Primeval paths: Bison in West Virginia

Metadata:
Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Thomas-Van Gundy, Melissa A.
Originator: Perkins, Jessica D.
Originator: Smith, Linda S.
Publication_Date: 2021
Title:
Primeval paths: Bison in West Virginia
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2021-0055
Description:
Abstract:
In 1989 a map of major historical bison trails and points in West Virginia was produced and recently this work was converted to digital format. Approximately 2,600 kilometers of bison and elk trails were documented in West Virginia through review of historical sources including traveler's accounts. Most points of interest associated with the trails and points document mainly European hunting activities related to bison and elk. The original map was developed by reviewing county histories and journals of early explorers of what is now West Virginia for mention of game trails and general descriptions of wildlife and flora. The libraries and collections of Davis and Elkins College, Elkins West Virginia (West Virginia Collection and Archives), West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia (West Virginia Collections, Forestry Library, Wise Library, Evansdale Library, and Health and Science Library), Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia (Special Collections and Morrow Library), and the West Virginia Department of Culture and History, Cultural Center, Charleston, West Virginia were included in the search for documents. Key words such as clover, fields, meadows, grass, and direct mentions of bison/buffalo, elk, or general game or “Indian” trails were searched for and noted. This data publication includes a geodatabase containing these digitized bison trails (approximate trails bison used to move from place to place) as well as bison points of interest (places bison were present from as early as 1671 until 1825) in West Virginia.
Purpose:
The purpose of this project was to provide major bison trails and points in West Virginia with historical description.
Supplemental_Information:
Original metadata were published on 07/26/2021. On 08/11/2021 metadata were updated to include attribute accuracy information. Reference to a newly published article was included on 10/28/2021.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 1671
Ending_Date: 1825
Currentness_Reference:
Publication date
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned
Spatial_Domain:
Description_of_Geographic_Extent:
Bison trails and points of interest found in West Virginia.
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -82.68553
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -77.75076
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.02913
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.27641
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: bison
Theme_Keyword: point
Theme_Keyword: trail
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: biota
Theme_Keyword: environment
Theme_Keyword: society
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Research & Development Taxonomy
Theme_Keyword: Ecology, Ecosystems, & Environment
Theme_Keyword: Environment and People
Theme_Keyword: Wildlife (or Fauna)
Theme_Keyword: Mammals
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: West Virginia
Taxonomy:
Taxonomic_System:
Classification_System/Authority:
Classification_System_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: ITIS
Publication_Date: 2021
Title:
Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: database
Other_Citation_Details:
Retrieved [June, 23, 2021]
Online_Linkage: https://www.itis.gov
Taxonomic_Procedures:
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Animalia
Applicable_Common_Name: Animal
Applicable_Common_Name: animaux
Applicable_Common_Name: animals
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subkingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Bilateria
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Infrakingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Deuterostomia
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Phylum
Taxon_Rank_Value: Chordata
Applicable_Common_Name: cordés
Applicable_Common_Name: cordado
Applicable_Common_Name: chordates
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subphylum
Taxon_Rank_Value: Vertebrata
Applicable_Common_Name: vertebrado
Applicable_Common_Name: vertébrés
Applicable_Common_Name: vertebrates
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Infraphylum
Taxon_Rank_Value: Gnathostomata
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Superclass
Taxon_Rank_Value: Tetrapoda
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Class
Taxon_Rank_Value: Mammalia
Applicable_Common_Name: mammifères
Applicable_Common_Name: mamífero
Applicable_Common_Name: mammals
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subclass
Taxon_Rank_Value: Theria
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Infraclass
Taxon_Rank_Value: Eutheria
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Order
Taxon_Rank_Value: Artiodactyla
Applicable_Common_Name: artiodactyls
Applicable_Common_Name: porco do mato
Applicable_Common_Name: veado
Applicable_Common_Name: cloven-hoofed ungulates
Applicable_Common_Name: even-toed ungulates
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Family
Taxon_Rank_Value: Bovidae
Applicable_Common_Name: antelopes
Applicable_Common_Name: cattle
Applicable_Common_Name: goats
Applicable_Common_Name: sheep
Applicable_Common_Name: bovids
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subfamily
Taxon_Rank_Value: Bovinae
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus
Taxon_Rank_Value: Bison
Applicable_Common_Name: bison
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Species
Taxon_Rank_Value: Bison bison
Applicable_Common_Name: American bison
Applicable_Common_Name: bison
Applicable_Common_Name: Bisonte americano
Applicable_Common_Name: American Bison
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
These data were gathered using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

Thomas-Van Gundy, Melissa A.; Perkins, Jessica D.; Smith, Linda S. 2021. Primeval paths: Bison in West Virginia. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2021-0055
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: GIS & Technical Support, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
Contact_Person: Jessica D. Perkins
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing
Address: PO Box 67
City: Elkins
State_or_Province: WV
Postal_Code: 26241
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 304-637-0245
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 304-637-0250
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: dnrgis@wv.gov
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service
Contact_Person: Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: physical
Address: 459 Nursery Bottom Rd.
City: Parsons
State_or_Province: WV
Postal_Code: 26287
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 304-478-2000
Data_Set_Credit:
This project was funded by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (Elkins, WV) and by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station (Parsons, WV).


Author Information:

Thomas-Van Gundy, Melissa A.
USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station

Perkins, Jessica D.
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

Smith, Linda S.
USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (retired)
Native_Data_Set_Environment:
Version 6.2 (Build 9200) ; Esri ArcGIS 10.5.1.7333
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Thomas-Van Gundy, Melissa A.
Originator: Perkins, Jessica D.
Originator: Krause, Crystal
Originator: Huebner, Cynthia D.
Originator: Ferrari, Lorenzo
Originator: Smith, Linda S.
Publication_Date: 2021
Title:
Primeval Paths: Bison in West Virginia
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Natural Areas Journal
Issue_Identification: 41(4): 315-322
Publication_Information:
Publisher: Natural Areas Association
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.3375/21-18
Online_Linkage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/63439
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Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) staff duplicated earlier mapping efforts by heads-up digitizing over 1:24,000-scale topographic (pre-1992 7.5-minute quadrangle) basemaps within ArcMap. Locations, points, and trail lines, were located in ArcMap at the more detailed scale, using the descriptions and paper 1:62,500 maps. Points and lines were digitized over the identified location on the 1:24,000-scale basemap, following features on the new maps used as references on the old maps. WVDNR staff used additional GIS basemap data to check the accuracy of locations based on the description. The conversion of the quadrangle maps and points to digital versions gives the illusion of a level precision and accuracy that is likely impossible to quantify. We caution users of the trail map that at some scale, depending on the questions being asked, the location of these lines is not reliable. The original trails were hand-drawn onto 1:62,500-scale topographic maps and every effort was made to duplicate lines accurately at the more detailed 1:24,000-scale but inherent errors may exist.
Logical_Consistency_Report:
These data were digitized over the identified location on a 1:24,000-scale basemap, and staff used additional GIS basemap data to check the accuracy of locations based on the description.
Completeness_Report:
These data are complete to the best of our knowledge. Additional research by a historian may be warranted.
Lineage:
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: U.S. Geological Survey
Publication_Date: Unknown
Title:
1:62500-scale USGS quadrangle maps for West Virginia
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Historical Topographic 15 x 15 Minute Map Series
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Restin, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey
Other_Citation_Details:
Example metadata downloaded from the National Map Download Client - see online linkage provided below.
Online_Linkage: https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/ngp/topo-maps/historical-topographic-map-collection?qt-science_support_page_related_con=0#qt-science_support_page_related_con
Source_Scale_Denominator: 62500
Type_of_Source_Media: hardcopy
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 1900
Ending_Date: 1960
Source_Currentness_Reference:
Publication Date
Source_Citation_Abbreviation:
USGS quadrangle maps
Source_Contribution:
Trails and points were hand drawn onto USGS quadrangle maps (1:62,500) for the state and deposited with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) for use and storage. The lines and points on the quadrangle maps were consolidated onto 1:500,000 maps of the state and shared with land management partners, such as the USDA Forest Service, along with the original report. Time period ranges from teh 1900s to the 1960s.
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
County histories and journals of early explorers of what is now West Virginia were reviewed in 1989 for mention of game trails and general descriptions of wildlife and flora. The libraries and collections of Davis and Elkins College, Elkins West Virginia (West Virginia Collection and Archives), West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia (West Virginia Collections, Forestry Library, Wise Library, Evansdale Library, and Health and Science Library), Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia (Special Collections and Morrow Library), and the West Virginia Department of Culture and History, Cultural Center, Charleston, West Virginia were included in the search for documents. Key words such as clover, fields, meadows, grass, and direct mentions of bison/buffalo, elk, or general game or “Indian” trails were searched for and noted.

These trails and points were hand drawn onto USGS quadrangle maps (1:62,500) for the state and deposited with the WVDNR for use and storage. The lines and points on the quadrangle maps were consolidated onto 1:500,000 maps of the state and shared with land management partners, such as the USDA Forest Service, along with the original report. At the request of the now retired WVDNR Botanist, WVDNR GIS and Technical Support staff undertook an effort to digitize historical bison trails and points of interest for future use. Staff duplicated earlier mapping efforts by heads-up digitizing over 1:24,000-scale topographic (7.5-minute quadrangle) basemaps within ArcMap. Locations, points, and trail lines, were located in ArcMap at the more detailed scale, using the descriptions and paper 1:62,500 maps. Points and lines were digitized over the identified location on the 1:24,000-scale basemap, and staff used additional GIS basemap data to check the accuracy of locations based on the description.

For more details see Thomas-Van Gundy et al. (2021, https://doi.org/10.3375/21-18)


Thomas-Van Gundy, Melissa A.; Perkins, Jessica D.; Krause, Crystal; Huebner, Cynthia D.; Ferrari, Lorenzo; Smith, Linda S. 2021. Primeval Paths: Bison in West Virginia. Natural Areas Journal 41(4): 315-322. Natural Areas Association. https://doi.org/10.3375/21-18
Process_Date: Unknown
Process_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
Contact_Person: GIS & Technical Support
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing
Address: PO Box 67
City: Elkins
State_or_Province: WV
Postal_Code: 26241
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 304-637-0245
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 304-637-0250
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: dnrgis@wv.gov
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Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
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Spatial_Reference_Information:
Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
Planar:
Map_Projection:
Map_Projection_Name: NAD 1983 UTM Zone 17N
Transverse_Mercator:
Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.9996
Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -81.0
Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.0
False_Easting: 500000.0
False_Northing: 0.0
Planar_Coordinate_Information:
Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair
Coordinate_Representation:
Abscissa_Resolution: 0.0001
Ordinate_Resolution: 0.0001
Planar_Distance_Units: meter
Geodetic_Model:
Horizontal_Datum_Name: D North American 1983
Ellipsoid_Name: GRS 1980
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.0
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222101
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Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Detailed_Description:
Entity_Type:
Entity_Type_Label: BisonTrails
Entity_Type_Definition:
Feature Class
Entity_Type_Definition_Source:
ArcGIS
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: OBJECTID
Attribute_Definition:
Internal feature number.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
Esri
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: SHAPE
Attribute_Definition:
Feature geometry.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
Esri
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Coordinates defining the features.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Notes
Attribute_Definition:
Description of trail location
Attribute_Definition_Source:
WVDNR
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Notes defining the trail location
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: SHAPE_Length
Attribute_Definition:
Length of feature in internal units.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
Esri
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.
Detailed_Description:
Entity_Type:
Entity_Type_Label: BisonPoints
Entity_Type_Definition:
Feature Class
Entity_Type_Definition_Source:
ArcGIS
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: OBJECTID_1
Attribute_Definition:
Internal feature number.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
Esri
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: SHAPE
Attribute_Definition:
Feature geometry.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
Esri
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Coordinates defining the features.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Bison_ID
Attribute_Definition:
Unique identifier used in the original paper maps and report (Historical account of bison in West Virginia, Bison in pioneer West Virginia, 1989)
Attribute_Definition_Source:
Historical account of bison in West Virginia, Bison in pioneer West Virginia, 1989
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Text identifier from original paper
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Note
Attribute_Definition:
Description from original report (Historical account of bison in West Virginia, Bison in pioneer West Virginia, 1989)
Attribute_Definition_Source:
Historical account of bison in West Virginia, Bison in pioneer West Virginia, 1989
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Text description
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Quad
Attribute_Definition:
1:24,000 quad map name
Attribute_Definition_Source:
U.S. Geological Survey
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Text USGS quad name
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: QuadJoin_usquad_24k
Attribute_Definition:
1:24,000 quad map name from spatial join
Attribute_Definition_Source:
U.S. Geological Survey
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Text USGS quad name
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: QuadState
Attribute_Definition:
1:24,000 quad map state from spatial join
Attribute_Definition_Source:
U.S. Geological Survey
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Text USGS quad state (KY = Kentucky, WV = West Virginia, OH = Ohio, MD = Maryland, VA = Virginia)
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
Below you will find a list and description of the files included in this data publication.

DATA - GEODATABASE

\Data\WestVirginiaBison.gdb: Esri geodatabase containing major bison trails and bison-related points of interest in West Virginia obtained from a 1989 map. This file includes two feature classes which are described below. NOTE: these data are also provided as shapefiles (see below).

1. BisonTrails: Bison trails represent approximate trails bison used to move from place to place in West Virginia.

2. BisonPoints: Bison points represent approximate places bison were present in West Virginia from as early as 1671 until 1825. These points are not necessarily along a mapped bison trail and represent a range of bison-related information including hunting success, mentions of old fields, and mentions of springs, for example.


DATA - SHAPEFILES

\Data\BisonPoints.shp: Shapefile (and associated files) containing bison-related points of interest in West Virginia obtained from a 1989 map. Bison points represent approximate places bison were present in West Virginia from as early as 1671 until 1825. (The same bison points data are also provided in the geodatabase: WestVirginiaBison.gdb.)

\Data\BisonTrails.shp: Shapefile (and associated files) containing major bison trails in West Virginia obtained from a 1989 map. Bison trails represent approximate trails bison used to move from place to place in West Virginia. (The same bison trails data are also provided in the geodatabase: WestVirginiaBison.gdb.)


SUPPLEMENTAL FILES

\Supplements\BisonInWV_1989_report.pdf: Portable Document Format file containing the original 1989 report describing the creation of the map of bison trails and points of interest including citations for the historical documents used.
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
Sources used to create the 1989 map are cited in the unpublished report "Bison in Pioneer West Virginia," by Linda S. Smith, which is included in this data package (\Supplements\BisonInWV_1989_report.pdf).

Thomas-Van Gundy, Melissa A.; Perkins, Jessica D.; Krause, Crystal; Huebner, Cynthia D.; Ferrari, Lorenzo; Smith, Linda S. 2021. Primeval Paths: Bison in West Virginia. Natural Areas Journal 41(4): 315-322. Natural Areas Association. https://doi.org/10.3375/21-18
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Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Research and Development
Contact_Position: Research Data Archivist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 240 West Prospect Road
City: Fort Collins
State_or_Province: CO
Postal_Code: 80526
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: see Contact Instructions
Contact Instructions: This contact information was current as of October 2021. For current information see Contact Us page on: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS.
Resource_Description: RDS-2021-0055
Distribution_Liability:
Metadata documents have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness. Unless otherwise stated, all data and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. However, neither the author, the Archive, nor any part of the federal government can assure the reliability or suitability of these data for a particular purpose. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed for a user's application of these data or related materials.

The metadata, data, or related materials may be updated without notification. If a user believes errors are present in the metadata, data or related materials, please use the information in (1) Identification Information: Point of Contact, (2) Metadata Reference: Metadata Contact, or (3) Distribution Information: Distributor to notify the author or the Archive of the issues.
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: GDB
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
Esri geodatabase
File_Decompression_Technique: Files zipped with 7-Zip 19.0
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2021-0055
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: SHP
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
Esri shapefile
File_Decompression_Technique: Files zipped with 7-Zip 19.0
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2021-0055
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: PDF
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
Portable Document Format file
File_Decompression_Technique: Files zipped with 7-Zip 19.0
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2021-0055
Fees: None
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Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20211028
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: GIS & Technical Support, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
Contact_Person: Jessica D. Perkins
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing
Address: PO Box 67
City: Elkins
State_or_Province: WV
Postal_Code: 26241
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 304-637-0245
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 304-637-0250
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: dnrgis@wv.gov
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
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