Abstract: This data set consists of the predicted distribution of terrestrial vertebrates in Louisiana; it was created in a GIS modeling process using species habitat association rules in combination with species geographic range and land cover/use map of Louisiana. The attributes describe the predicted presence or absence of a species. Range maps, which rely on the location of specimens, merely convey the geographic extent of an animal's distribution; they do not include information about current conditions within the range which may favor or preclude a species from an area. Habitat features, such as vegetation, can enhance any portrayal of an animal's distribution despite some limitations (Scott, et al. 1993). In the GAP Analysis, all of the species are combined to calculate an area's specific values of species richness, a measure of biodiversity. Beside GAP Analysis, predicted distribution maps may be used to develop a wide variety of management or research plans relating to each species or any combination of terrestrial vertebrates.
Purpose: The intended purpose of this data set was to provide information about the current distribution of a species, filtered by the knowledge of the distribution of its suitable habitat.

Progress: Complete
Update Frequency: No current plans for updating distribution data, but may be updated as new data becomes available.

Theme Keywords: None, species distribution, species habitat, species range, habitat model, land cover model, elevation model, riparian model, terrestrial vertebrates, GAP Analysis, Ambystoma maculatum, Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma opacum, Marbled Salama nder, Ambystoma talpoideum, Mole Salamander, Ambystoma texanum, Small-mouthed Salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum, Tiger Salamander, Amphiuma means, Two-toed Amphiuma, Amphiuma tridactylum, Three-Toed Amphiuma, Desmognathus auriculatus, Southern Dusky Salamander, Desmognathus fuscus, Dusky Salamander, Eurycea longicauda, Long-tailed Salamander, Eurycea quadridigitata, Dwarf Salamander, Eurycea cirrigera, Southern Two-lined Salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum, Four-toed Salamander, Plethodon glutinosus, Slimy Salamander, Plethodon serratus, Southern Redback Salamander, Plethodon websteri, Southern Zig-Zag Salamander, Pseudotriton montanus, Mud Salamander, Pseudotriton ruber, Red Salamander, Necturus beyeri, Gulf Coast Waterdog, Necturus maculosus, Mudpuppy, Notophthalmus viridescens, Eastern Newt, Siren intermedia, Lesser Siren, Bufo americanus, American Toad, Bufo quercicus, Oak Toad, Bufo terrestris, Southern Toad, Bufo valliceps, Gulf Coast Toad, Bufo woodhousii, Woodhouse's Toad, Acris crepitans, Northern Cricket Frog, Acris gryllus, Southern Cricket Frog, Hyla avivoca, Bird-voiced Treefrog, Hyla chrysoscelis, Cope's Gray Treefrog, Hyla cinerea, Green Treefrog, Hyla femoralis, Pine Woods Treefrog, Hyla gratiosa, Barking Treefrog, Hyla squirella, Squirrel Treefrog, Hyla versicolor, Gray Treefrog, Pseudacris ornata, Ornate Chorus Frog, Pseudacris streckeri, Strecker's Chorus Frog, Pseudacris triseriata, Western Chorus Frog, Pseudacris crucifer, Spring Peeper, Eleutherodactyus planirostris, Greenhouse Frog, Gastrophryne carolinensis, Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad, Gastrophryne carolinensis, Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad, Scaphiopus holbrookii, Eastern Spadefoot, Rana areolata, Crawfish Frog, Rana catesbeiana, Bullfrog, Rana clamitans, Green Frog, Rana grylio, Pig Frog, Rana palustris, Pickerel Frog, Rana sphenocephala, Southern Leopard Frog, Podilymbus podiceps, Pied-billed Grebe, Pelecanus occidentalis, Brown Pelican, Anhinga anhinga, Anhinga, Phalacrocorax brasilianus, Neotropic Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus, Double-crested Cormorant, Botaurus lentiginosus, American Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis, Least Bittern, Nycticorax nycticorax, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Nyctanassa violacea, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Butorides striatus, Green-backed Heron, Egretta tricolor, Tricolored Heron, Egretta caerulea, Little Blue Heron, Egretta rufescens, Reddish Egret, Egretta thula, Snowy Egret, Bubulcus ibis, Cattle Egret, Casmerodius albus, Great Egret, Ardea herodias, Great Blue Heron, Plegadis falcinellus, Glossy Ibis, Plegadis chihi, White-faced Ibis, Eudocimus albus, White Ibis, Ajaia ajaja, Roseate Spoonbill, Branta canadensis, Canada Goose, Anas platyrhynchos, Mallard, Anas fulvigula, Mottled Duck, Anas discors, Blue-winged Teal, Dendrocygna bicolor, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Aix sponsa, Wood Duck, Lophodytes cucullatus, Hooded Merganser, Rallus elegans, King Rail, Rallus longirostris, Clapper Rail, Porphyrula martinica, Purple Gallinule, Gallinula chloropus, Common Moorhen, Fulica americana, American Coot, Haematopus palliatus, American Oystercatcher, Himantopus mexicanus, Black-necked Stilt, Charadrius alexandrinus, Snowy Plover, Charadrius wilsonia, Wilson's Plover, Charadrius vociferus, Killdeer, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus, Willet, Scolopax minor, American Woodcock, Larus atricilla, Laughing Gull, Sterna forsteri, Forster's Tern, Sterna nilotica, Gull-billed Tern, Sterna antillarum, Least Tern, Sterna sandvicensis, Sandwich Tern, Sterna maxima, Royal Tern, Sterna caspia, Caspian Tern, Sterna fuscata, Sooty Tern, Rynchops niger, Black Skimmer, Cathartes aura, Turkey Vulture, Coragyps atratus, Black Vulture, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Bald Eagle, Ictinia mississippiensis, Mississippi Kite, Elanus leucurus, White-tailed Kite, Elanoides forficatus, American Swallow-tailed Kite, Accipiter striatus, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Accipiter cooperii, Cooper's Hawk, Buteo lineatus, Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo platypterus, Broad-winged Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis, Red-tailed Hawk, Pandion haliaetus, Osprey, Falco sparverius, American Kestrel, Colinus virginianus, Northern Bobwhite, Meleagris gallopavo, Wild Turkey, Columba livia, Rock Dove, Zenaida macroura, Mourning Dove, Zenaida asiatica, White-winged Dove, Columbina passerina, Common Ground Dove, Columbina inca, Inca Dove, Streptopelia decaocto, Eurasian Collared Dove, Myiopsitta monachus, Monk Parakeet, Coccyzus americanus, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Geococcyx californianus, Greater Roadrunner, Tyto alba, Common Barn Owl, Bubo virginianus, Great Horned Owl, Strix varia, Barred Owl, Otus asio, Eastern Screech Owl, Caprimulgus carolinensis, Chuck-will's-widow, Chordeiles minor, Common Nighthawk, Chaetura pelagica, Chimney Swift, Archilochus colubris, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Ceryle alcyon, Belted Kingfisher, Colaptes auratus, Northern Flicker, Melanerpes carolinus, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus, Red-headed Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens, Downy Woodpecker, Picoides villosus, Hairy Woodpecker, Picoides borealis, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus, Pileated Woodpecker, Tyrannus tyrannus, Eastern Kingbird, Tyrannus forficatus, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus, Great Crested Flycatcher, Contopus virens, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Sayornis phoebe, Eastern Phoebe, Empidonax virescens, Acadian Flycatcher, Eremophila alpestris, Horned Lark, Progne subis, Purple Martin, Stelgidopteryx serripennis, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Hirundo pyrrhonota, Cliff Swallow, Hirundo rustica, Barn Swallow, Cyanocitta cristata, Blue Jay, Corvus brachyrhynchos, American Crow, Corvus ossifragus, Fish Crow, Parus bicolor, Tufted Titmouse, Parus carolinensis, Carolina Chickadee, Sitta carolinensis, White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta pusilla, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Thryothorus ludovicianus, Carolina Wren, Cistothorus palustris, Marsh Wren, Polioptila caerulea, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Sialia sialis, Eastern Bluebird, Hylocichla mustelina, Wood Thrush, Turdus migratorius, American Robin, Lanius ludovicianus, Loggerhead Shrike, Dumetella carolinensis, Gray Catbird, Mimus polyglottos, Northern Mockingbird, Toxostoma rufum, Brown Thrasher, Sturnus vulgaris, European Starling, Vireo griseus, White-eyed Vireo, Vireo flavifrons, Yellow-throated Vireo, Vireo olivaceus, Red-eyed Vireo, Vireo gilvus, Warbling Vireo, Vireo bellii, Bell's Vireo, Protonotaria citrea, Prothonotary Warbler, Parula americana, Northern Parula, Mniotilta varia, Black-and-white Warbler, Dendroica dominica, Yellow-throated Warbler, Dendroica discolor, Prairie Warbler, Dendroica pinus, Pine Warbler, Oporornis formosus, Kentucky Warbler, Wilsonia citrina, Hooded Warbler, Helmitheros vermivorus, Worm-eating Warbler, Limnothlypis swainsonii, Swainson's Warbler, Seiurus motacilla, Louisiana Waterthrush, Geothlypis trichas, Common Yellowthroat, Icteria virens, Yellow-breasted Chat, Setophaga ruticilla, American Redstart, Cardinalis cardinalis, Northern Cardinal, Guiraca caerulea, Blue Grosbeak, Passerina cyanea, Indigo Bunting, Passerina ciris, Painted Bunting, Pipilo erythrophthalmus, Rufous-sided Towhee, Ammodramus maritimus, Seaside Sparrow, Chondestes grammacus, Lark Sparrow, Aimophila aestivalis, Bachman's Sparrow, Spizella pusilla, Field Sparrow, Spizella passerina, Chipping Sparrow, Spiza americana, Dickcissel, Sturnella magna, Eastern Meadowlark, Agelaius phoeniceus, Red-winged Blackbird, Molothrus ater, Brown-headed Cowbird, Molothrus aeneus, Bronzed Cowbird, Quiscalus quiscula, Common Grackle, Quiscalus major, Boat-tailed Grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus, Great-tailed Grackle, Icterus spurius, Orchard Oriole, Icterus galbula, Northern Oriole, Piranga rubra, Summer Tanager, Piranga olivacea, Scarlet Tanager, Passer domesticus, House Sparrow, Carpodacus mexicanus, House Finch, Didelphis virginiana, Virginia Opossum, Sorex longirostris, Southeastern Shrew, Blarina brevicauda, Northern Short-tailed Shrew, Cryptotis parva, Least Shrew, Scalopus aquaticus, Eastern Mole, Myotis austroriparius, Southeastern Myotis, Pipistrellus subflavus, Eastern Pipistrelle, Eptesicus fuscus, Big Brown Bat, Lasiurus borealis, Eastern Red Bat, Lasiurus seminolus, Seminole Bat, Lasiurus cinereus, Hoary Bat, Lasiurus intermedius, Northern Yellow Bat, Nycticeius humeralis, Evening Bat, Corynorhinus rafinesquii, Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat, Tadarida brasiliensis, Brazilian Free-tailed Bat, Dasypus novemcinctus, Nine-banded Armadillo, Sylvilagus floridanus, Eastern Cottontail, Sylvilagus aquaticus, Swamp Rabbit, Sciurus carolinensis, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Sciurus niger, Eastern Fox Squirrel, Tamias striatus, Eastern Chipmunk, Glaucomys volans, Southern Flying Squirrel, Geomys bursarius, Plains Pocket Gopher, Chaetodipus hispidus, Hispid Pocket Mouse, Castor canadensis, American Beaver, Oryzomys palustris, Marsh Rice Rat, Reithrodontomys humulis, Eastern Harvest Mouse, Reithrodontomys fulvescens, Fulvous Harvest Mouse, Peromyscus leucopus, White-footed Mouse, Peromyscus gossypinus, Cotton Mouse, Ochrotomys nuttalli, Golden Mouse, Sigmodon hispidus, Hispid Cotton Rat, Neotoma floridana, Eastern Woodrat, Microtus pinetorum, Pine Vole, Ondatra zibethicus, Muskrat, Rattus rattus, Black Rat, Rattus norvegicus, Norway Rat, Mus musculus, House Mouse, Myocastor coypus, Nutria, Canis latrans, Coyote, Vulpes vulpes, Red Fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus, Gray Fox, Ursus americanus, American Black Bear, Procyon lotor, Raccoon, Mustela frenata, Long-tailed Weasel, Mustela vison, Mink, Spilogale putorius, Eastern Spotted Skunk, Mephitis mephitis, Striped Skunk, Lutra canadensis, River Otter, Lynx rufus, Bobcat, Odocoileus virginianus, White-tailed Deer, Chelydra serpentina, Common Snapping Turtle, Macroclemys temminckii, Alligator Snapping Turtle, Chrysemys picta, Painted Turtle, Deirochelys reticularia, Chicken Turtle, Graptemys oculifera, Ringed Map Turtle, Graptemys pseudogeographica, False Map Turtle, Graptemys pulchra, Alabama Map Turtle, Malaclemys terrapin, Diamondback Terrapin, Pseudemys concinna, River Cooter, Terrapene carolina, Common Box Turtle, Terrapene ornata, Ornate Box Turtle, Trachemys scripta, Common Slider, Kinosternon subrubrum, Eastern Mud Turtle, Sternotherus carinatus, Razor-backed Musk Turtle, Sternotherus minor, Loggerhead Musk Turtle, Sternotherus odoratus, Common Musk Turtle, Gopherus polyphemus, Gopher Tortoise, Apalone mutica, Smooth Softshell Turtle, Apalone spinifera, Spiny Softshell Turtle, Alligator mississippiensis, American Alligator, Ophisaurus attenuatus, Slender Glass Lizard, Ophisaurus ventralis, Eastern Glass Lizard, Hemidactylus turcicus, Mediterranean Gecko, Anolis carolinensis, Green Anole, Phrynosoma cornutum, Texas Horned Lizard, Sceloporus undulatus, Fence Lizard, Eumeces anthracinus, Coal Skink, Eumeces fasciatus, Five-lined Skink, Eumeces inexpectatus, Southeastern Five-lined Skink, Eumeces laticeps, Broad-headed Skink, Scincella lateralis, Ground Skink, Cnemidophorus sexlineatus, Six-lined Racerunner, Carphophis amoenus, Eastern Worm Snake, Cemophora coccinea, Scarlet Snake, Coluber constrictor, Racer, Diadophis punctatus, Ring-necked Snake, Elaphe guttata, Corn Snake, Elaphe obsoleta, Rat Snake, Farancia abacura, Mud Snake, Farancia erytrogramma, Rainbow Snake, Heterodon platirhinos, Eastern Hog-nosed Snake, Lampropeltis calligaster, Prairie Kingsnake (Mole Kingsnake), Lampropeltis getula, Common Kingsnake, Lampropeltis triangulum, Milk Snake, Masticophis flagellum, Coachwhip, Nerodia cyclopion, Mississippi Green Water Snake, Nerodia erythrogaster, Plain-bellied Water Snake, Nerodia fasciata, Southern Water Snake, Nerodia rhombifer, Diamondback Water Snake, Nerodia sipedon, Northern Water Snake, Nerodia clarkii, Salt Marsh Water Snake, Opheodrys aestivus, Rough Green Snake, Pituophis melanoleucus, Pine Snake, Regina grahamii, Graham's Crayfish Snake, Regina rigida, Glossy Crayfish Snake, Rhadinaea flavilata, Pine Woods Snake, Storeria dekayi, Dekay's Brown Snake, Storeria occipitomaculata, Red-bellied Snake, Tantilla coronata, Southeastern Crowned Snake, Tantilla gracilis, Flat-headed Snake, Thamnophis proximus, Western Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis sauritus, Eastern Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis, Common Garter Snake, Virginia striatula, Rough Earth Snake, Virginia valeriae, Smooth Earth Snake, Micrurus fulvius, Northern Coral Snake, Agkistrodon contortrix, Copperhead, Agkistrodon piscivorus, Cottonmouth, Crotalus adamanteus, Eastern Diamondback, Crotalus horridus, Timber Rattlesnake, Sistrurus miliarius, Pigmy Rattlesnake
Place Keywords: Louisiana Taxonomy:

Access Constraints: Any downloading and use of these data signifies a user's agreement to comprehension and compliance of the NWRC Standard Disclaimer. Insure all portions of metadata are read and clearly understood before using these data in order to protect both user and NWRC interests. See section 6.3 Distribution Liablity.
Usage Constraints: Acknowledgement of the National Wetlands Research Center and the Louisiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit 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 NWRC 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 and digital conversions over time. These data are not legal documents and are not to be used as such. The data set was produced with the intention of application at the state or eco-region level. The data provide a course-filter approach to analyses, therefore not every occurrence of animal or plant habitat is mapped, only large, generalized distributions are mapped, based on the USGS 1:100,000 mapping scale in both detail and precision. This data set can be used to provide context for finer level maps or applications. Appropriate uses include: 1. Statewide biodiversity planning; 2. Regional and large area resource planning; 3. Coarse-filter evaluation of potential impacts or benefits of major projects/initiatives on biodiversity, such as utility or transportation corridors, wilderness proposals, open space or recreation proposals; 4. Environmental impact assessment for large projects such as military activities; 5. Education at all levels for both students and citizens; 6. Estimation of potential economic impacts from loss of biological resource based activities; 7. Determining relative amounts of management responsibility for specific biological resources among land stewards to facilitate cooperative management and planning; 8. Basic research on regional distributions of plants and animals and to help target both specific species and geographic areas for needed research. Inappropriate uses of these data include: 1. Generating specific measurements from the data finer than the nearest thousand hectares; 2. Establishing exact boundaries for regulation or acquisition; 3. Establishing definite presence or absence of any element; 4. Determining abundance, health, or condition of any element; 5. Establishing a measure of accuracy of any other data by comparison with this data set; 6. Combining these data with any other data finer than 1:100,000 scale for analysis; 7. Use of these data to map small areas (less than thousands of hectares) typically requiring mapping resolution at 1:24,000 scale and using aerial photographs or ground surveys; 8. Altering the data in any way and redistributing it as a GAP product.