Distribution Maps - Interpretation

🤔 Question

What are the different Distribution Map Types? What do they show?

🌱 Answer

A subject has up to eight different maps on its Distribution Maps page

State Map - Clicking on a state will open a page with all the records for that state

1. A state or province that is colored green has had that subject or its child taxa reported as present at least once in the EDDMapS database

County Maps - Clicking on a county will open a page with all the records for that county

1. Distribution

   1. A green county has had that subject reported as present at least once in the EDDMapS database

      1. Darker green color means the subject exactly has been reported in the county

      2. Lighter green color means child taxa only have been reported in the county

2. Record Density

   1. The number of records for the subject and its child taxa are counted and binned for an at-a-glance view of the subject’s presence in the county

3. Literature vs Observation

   1. Literature Records are sourced from journal articles, herbaria/museums, personal communication, etc.

   2. Observation Records are sourced as individual sightings entered into EDDMapS or from another observation database

4. Future Range

   1. This map indicates the agreement of future climate models predicting county-level presence for the selected species by 2041 - 2060 based on currently available evidence. Users can select 1-13 models to show where they agree on the expected presence of the subject in the county

      1. Expansion (orange) - The species is not currently reported there in EDDMapS, but is expected to be there in the future

      2. Stable (light purple) - The species is currently reported there in EDDMapS, and is expected to be there in the future

      3. Retraction (dark purple) - The species is currently reported there in EDDMapS, and is not expected to be there in the future

      4. Unsuitable (white) - The species is not currently reported there in EDDMapS, and is not expected to be there in the future

5. Future Certainty

   1. This map indicates the agreement of future climate models predicting county-level presence for the selected species by 2041 - 2060 based on currently available evidence. Higher numbers (darker county colors) indicate higher agreement among models that the county will be suitable for the chosen species by 2041 - 2060.

6. Future Abundance Habitat

   1. This map indicates the agreement of future abundance-pseudo abundance species distribution models predicting the suitability of counties for populations of the selected species to maintain at least 5% cover ('high abundance') given a +2°C climate change scenario. Higher numbers indicate higher agreement among models that the county will be suitable for abundant populations of the chosen species by 2100 based on currently available evidence.

Point Maps - Clicking on a point will open that record’s detail page

1. Records with public coordinates will show up on the point level map. Points are clustered, with the number of points represented displayed on the cluster. Zooming in on the map breaks apart the clusters.

   1. Plant, Insect, and Disease records will have one of four status types

      1. Positive - Subject was found

      2. Treated - Subject was found and some sort of management activity (cut down, trapped, sprayed, biocontrol release, etc.) was conducted

      3. Eradicated - Subject was previously found but has not been found long enough to be considered locally extirpated

      4. Negative - Subject was not found

2. Wildlife records can have other status types based on the fate of the observed subject

   1. Observation and Other Positive - Subject was found and its fate is unknown

   2. Unknown Managed - Subject was found and a management activity occurred, but the fate of the subject is unknown

   3. Capture - Subject was found and captured

   4. Found Dead - Subject was found dead at time of observation

   5. Not Found - Subject was looked for and not found

Not all subjects will have all these maps.

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