Willamette Valley Wetland Amphibian Survey 1999, 2000, 2001

Frequently-anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title: Willamette Valley Wetland Amphibian Survey 1999, 2000, 2001
Abstract:
Microsoft Access database containing information on a three-year survey of amphibians in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. The data include site description and conditions, trap and dip net capture information.
Supplemental_Information:
Science Information System Project #: 7080 Accession #: 5003586
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Michael J. Adams and Christopher A. Pearl, Unpublished Material, Willamette Valley Wetland Amphibian Survey 1999, 2000, 2001.

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -123.25
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -122.75
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 45.5
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 44
    Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Wetland areas in the Willamette Valley, Oregon

  3. What does it look like?

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

    Calendar_Date: 1999
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition

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

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Database

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

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

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

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    Visit
    Access Database (Source: Microsoft)

    Color
    color of water

    ValueDefinition
    clearclear
    stainedstained

    conduct 1, conduct 2
    The conductivity reading taken at a site. Conductivity is the measurement of the ability of solution to carry an electrical current. The current is carried by inorganic dissolved solids (Chloride, nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate anions and cations such as NA, CL, and MG, FE, AL).

    Range of values
    Minimum:10
    Maximum:1100
    Units:microsiemens

    Date
    Date of survey

    Date format (mm/dd/yyyy)

    Isolation
    the connection of the site to another body of water

    ValueDefinition
    conn-permpermanently connected
    Conn-temptemporally connected
    conn-floodconnected only during a flood event
    landlockednot connected

    Max Depth
    estimated maximum depth of each wetland at time of survey

    ValueDefinition
    <0.75<0.75 meters deep
    0.75-1.250.75-1.25 meters deep
    >1.25
    1.25 meters deep
    

    Shallow
    estimated percent of site < 0.5 meters deep

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:100
    Units:percent

    Site Name
    Name of site

    List of site names

    Site No
    Year and chronological number

    e.g. 99-01

    Surveyor 1, Surveyor 2
    Initials of surveyor

    list of initials

    SurvID
    Survey ID

    Unique integer generated by database

    Turbidity
    turbidity description

    ValueDefinition
    clearclear
    modmoderately clear
    opaqueunclear
    clearclear
    modmoderately clear
    opaqueunclear

    VisitNo
    Visit number

    ValueDefinition
    1 
    2 
    3 
    4 

    Veg
    Access Database (Source: Microsoft)

    Percent
    estimated percent cover of each veg class present

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:100
    Units:percent

    SurvID
    Survey ID

    Unique integer generated by database

    Veg class
    vegetation classification

    ValueDefinition
    Aquatic bed, floating 
    aquatic bed, SAVsubmerged aquatic vegetation
    Dry 
    Emgt Phalaris 
    Emgt Poaceae 
    open water 
    open water algae 
    open water leaf litter/organic 
    Emgt Carex/Juncus 
    Emgt Deschampsia 
    Emgt Eleocharis 
    Emgt Glyceria 
    Emgt Polygonum 
    Emgt solanum 
    Emgt sparganium 
    Emgt Typha 
    open water rock bottom 
    open water silt bottom 
    open water woody debris 
    other shrub spiraea salix cornus 
    Emgt Ludwigia 
    Emgt Mentha 
    Emgt Veronica 
    flooded forest ash cottonwood 

    Conditions
    Access Database (Source: Microsoft)

    Airtemp
    air temperature at time of sample

    Range of values
    Minimum:no limit
    Maximum:no limit
    Units:degrees Celcius
    Resolution:1

    Clouds, Prevclouds
    cloud cover during sample, cloud cover previous to sample (last 24 hours)

    ValueDefinition
    clear 
    cloudy 
    partly cloudy 

    gpsfile
    filename

    filename

    Precip, Prev precip
    precipitation during sample, precipitation previous to sample (last 24 hours)

    ValueDefinition
    fog 
    mist 
    lgt rain 
    hvy rain 
    sleet/snow 

    Start time
    time sample was started

    Range of values
    Minimum:00:00
    Maximum:24:00
    Units:hours:minutes

    SurvID
    Survey ID

    Unique integer generated by database

    Wind, Prevwind
    wind during sample, wind previous to sample (last 24 hours)

    ValueDefinition
    calm 
    lgt breeze 
    modmoderately windy
    windy 
    gusty 

    Vertebrates
    Access Database (Source: Microsoft)

    Method
    type of observation

    ValueDefinition
    Visual 
    Call 
    Hand/net 

    ObsID
    Observation ID

    number generated by computer

    Sex
    sex of verterbrate

    ValueDefinition
    Mmale
    Ffemale
    Uunknown

    Stage
    stage of development of vertebrate

    ValueDefinition
    eggmass 
    larva 
    juvenile 
    adult 
    metamorphbetween egg and juvenile
    paedomorphbetween juvenile and adult

    SurvID
    Survey ID

    Unique integer generated by database

    Tally
    number of animals observed

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:no limit

    Taxa
    Scientific name of organism

    List of organisms

    Vegclass
    Vegetation class (for class entries see VEG table)

    Traps
    Access Database (Source: Microsoft)

    Density
    qualitative measure of vegetation density, taken by surveyor judgement and visual observation

    ValueDefinition
    Dense 
    Moderate 
    Open 

    Edge
    was trapped placed along the edge of vegetation?

    ValueDefinition
    Yes 
    No 

    Pulltime
    time trap was pulled

    Range of values
    Minimum:00:00
    Maximum:24:00
    Units:hours:minutes

    Settime
    time trap was set

    Range of values
    Minimum:00:00
    Maximum:24:00
    Units:hours:minutes

    Slope
    slope at trap site

    ValueDefinition
    <5%<5% slope
    >5%
    5% slope
    

    Substr
    substrate

    ValueDefinition
    flcflocculent
    consconsolidated

    SurvID
    Survey ID

    Unique integer generated by database

    Trapno
    Trap number

    number generated by computer

    Veg1, Veg2, Veg3
    First, second, and third most prominent types of vegetation. Selected from Vegclass unless not on the list, then it is written in.

    types of vegetation

    Vegclass
    Vegetation class (for class entries see VEG table)

    Waterdepth
    depth of water

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:no limit
    Units:meters

    Dip Nets
    Access Database (Source: Microsoft)

    NetID
    Net Identification number (gives a number to organism)

    generated by database, gives a number to organism

    Stage
    Growth Stage

    ValueDefinition
    eggmass 
    larva 
    juvenile 
    adult 
    metamorphbetween egg and juvenile
    paedomorphbetween juvenile and adult

    SurvID
    Survey ID

    Unique integer generated by database

    Sweep no
    Sweep number - number of dip net sweeps in a given pond, based on size of pond, each pond begins with sweep number 1

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:no limit

    Tally
    Number of organisms in net

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:no limit

    Taxa
    Scientific name of organism

    List of organisms

    Vegclass
    Vegetation class (for class entries see VEG table)

    Captures
    Access Database (Source: Microsoft)

    Sex
    sex of animal

    ValueDefinition
    Mmale
    Ffemale
    Uunknown

    Stage
    Growth stage

    ValueDefinition
    eggmass 
    larva 
    juvenile 
    adult 
    metamorphbetween egg and juvenile
    paedomorphbetween juvenile and adult

    SurvID
    Survey ID

    Unique integer value generated by database

    Taxon
    Scientific name of organism

    List of organisms

    Total
    Total number of organisms in trap

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:no limit

    Trap No
    Number of traps set in a given pond.

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:no limit

    TrapcapID
    Trap capture identification number for each organism

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:no limit
    Units:none

    Unique integer value generated by database

    Audit
    Access Database (Source: Microsoft)

    Enter date?
    Date of data entry

    Date format (mm/dd/yyyy)

    enterby?
    Person entering the data

    List of initials or names

    QA by?
    Person performing quality assurance check

    List of initials or names

    QA complete?
    Is quality assurance check complete?

    ValueDefinition
    Yes 
    No 

    QA date?
    Date of quality assurance check

    Date format (mm/dd/yyyy)

    record complete?
    Is the record complete?

    ValueDefinition
    Yes 
    No 

    Survid
    Survey identification code (link to other tables)

    Unique integer generated by database

  8. What biological taxa does this data set concern?

    Taxonomy:
    Keywords/Taxon:
    Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus: none
    Taxonomic_Keywords: Rana catesbeiana
    Taxonomic_Keywords: Rana aurora
    Taxonomic_Keywords: Hyla regilla
    Taxonomic_Keywords: Taricha granulosa
    Taxonomic_Keywords: Ambystoma macrodactlym
    Taxonomic_Keywords: Ambystoma gracile
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Animalia
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Phylum
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Chordata
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Sub Phylum
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Vertebrata
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Class
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Amphibia
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Order
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Anura
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Family
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Ranidae
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Rana
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Species
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Rana aurora
    Applicable_Common_Name: red-legged frog
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Species
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Rana catesbeiana
    Applicable_Common_Name: Bullfrog
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Family
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Hylidae
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Hyla
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Species
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Hyla regilla
    Applicable_Common_Name: pacific tree frog
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Order
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Caudata
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Family
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Salamandridae
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Taricha
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Species
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Taricha granulosa
    Applicable_Common_Name: rough-skinned newt
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Family
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Ambystomatidae
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Ambystoma
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Species
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Ambystoma macrodactylum
    Applicable_Common_Name: long-toed salamander
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Species
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Ambystoma gracile
    Applicable_Common_Name: Northwestern salamander


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?

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

    Adams, Michael J.
    US Geological Survey Forest & Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
    Research Ecologist
    USGS FRESC Corvallis Research Group
    3200 SW Jefferson Way
    Corvallis, OR 97331

    541-758-8857 (voice)
    541-758-7761 (FAX)


Why was the data set created?

Wetland management and land use planning have important consequences for the persistence of wetland-associated fauna. Wetland hydrology, particularly the persistence of surface water through the year, affects nutrient levels, soil hdyrogeomorphology (HGM), and the numbers and types of organisms that form a wetland community. There is a critical need for landscape-scale analyses of wetland biodiversity in the rapidly changing Willamette Valley and Puget Lowlands. Research in other regions suggest that land use trends that result in habitat loss, hydrological alterations, and changes in connectivity have negative impacts on aquatic fauna such as amphibians . In addition to direct habitat loss, there is a general trend of replacement of shallow, ephemeral wetlands with deep, permanent ponds that may encourage the expansion of exotic species that rely on permanent water . Altered hydrology and invasion by exotics are considered by many aquatic ecologists to be the two greatest threats to the freshwater fauna of western North America. This research addresses the properties of freshwater wetlands that are important to native amphibian communities and the role that exotic predators play in those communities, specifically as they apply to wetland management and conservation practices. By identifying physical characteristics of wetlands that are affected by regional patterns in land use and management, and by elucidating the processes that link these patterns to wetland faunal communities, we can better predict the regional faunal response to increasing anthropogenic impacts.


How was the data set created?

  1. What methods were used to collect the data?

    Method 0 of 1
    Type: Field

    We surveyed approximately 15 wetlands in the Eugene-Corvallis area during the first year, 1999. During 2000 and 2001, site selections were opportunistic. As much as possible, wetlands surveyed were evenly divided between managed and naturally occurring wetlands (wetlands that existed in their present type without human interference) and between urban and rural landscapes. We identified created and naturally occurring wetland study areas at E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), W. L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge (US Fish and Wildlife Service), Fern Ridge Reservoir (US Army Corps of Engineers) Nature Conservancy holdings, and on private land.

    Each selected wetland was surveyed twice (early and late spring) within the funding interval so that faunal elements that change throughout the year were adequately characterized. Wetland fauna were sampled each visit and physical characteristics were quantified during the second visit. Amphibians, fish, and crayfish were sampled with aquatic funnel traps. Traps are 30-cm square by 40-cm long and have 4-mm mesh. They are suitable for capturing the larvae of all wetland-breeding amphibians in the Willamette Valley. Wetlands were divided into sections based on major differences in vegetation and structure, and traps were allocated in proportion to the size of each section using the protocol of Adams et al. (1997).

    Traps were placed on the bottom of the wetland, marked with an attached float and left overnight. Size, species, stage, and number of all amphibians, invertebrates, and fish captured were recorded. All amphibians and fish, and some aquatic insects and crustaceans were identified to species.

    After pulling the traps the following morning, each wetland section was surveyed for invertebrates using dip nets. Dip nets were swept through the water over a 2-meter distance, five times in each wetland section. Size, number, and species/family of large predatory macroinvertebrates were recorded.

    We coordinated this survey with the development of land-use spatial data layers for the Willamette Valley by the Landscape Team (Regional Ecology Branch, EPA) and used these data layers to assess the association between wetland communities and landscape variables

    Reference:

  2. From what previous works were the data drawn?

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

    Date: Unknown (process 1 of 1)
    Original data collection, no processing

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


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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    Data were read aloud by one person, while another person entered data into Access. The data were coarsely proofed at this time by both workers. At a later date, the data were then check for accuracy by comparing data base entries to the data sheets. All entries were proofed. In addition, a random number of sites came up for a quality assurance process and they were again checked for accuracy by comparing the data sheets with the database.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

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

    See Methodology

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

    Each database row represents a field observation on the date and at the location specified in the data set.


How can someone get a copy of the data set?

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

Access_Constraints: Data available after research results have been published.
Use_Constraints: No probabilistic sampling occurred, no range of inference.


Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 31-Jul-2002
Last Reviewed: 29-Jul-2002
Metadata author:
Metadata Coordinator
U.S. Geological Survey Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
3200 SW Jefferson Way
Corvallis, OR 97331

541-750-7343 (voice)
541-758-7761 (FAX)
george_lienkaemper@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:
FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001.1-1999)


Generated by mp version 2.8.10 on Wed Apr 12 14:02:55 2006