated in Biotics.

♦ EOREP - TRS

Township/Range/Section (format: 012N084W Sec 15 SE4 * next TRS)

Data auto-generated in Biotics

SOURCE_ID

♦ SOURCE

Unique identification number for the Source Feature in Biotics

♦ EOREP

Shape type and identification number for the Source Features associated with the EO in Biotics

EO_ID

Identification number for the Element Occurrence (EO)

EO_NUM

Element Occurrence number for the species or vegetation community

INDEPEN_SF^s

Independent Source Feature:

Y - Yes, Source Feature is not incorporated in an Element Occurrence

N - No, Source Feature is part of an Element Occurrence

DESCRIPTOR^s

A brief description of the Source Feature (also see POP_TYPE and OBS_TYPE)

When the DESCRIPTOR field in the source file is populated with "HDMS DEFAULT CONVERSION VALUES", use the eorep file to view data - cross-reference on the EO_ID field

COUNTY^e

County name

MAPSHEET^e

USGS 1:24000 state quad code and name

MANAGED_BY^e

Land management area (i.e. agency land ownership)

DIRECTIONS_1^e*

DIRECTIONS_2^e*etc.

Directions to (or description of) site - carried over into the _2 etc. fields after 255 characters

GEN_DESC_1^e*

GEN_DESC_2^e*etc.

General habitat description for site - carried over into the _2 etc. fields after 255 characters

MIN_ELEV^e*

Minimum elevation in feet

MAX_ELEV^e*

Maximum elevation in feet

SPECIMEN^e*

Specimen or voucher information

EO_DATA_1^e*

EO_DATA_2^e* etc.

Observation details of Source Features associated with Element Occurrence (name, date, etc.) - carried over into the _2 etc. fields after 255 characters

EO_RANK^e

An estimate of the relative value or viability of the Element Occurrence

SIZE_OF_EO^e

Size of Element Occurrence, in acres unless otherwise noted

C_LAST_MOD^s

O_LAST_MOD^s

E_LAST_MOD^e A_LAST_MOD^s

Date of last database modification for:

C_LAST_MOD = core Source Feature attributes

O_LAST_MOD = observation attributes

E_LAST_MOD = Element Occurrence attributes

A_LAST_MOD = additional Source Feature attributes (extended table)

(ID_CONFIRM, ID_NOTES, DATA_SENS, TRS_NOTE, REFERENCE)

Note: A_LAST_MOD is manually edited, not automated, and therefore may not always be accurate

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