ELEMENT OCCURRENCE DATA STANDARD February 6, 2002 NatureServe in cooperation with the Network of Natural Heritage Programs and Conservation Data Centers iii Table of Contents PREFACE.....................................................................................................................................currently under revision ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.....................................................................................................currently under revision ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................................currently under revision 1 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................currently under revision 2 EO DEFINITION .................................................................................................................................................10 2.1 Principal EOs........................................................................................................................................................10 2.2 Sub-EOs.................................................................................................................................................................12 2.3 Feature Labels.......................................................................................................................................................13 2.4 Location Use Class..............................................................................................................................................13 2.5 Persistence and Practical Conservation Value ..............................................................................................13 2.6 Captivity/Cultivation..........................................................................................................................................14 2.7 Anthropogenic Habitat.......................................................................................................................................14 2.8 Reintroduction/Restoration..............................................................................................................................14 2.9 Introduction/Exotics..........................................................................................................................................15 2.10 Historical EOs.................................................................................................................................................15 2.11 Extirpation........................................................................................................................................................15 2.12 Recordation and Representation................................................................................................................15 3 EO NESTING.........................................................................................................................................................16 3.1 Principal EOs and Sub-EOs............................................................................................................................16 3.2 Characteristics of Sub-EOs...............................................................................................................................18 3.2.1 Nesting Sub-EOs for Migratory Elements Having No EO Classes.........................................18 3.2.2 Nesting Sub-EOs for Migratory Elements Having EO Classes.................................................19 3.2.3 Nesting Non-Biologically Defined Sub-EOs...................................................................................20 4 EO SPECIFICATIONS........................................................................................................................................22 4.1 Purpose of EO Specifications..........................................................................................................................22 4.2 Minimum Criteria for EOs...............................................................................................................................23 4.3 Separating EOs.....................................................................................................................................................23 4.3.1 Barriers .........................................................................................................................................................24 4.3.2 Separation Distances.................................................................................................................................24 4.3.2.1 Species: Separation by Unsuitable and Suitable Habitats.........................................................25 4.3.2.2 Communities: Separation by Different Community Types ...................................................25 4.3.2.3 Separation Across Mixed Areas.......................................................................................................25 4.3.2.4 Recommended Minimum Separation Distances ........................................................................25 4.3.2.5 Factors Determining Separation Distances...................................................................................26 a) Dispersal Distance.....................................................................................................................................26 b) Home Range...............................................................................................................................................27 c) Spatial Patterns of Occurrence ..............................................................................................................27 d) Temporal Patterns of Occurrence........................................................................................................27 e) Comparability with Similar Functional Groups...............................................................................28 4.3.3 Feature Labels and Location Use Classes ..........................................................................................28 4.3.3.1 Feature Labels.......................................................................................................................................28 4.3.3.2 Location Use Classes ..........................................................................................................................29 iv 4.4 Inferred Extent for Some Animal Species ....................................................................................................29 4.5 Characteristics of Good EO Specifications.................................................................................................29 4.6 Developing EO Specifications.........................................................................................................................30 4.7 Templates for Writing EO Specifications.....................................................................................................32 5 EO RANKS AND EO RANK SPECIFICATIONS..................................................................................36 5.1 Purpose of EO Ranks and EO Rank Specifications.................................................................................36 5.2 EO Ranks...............................................................................................................................................................36 5.2.1 Basic EO Ranks.........................................................................................................................................37 5.2.2 Range Ranks and the “?” Qualifier.......................................................................................................39 5.2.3 Origin Status Subranks.............................................................................................................................40 5.2.4 Valid EO Ranks.........................................................................................................................................42 5.3 EO Rank Factors.................................................................................................................................................42 5.3.1 Size.................................................................................................................................................................44 5.3.2 Condition.....................................................................................................................................................45 5.3.3 Landscape Context...................................................................................................................................46 5.3.4 Considerations Related to Predictions of the Future ......................................................................46 5.3.4.1 Current Stresses and Trends.............................................................................................................47 5.3.4.2 Defensibility, Manageability, Restorability, and Future Stresses ..............................................47 5.3.5 Naturalness..................................................................................................................................................47 5.4 EO Rank Values...................................................................................................................................................48