vector digital data ExtentStatewideDate SourceWVDNRData CreatedNovember 2014Coordinate SystemUTM NAD83 Zone 17 NorthFile FormatESRI ShapefileAttribute InformationBrank: Site Biodiversity Rank. Values B1-B6, or blank if the criteria for B6 is not met. B1 = outstanding global biodiversity significance; B2 = high global biodiversity significance; B3 = global biodiversity significance; B4 = outstanding state biodiversity significance; B5 = state biodiversity significance; B6 = local biodiversity significance; blank = no documented rare species or natural communities.HUC_12: 12-digit code for United States Geological Survey Subwatershed Level 6, 12 digits (average size 40 square miles or 10,000-40,000 acres). Values: 020700010101 – 050901020305.HUC_12_NAME: English name of HUC 12 subwatershed. Values: Abb Run of Elk River – Zeke Run of North Fork South Branch Potomac River.DescriptionWest Virginia harbors significant biodiversity at the local, state, and global levels, with more than 55,000 documented occurrences of rare species and high quality natural communities. Site Biodiversity Ranks were calculated according to standards developed by NatureServe and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, and applied to 764 watersheds covering the entire state of West Virginia. Nearly half (361) of these watersheds have global biodiversity significance, highlighting West Virginia’s role as a critical refuge for biodiversity. This analysis represents the first detailed science-based spatial representation of where the most important biodiversity areas occur in the state. It is intended to help guide conservation and management action in West Virginia. MethodsDocumented occurrences of rare species and high quality natural communities, including more than 55,000 records statewide, were compiled from the WVDNR Natural Heritage database and other WVDNR databases including amphibians, birds, fish, fungi, Lepidoptera, mammals, mussels, Odonata, plants, reptiles, snails, other invertebrates, and terrestrial communities. Records of amphibian/reptile occurrences and crayfish occurrences were generously shared by Dr. Thomas Pauley of Marshall University and Dr. Zachary Loughman of West Liberty University, respectively. Contributing WVDNR biologists include Elizabeth Byers (project leader), Rich Bailey, Whitney Bailey, Janet Clayton, Donna Mitchell, Sue Olcott, Bill Roody, Barb Sargent, Craig Stihler, Brian Streets, Dave Thorne, Jim Vanderhorst, and Annie Williams. Volunteer Pam Byrne kindly assisted with data capture and georeferencing.Each species, subspecies, or community is associated with a Global Conservation Status Rank assigned by NatureServe (http://explorer.natureserve.org/granks.htm), ranging from G1 (Globally Critically Imperiled) to G5 (Secure). State Conservation Status Ranks are assigned following the same criteria as global ranks. In addition to conservation status ranks at the taxon level, each individual occurrence of a rare species or community is assigned an Occurrence Quality Rank (http://explorer.natureserve.org/eorankguide.htm), ranging from A (Excellent Viability) to D (Poor Viability). Occurrences were screened to exclude older, uncertain records, generally prior to 1970 and also to exclude records where the locational accuracy was poor, i.e., more than 1 km uncertainty, or where the identification was not confirmed. Some duplicate records were probably included, so that the total is likely a few hundred less than the 55,806 records that passed the screening. The site roll-up methodology eliminates duplicates so this was not of concern.The HUC12 watershed size was chosen as most likely to show meaningful biodiversity patterns within the state while still being computationally simple, with only 764 watershed units to assess. HUC12 corresponds to the United States Geological Survey Subwatershed Level 6, 12 digits (average size 40 square miles or 10,000-40,000 acres) (http://water.usgs.gov/GIS/huc.html). The Site Biodiversity Ranking Criteria is based on NatureServe standards and was modified by WVDNR Natural Heritage staff to reflect certain state considerations, such as significantly disjunct populations and communities that are well outside of their normal range and thus may reflect isolated, genetically distinct elements of biodiversity. State-rare elements that are common globally were also considered, although only at lower levels of the ranking. All B1-B3 sites have global biodiversity significance. B4-B5 sites have state biodiversity significance, and B6 sites have local biodiversity significance. Site Biodiversity Ranks are based on Conservation Status Ranks and Occurrence Quality Ranks, and are assigned at the highest rank for which any one of the criteria of that rank are met, as follows:B1 – Outstanding global biodiversity significance• Only known occurrence of an element rangewide, or• A-ranked occurrence of a G1 element (or at least C-ranked if best available), or• Concentration of A or B-ranked occurrences of G1 or G2 elements (4 or more)B2 – High global biodiversity significance• B or C-ranked occurrence of a G1 element, or• A or B-ranked occurrence of a G2 element, or• Concentration of C-ranked G2 elements (4 or more), or• One of the most outstanding (e.g., among 5 best) occurrences rangewide (at least A or B-ranked) of a G3 element, or• Concentration of A or B-ranked G3 elements (4 or more)B3 – Global biodiversity significance• D-ranked occurrence of a G1 element (if best available), or• C-ranked occurrence of a G2 element, or• A or B- ranked occurrence of a G3 element, or• A or B- ranked occurrence of a disjunct S1 element, or• Concentration (4+) of A- or B-ranked occurrences of S1 elements, or• One of the most outstanding (e.g., among 5 best) occurrences of a G4 or G5 community (at least A or B-ranked) in an ecoregion. Of these, the 1 or 2 best in an ecoregion could be elevated to B2 status based on consultation with the Natural Heritage ecologist.B4 – Outstanding state biodiversity significance• D-ranked occurrence of a G2 element (if best available), or• C-ranked occurrence of a G3 element, or• A or B-ranked occurrence of S1 element (or at least C-ranked if it’s the only state occurrence), or• A-ranked occurrence of an S2 element, or• Concentration (4+) of A- or B-ranked occurrences of S1-S2 elements or A-ranked S3 elements, or• At least C-ranked occurrence of a disjunct G4 or G5 element, or• A or B-ranked occurrence of a G4 or G5 communityB5 – State biodiversity significance• D-ranked occurrence of G3, S1, or S2 element (if best available), or• C-ranked occurrence of S1 element, or• B or C-ranked occurrence of S2 element, or• A-ranked occurrence of an S3 element, or• Concentration (4+) of S1-S3 elements, or• BC-ranked occurrence of a G4 or G5 communityB6 – Local biodiversity significance• B or C-ranked occurrence of S3 element, or• C or CD-ranked occurrence of a G4 or G5 communityIn the future, a smaller watershed size or ideally individual sites could be assessed using this same methodology. At finer scales, there will be less acreage that qualifies for high Site Biodiversity Ranks, but the resolution of where the most important conservation targets occur will improve. This analysis could be done for individual sites as well – it does not need to be done statewide if the focus is on a smaller area. Watersheds (HUC12 level) have been assigned a Site Biodiversity Rank according to national standards developed by NatureServe and modified for state implementation by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. This watershed map presents, for the first time, a science-based spatial representation of where the most important biodiversity areas occur in the state. It is intended to help guide conservation and management action in West Virginia. -82.703338 -77.665979 40.639690 37.160679 None watershed HUC12 site biodiversity ranks B ranks Natural Heritage NatureServe conservation rare species natural communities None None Citation: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. 2014. Watershed Biodiversity Ranks in West Virginia (ESRI shapefile). WVDNR Elkins Operations Center, Ward Rd, Elkins WV 26241. Microsoft Windows 7 Version 6.1 (Build 7601) Service Pack 1; Esri ArcGIS 10.1.1.3143 Vector Complete chain 764 HUC12BrankNov2014 FID Internal feature number. Esri Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. Shape Feature geometry. Esri Coordinates defining the features. OBJECTID HUC_12 HU_12_NAME Brank 20141216 FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001-1998 local time