40535
Prince William Sound, Alaska ESI: BIRDS
Prince_William_Sound_birds
Data Set
Published / External
46684
Prince William Sound, 2000
Project
Completed
2000-11
This data set comprises the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) data for Prince William Sound, Alaska. ESI data characterize estuarine environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil. The ESI data include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources. This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for birds.
The ESI data were collected, mapped, and digitized to provide environmental data for oil spill planning and response. The Clean Water Act with amendments by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 requires response plans for immediate and effective protection of sensitive resources.
2050
Prepared by Research Planning, Inc., Columbia, South Carolina for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, Hazardous Materials Response Division, Seattle, Washington; State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation; Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council; United States Coast Guard; Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council; and Prince William Sound Oil Spill Recovery Institute.
Theme
ISO 19115 Topic Category
environment
Theme
ISO 19115 Topic Category
oceans
Theme
NOS Topic Category
Environmental Monitoring
Theme
Birds
Theme
Coastal resources
Theme
Coastal zone management
Theme
ESI
Theme
Oil spill planning
Theme
Seabirds
Theme
Sensitivity maps
Theme
Shorebirds
Theme
Waterfowl
Spatial
Alaska
Spatial
Blying Sound
Spatial
Copper River Delta
Spatial
Prince William Sound
Office of Response and Restoration
Silver Spring
MD
Data Set
None Planned
atlas
Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by NOAA regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. NOAA warrants the delivery of this product in computer-readable format, and will offer a replacement copy of the product when the product is determined unreadable by computer-input peripherals, or when the physical medium is delivered in damaged condition.
This project was supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, Hazardous Materials Response Division, Seattle, Washington; State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation; Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council; United States Coast Guard; Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council; and Prince William Sound Oil Spill Recovery Institute.
44711
GT-polygon
GT-polygon
Published / External
Completed
Birds are divided into several species subgroups based on taxonomy, morphology, behavior, and oil spill vulnerability and sensitivity. The SPECIES table lists all the birds included on the maps, sorted by subgroup. These species were included either because of their likelihood of impact by an oil spill, or their special protection status as threatened or endangered. The major types of bird areas depicted in this atlas include: resident and migratory waterfowl concentration areas; migratory shorebird concentration areas; seabird concentration areas; and colonial waterbird nesting sites (for seabirds and shorebirds). Although birds are a major resource shown on the Prince William Sound ESI maps, distributions of seabirds are shown only in the areas where surveys have been conducted. Waterfowl concentration areas shown on the map are derived from survey data provided by Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Winter surveys were conducted in March and summer surveys were conducted in July. In addition to the concentrations mapped, waterfowl can be found in most areas that have marshes and tidal flats. The Copper River Delta is the most important concentration area for waterfowl and shorebirds, both migratory and resident birds. | Description Source: Research Planning, Inc.
Converted from FGDC using 'fgdc_to_inport_xml_entity.pl' script.
1
ID
NUMBER
No
No
Active
A unique identifier that links to the BIO_LUT table. ID is a concatenation of atlas number (59), element number (1), and record number. ID values of 9999 are holes in polygons and do not contain information. The following BIRDS species are found in the Prince William Sound ESI data set (SPECIES ID, NAME): 1 Common loon, 3 Red-throated loon, 4 Red-necked grebe, 5 Horned grebe, 8 Double-crested cormorant, 10 Pelagic cormorant, 12 Canada goose, 16 Mallard, 17 Northern pintail, 18 Green-winged teal, 22 Greater scaup, 24 Common goldeneye, 25 Barrow's goldeneye, 26 Bufflehead, 27 Oldsquaw, 28 Harlequin duck, 29 White-winged scoter, 30 Surf scoter, 31 Pacific loon, 32 Common merganser, 33 Red-breasted merganser, 36 Glaucous-winged gull, 38 Herring gull, 41 Mew gull, 42 Bonaparte's gull, 46 Common murre, 47 Pigeon guillemot, 48 Marbled murrelet, 50 Rhinoceros auklet, 51 Tufted puffin, 53 Red-necked (Northern) phalarope, 54 Great blue heron, 55 Whimbrel, 57 Wandering tattler, 58 Greater yellowlegs, 68 Black oystercatcher, 72 Surfbird, 73 Ruddy turnstone, 74 Black turnstone, 76 Bald eagle, 79 Cormorant, 80 Arctic tern, 81 Horned puffin, 84 Parakeet auklet, 96 Leach's storm-petrel, 99 Red-faced cormorant, 100 Black-legged kittiwake, 101 Aleutian tern, 102 Fork-tailed storm-petrel, 104 Murre, 105 Thick-billed murre, 106 Ancient murrelet, 108 Kittlitz's murrelet, 129 Northern fulmar, 161 Rock sandpiper, 162 Gadwall, 169 American wigeon, 197 Black (common) scoter, 199 Pomarine jaeger, 299 Scaup, 300 Goldeneye, 301 Mergansers, 302 Scoters, 326 Jaegers, 345 Storm-petrels, 462 Loons, 1000 Birds, 1001 Gulls, 1002 Shorebirds, 1003 Waterfowl, 1008 Terns, 1009 Shearwaters, 1010 Pelagic birds, 1013 Dabbling ducks, 1014 Diving ducks, 1017 Sandpipers, 1020 Eiders, 1021 Ducks, 1023 Puffins, 1024 Alcids, 1025 Murrelets, 1026 Grebes | Description Source: NOAA
590100002 - 590103910
2
RARNUM
NUMBER
No
No
Active
An identifier that links directly to the BIORES table or the flat format BIOFILE table. | Description Source: NOAA
59000001 - 59001402
Data Steward
2000-11
Position
ESI Program Manager
orr.esi@noaa.gov
7600 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle
WA
98115
Distributor
2000-11
Position
ESI Program Manager
orr.esi@noaa.gov
7600 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle
WA
98115
Metadata Contact
2000-11
Position
ESI Program Manager
orr.esi@noaa.gov
7600 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle
WA
98115
Point of Contact
2000-11
Position
ESI Program Manager
orr.esi@noaa.gov
7600 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle
WA
98115
Project time span
-148.875
-144
61.292
54.393
Range
1989
1999
Yes
Yes
3540
Yes
521925
Yes
3540
Yes
5888
Unclassified
Contact NOAA for distribution options (see Distribution_Information).;
None
DO NOT USE MAPS FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES. Besides the above warning, there are no use constraints on these data. Acknowledgment of the publishers and contributing sources listed in Data_Set_Credit (below) would be appreciated in products derived from these data.
http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/esi
Online Resource
2000-11
Date that the source FGDC record was last modified.
2017-04-05
Converted from Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (version FGDC-STD-001-1998) using 'fgdc_to_inport_xml.pl' script. Contact Tyler Christensen (NOS) for details.
2017-09-13
Partial upload of Spatial Info section only.
2017-11-01
Replaced entire Lineage section to populate new Source Contribution field.
2018-02-08
Partial upload of Positional Accuracy fields only.
The software packages used to develop the atlas are Environmental Systems Research Institute's ARC/INFO(r) (version 8.0.2) and ORACLE(r) RDBMS (version 8.0.5.0.0). The hardware configuration is Hewlett Packard workstations (models 715/50 and 712/80i with 4 X-terminals) with UNIX operating system (HP-UX Release A.10.20). The following files are included in the data set: bio_lut.e00, biofile.e00, biores.e00, birds.e00, breed.e00, breed_dt.e00, esi.e00, fish.e00, fishl.e00, hydro.e00, index.e00, invert.e00, m_mammal.e00, m_mampt.e00, nests.e00, seasonal.e00, soc_dat.e00, soc_lut.e00, socecon.e00, sources.e00, species.e00, status.e00.
The attribute accuracy is estimated to be "good" given the years of ESI experience, the data-input methodology, the quality control review sessions, and the digital logical consistency checks.
The biological data sets are developed primarily using regional experts who estimate concentration areas. Unlike shorelines, which maintain relative spatial stability through time, the biological data by nature vary in distribution across the landscape. Therefore, the 1:250,000 USGS quadrangles are used as a basemap in gathering the data but the data have "fuzzy" boundaries which must be understood when utilizing this information.
Biological information presented in this atlas was collected and compiled with the assistance of biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alyeska Pipeline Company, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and various other agencies, organizations, and groups. Information collected and depicted on the maps denotes the key biological resources that are most likely at risk in the event of an oil spill. Four major categories, or ELEMENTs, of biological resources were considered during data compilation: birds; fish; invertebrates; and marine mammals. The ELEMENTs generally correspond to the coverage or geographic data layer names. There are also six attribute, or data tables, BIORES, BREED, SEASONAL, SOURCES, SPECIES, and STATUS, that are used to store the complex biological data. The biological polygons (BIRDS) are linked to the Biological Resources table (BIORES) using the unique ID and the lookup table BIO_LUT, or they can be linked directly using RARNUM. [The ID is a unique combination of the atlas number (for Prince William Sound this is 59), an element specific number (birds are layer 1, fish are layer 2, etc.), and a unique record number. The RARNUM represents a unique combination of species, seasonalities, concentrations, and source information. For each of these groupings, a number is generated. That number is concatenated with the atlas number to create a "resource at risk" number that is unique across atlases.] The items in BIORES include: RARNUM, SPECIES_ID, CONC, SEASON_ID, G_SOURCE, S_SOURCE, ELEMENT, EL_SPE, and EL_SPE_SEA. SPECIES_ID is the numeric identifier of each species and is unique within each ELEMENT. CONC is the concentration of the species and can be descriptive (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH, etc.) or an actual count of the number of individuals or nests associated with a polygon or point. SEASON_ID contains a numeric identifier for the unique monthly presence and life history characteristics of each species at a given location. There can be one seasonality record per species, or the same species can have different monthly presence or breeding activities at different sites. When this occurs, a new record with a different SEASON_ID is referenced. G_SOURCE contains the SOURCE_ID for geographic information, and S_SOURCE contains the SOURCE_ID for seasonality information. Both items link to the SOURCES data table. EL_SPE is a concatenation of ELEMENT and SPECIES_ID and links to other data tables (primarily the SPECIES table). EL_SPE_SEA is a concatenation of ELEMENT, SPECIES_ID, and SEASON_ID and links to the SEASONAL and BREED data tables. The SPECIES data table contains the SPECIES_ID (described above), common name (NAME), scientific name (GEN_SPEC), date the list of Natural Heritage Program (NHP) ranks was published (DATE_PUB), biological element (ELEMENT), biological subelement (SUBELEMENT), and the NHP global conservation status rank. The item SUBELEMENT refers to the grouping of the species: (ELEMENT, subelement): BIRDS: bird; alcid; diving; gull_turn; shorebird; waterfowl. The STATUS data table contains records for each species that is threatened or endangered on state or federal lists. The items include: ELEMENT, SPECIES_ID, STATE (two-letter state abbreviations), S_F (state or federal status), T_E (threatened or endangered status), DATE_PUB (the date the atlas was published when the given state and federal listings were in effect), and EL_SPE. The SEASONAL data table indicates the presence of a particular species in a particular location by month (JAN-DEC). The BIORES table is linked to the SEASONAL table using the item EL_SPE_SEA (a concatenation of the first letter of the ELEMENT, SPECIES_ID, and SEASON_ID). The BREED data table contains the life stage or life history data for each unique combination of ELEMENT, SPECIES_ID, and SEASON_ID (or EL_SPE_SEA). It contains up to 12 records corresponding to each month of the year that the species is present in that location. The items BREED1-BREED5 will reflect different life activities, depending on the ELEMENT referenced. For BIRDS, BREED1 = nesting, BREED2 = laying, BREED3 = hatching, and BREED4 = fledging. There is no BREED5 activity for BIRDS, so this column is populated with a dash (-). The SOURCES data table contains metadata for each biological and human-use source listed in the ESI atlas. The items in SOURCES include: SOURCE_ID; ORIGINATOR (author); DATE_PUB (date of publication); TITLE (title of the data set); DATA_FORMAT (digital type, hardcopy maps, etc.); PUBLICATION (additional citation); SCALE (source scale denominator); and TIME_PERIOD (beginning and ending dates of original data collection). The SOURCES data table is linked to all biological data at the feature plus species-level and human-use data at the feature-level. Due to the complexity of the relational database model, the biological data items are also post-processed into a flat file format. This file is entitled BIOFILE and it may be used in place of the relational files to ease simple data queries. The items in the flat file are ELEMENT, SUBELEMENT, NAME, GEN_SPEC, S_F, T_E, NHP, DATE_PUB, CONC, JAN, FEB, MAR, APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV, DEC, BREED1, BREED2, BREED3, BREED4, BREED5, RARNUM, G_SOURCE, S_SOURCE, and BREED. All of these items are the same as their counterparts in the individual files described above, except the BREED1-BREED5 items. BREED is a newly generated variable used to link to the BREED_DT file, a modified, more compact version of the aforementioned BREED file. BREED1-BREED5 give a text summary of when each life stage occurs within that polygon. The life stages referred to are the same as those listed in the previous table. The link to the BIOFILE may be made through BIO_LUT using ID, or it may be linked directly from the RARNUM in each of the biology cover's attribute files. As mentioned, BREED_DT is an auxiliary support file to the flat file structure, which allows the user to do searches based on month for seasonal breeding activities. The link from the flat file to BREED_DT is the BREED item. A second supporting data file is SOURCES. This is the same as the source file described above, and the link from the flat file is both G_SOURCE and S_SOURCE. It should be noted that although the flat file eases data query, it is not a normalized database structure, and actual updates performed by the states and other responsible agencies should be done using the relational files.
The digitization of shoreline types, biological resources, and human-use resources is a complex and highly quality-controlled process. Existing digital shoreline and wetlands data are integrated into a study-wide basemap. The first layer of information digitized is the ESI shoreline classification. The ESI habitat ranking is compiled onto 1:63,360 USGS topographic quadrangles by a geomorphologist. The hardcopy maps are then digitized and checked, using both on-screen and hardcopy reviews. The edited maps are updated, checked once again for completeness and topological and logical consistency. Any errors in the shoreline classification are updated prior to digitization of the biological reference so that there are no slivers in the geographic coordinates. The hardcopy biological information is compiled onto 1:250,000 USGS topographic quadrangles by a biological expert using data from regional specialists in the form of maps, tables, charts, written descriptions of wildlife distributions, and personal interviews. Concurrently, digital data sources are imported, projected, checked for quality control, and integrated into the data structure. The hardcopy data are digitized, checked using both digital and on-screen procedures, integrated with existing data, plotted, and sent out for review by the regional specialists. The edited maps are updated, checked once again, and the final product plotted (at approximately 1:87,00 scale). A team of specialists reviews the entire series of maps, checks all data, and makes final edits. The data are then merged to form the study-wide layers. The data merging includes a final quality control check where labels, chains, and polygons are checked for attribute accuracy. To finalize the data checking process, each coverage is checked using a standardized form by two GIS personnel (a technician and the GIS manager), and each attribute database is checked using several programs that test the files for missing or duplicate data, rules for proper coding, GIS topological consistencies (such as dangles, unnecessary nodes, etc.), and ORACLE (r) and ARC/INFO (r) consistencies. A final review is made by the GIS manager, where the data are written to tape and the metadata are written. After the data are delivered to NOAA, they are again subjected to a number of quality and consistency checks. In the process of checking for topological and database consistencies, new IDs and RARNUMs or HUNUMs are also generated. The new IDs are a combination of atlas numer, element number, and record number. In addition, the value used to represent the element is modified to reflect the type of feature being mapped. In the case of an element that is normally represented by a point or polygon, a value of 20 is added to the standard element value for mapping of linear features. In the case where an element usually mapped as a polygon is represented by a point, a value of 30 is added to the regular element value. The RARNUMs are also modified to include the atlas number, so multiple atlases can be combined and RARNUMs remain unique. RARNUMs are redefined on an element basis, so "resource at risk" groupings will contain only a single element. HUNUMs are also modified to include the atlas number. ESI data are processed into multiple formats to make them useful to a wider community of GIS/mapping users. Distribution formats include ARC export, MOSS and Shape files, and MARPLOT map folders. An ArcView ESI project and ESI_Viewer product are also included on the CDs for ease of use of the ESI data. The database files are distributed both in the NOAA standard relational database format (see NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS ORCA 115) and in a simplified desktop flat file format. This metadata document includes information on both of these database formats. The section Spatial_Data_Organization_Information refers to the source files in ARC export format only.
Beringian Seabird Colony Catalog
Shawn Stephensen
1999-01-01
Discrete
1998
Seabird nesting colonies | Source Geospatial Form: spreadsheet | Type of Source Media: Electronic mail
Coastal Aerial survey of Prince William Sound Seabirds
David Irons
1999-01-01
Range
1989
1990
250000
Seabird concentration areas | Source Geospatial Form: map | Type of Source Media: paper
Graphical Resource Database
Doug Wilson
1998-01-01
Range
1992
1997
63360
Waterfowl and shorebirds | Source Geospatial Form: map | Type of Source Media: CD-ROM
Prince William Sound Waterbird Surveys
Steve Kendell
1999-01-01
Discrete
1999
63360
Seabird concentration areas | Source Geospatial Form: map | Type of Source Media: Electronic mail
Shorebirds
K. Weaverling
Discrete
1999
63360
Shorebird concentration areas | Source Geospatial Form: map | Type of Source Media: paper
1
All the digital data were checked using both digital and on-screen procedures, plotted, checked by the biological expert, edited to remove any errors, and plotted for review by the regional specialists. The reviewed maps were updated on the computer, checked once again, and plotted at final map scale. A team of specialists reviewed the entire series of maps, checked all data, and made final edits. The data were merged to form the study-wide layers that are described in the document. The data merging included a final quality control check where topological consistency, rules for geography, and database to geography were checked and validated for all relationships.
2000-08-10T00:00:00
44711
Entity
GT-polygon
gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:40535
Tyler Christensen
2017-04-05T14:52:21
SysAdmin InPortAdmin
2023-05-30T18:09:25
2018-02-08
Office of Response and Restoration
ORR
1002
Public
No
2018-02-08
1 Year
2019-02-08