Single Query Instructions

The single query form is appropriate for most simple queries. See the double query form for more complicated searches. See also the data limitations page which contains a glossary of many of the terms used here.

Topics

Query Form Parameters

There are 8 parameters specified for a single query of the National Wild Fish Health Database. All of these, except for the fish species and the pathogens have default values.
  1. Beginning Date: All data collected before this date will be ignored. The default is the earliest date in the database. Invalid dates are converted to a valid date (for example, February 31 becomes March 3 in a non-leap year).

  2. Ending Date: All data collected after this date will be ignored. The default is the end of the latest year in the database. Invalid dates are converted to a valid date (for example, February 31 becomes March 3 on a non-leap year).

  3. Available Databases: There are currently 2 databases available, the National Wild Fish Health Survey and the historical data compilation done at Colorado State University. The default is for the National Wild Fish Health Survey. Only 1 database may be selected for a single query. The double query may use both databases simultaneously.

  4. Fish Species: Any number of fish species may be selected. There is no default. Selecting a family name takes all species in that family. Only fish species that are actually present in the selected database will appear in the output. An error is reported for failing to select at least 1 fish species that is present in the selected database.

  5. Pathogen Species: Any number of pathogens may be selected. There is no default. Only pathogens that are actually present in the selected database will appear in the output. An error is reported for failing to select at least 1 pathogen that is present in the selected database. Selecting more than 1 pathogen will frequently complicate interpretation as the same individual fish become involved in multiple tests. Because of this, confidence limits are given only for searches on a single pathogen.

  6. Mapping Background: There are 2 options, shaded relief maps or flat (solid colored) maps. The default is "shaded relief". There is no difference in computer run time.

  7. Color Scheme: There are 3 choices for the basic color scheme for the maps. The default is "color slide".
    1. Color Slide- Black background with colored symbols
    2. Color Printer- White background with colored symbols
    3. gray-scale Printer- White background with black and white symbols.
    Any of the maps may be saved and altered for specific needs. For example, most graphics programs allow easy changes of color and replacement of color with various fill designs.

  8. Plot Surrounding Points: There are 2 options, yes or no. The default is yes. When "no" is selected, points located outside the selected map area (state or hydrologic unit) are not shown. This feature will clip points exactly at the edge of the mapped area.

Submitting a Query

A query begins when the "submit" button is selected. Each query is uniquely numbered for reference. This "query number", along with the date, appears on all output and it serves to link the output back to the query parameters. The first page returned for each query lists the important query parameters for verification and future reference. This page should be saved if needed to interpret other output.

An error can occur only by failing to select a positive time span, 1 or more fish species, and 1 or more pathogens. If an error is reported, use the "back" button of the browser and fix the problem.

Sample Location Reports

The bottom of the initial query parameters page allows access to sample location reports. Only samples that meet all of the search criteria are reported in any way. There are 5 basic options and each of these have additional options. For ease of use of these instructions, these options are repeated in several locations below.
  1. State Summary Map: This is a map that shows the 48 lower states with Alaska and Hawaii represented by labeled squares in the left corners of the map. The states with samples that meet the search criteria are shown with the darker gray. Note that while this summary map allows access to a statistical report for any state, to get an individual state dot map or an individual state HUC summary map, you must use the state summary table option below.

  2. State Summary Table: This is a simple list of the states with the number of tissue samples that meet the search criteria. For any state with data, there is the option for a more detailed statistical report, and the option to display the sample locations as a dot map or as a HUC summary map.

  3. HUC Region Summary Table: This is a simple list of the HUC regions with the number of tissue samples that meet the search criteria. For any region with data, there is the option for a more detailed statistical report, and the option to display the sample locations as a dot map or as a HUC summary map.

  4. HUC Summary Maps: It is not necessary to access the state summary table or the HUC region summary table to get the HUC summary maps for any state or region. These may be selected by name directly from the list provided. This is the only way to get the Conterminous USA summary map. These maps display the HUC cataloging units for the selected area and indicates which have samples and which do not. These maps allows access to the HUC selection table options. Only HUCs with samples will have data available that meet the search criteria.

    The HUC Selection Table allows accessing information for 6 HUC-defined areas:

    1. The selected cataloging unit
    2. The accounting unit
    3. The subregion
    4. The region
    5. The upstream cataloging units
    6. The downstream cataloging units

    Further kinds of information and maps for each HUC-defined area are available by selecting the area name. Other options allow for dot maps, and for database search tables, by HUC-defined area, as HTML, text or summaries only. Dot maps are not available for accounting units that do not differ from the subregion. Note that the information page and dot maps for upstream cataloging units and downstream cataloging units are the same. The database search tables will be different. The options that follow on each of these paths are the same as described above.

  5. Distribution dot maps: It is not necessary to access the state summary table or the HUC region summary table to get the distribution dot maps for any state or region. These may be selected by name directly from the list provided. This is the only way to get the Conterminous USA dot maps. These maps displays the sample locations as dots and they allow a database search table for any location. The search radius is the size of the dot, which varies depending on the scale of the map. This radius is reported above the search results table. If a variable search radius is required, see the double query option. The database search tables report the pathogen status of each sample at that location. Only locations with dots will have data available that meet the search criteria, but any location can be selected. Once a location is selected there are options to get the Graphical Locater information, to go to the HUC Selection Table, or to make a custom map. On these tables, the full case details may be obtained by selecting the case number. A statistical report for the current query is also available for each case by selecting the "stats" link. On the case details, the position data may be further reviewed by selecting "Graphical Locater Information".

Sample Status Reports

Sample status reports can be accessed at the bottom of the sample location report for the state summary map, the state summary table, the HUC Region Summary table, any HUC summary map or any distribution dot map. Once sample status reporting is begun, there is no way to return to sample location reporting except to begin a new query. This is easily done by reloading the initial query result page. Note that the query number will be increased. Sample status reporting is exactly parallel to the sample location reporting, except that more information is conveyed earlier in the search sequence. Only samples that meet all of the search criteria are reported in any way. There are 6 basic options and each of these have additional options.
  1. State Summary Map: This is a map that shows the 48 lower states with Alaska and Hawaii represented by labeled squares in the left corners of the map. This map indicates the sample status for each state by different colors. The most most positive result is always displayed (red covers yellow, which covers green). Note that while this summary map allows access to a statistical report for any state, to get an individual state dot map or an individual state HUC summary map, you must use the state summary table option below.

  2. State Summary Table: This is a simple list of the states with the number of tissue samples that meet the search criteria. These are further broken down by sample status (pathogen detected, pathogen not detected, or samples collected, results inconclusive). For any state with data, there is the option for a more detailed statistical report, and the option to display the sample locations as a dot map or as a HUC summary map.

  3. HUC Region Summary Table: This is a simple list of the HUC regions with the number of tissue samples that meet the search criteria. These are further broken down by sample status (pathogen detected, pathogen not detected, or samples collected, results inconclusive). For any region with data, there is the option for a more detailed statistical report, and the option to display the sample locations as a dot map or as a HUC summary map.

  4. Prevalence Threshold Reports These reports require further input. The initial form allows selecting a percent confidence level from 6 options (50, 75, 90, 95, 98 or 99) with 95% being the default. It also requires a threshold fraction that can range from 0 to 1 with no default. If you fail to select a number between 0 and 1, you get an error message and a new form to try again. The threshold fraction is maintained to exactly 3 decimal digits. Select "Continue" to proceed.

  5. HUC Summary Maps: It is not necessary to access the state summary table or the HUC region summary table to get the HUC summary maps for any state or region. These may be selected by name directly from the list provided. This is the only way to get the Conterminous USA summary map. These maps display the HUC cataloging units for the selected area and indicates the sample status for each HUC by different colors. The most most positive result is always displayed (red covers yellow, which covers green). These maps allows access to the HUC selection table options. Only HUCs with samples will have data available that meet the search criteria.

    The HUC Selection Table allows accessing information for 6 HUC-defined areas:

    1. The selected cataloging unit
    2. The accounting unit
    3. The subregion
    4. The region
    5. The upstream cataloging units
    6. The downstream cataloging units

    Further kinds of information and maps for each HUC-defined area are available by selecting the area name. Other options allow for dot maps, and for database search tables, by HUC-defined area, as HTML, text or summaries only. Dot maps are not available for accounting units that do not differ from the subregion. Note that the information page and dot maps for upstream cataloging units and downstream cataloging units are the same. The database search tables will be different. The options that follow on each of these paths are the same as described above.

  6. Distribution dot maps: It is not necessary to access the state summary table or the HUC region summary table to get the distribution dot maps for any state or region. These may be selected by name directly from the list provided. This is the only way to get the Conterminous USA dot maps. These maps display the pathogen status at each sample location as colored dots or coded dots. Depending on the search criteria, there may be many samples at a single location The most most positive result is always displayed (red covers yellow, which covers green). These maps allow a database search table for any location. The search radius is the size of the dot, which varies depending on the scale of the map. This radius is reported above the search results table. If a variable search radius is required, see the double query option. The database search tables report the pathogen status of each sample at that location. Only locations with dots will have data available that meet the search criteria, but any location can be selected. Once a location is selected there are options to get the Graphical Locater information, to go to the HUC Selection Table, or to make a custom map. On these tables, the full case details may be obtained by selecting the case number. A statistical report for the current query is also available for each case by selecting the "stats" link. On the case details, the position data may be further reviewed by selecting "Graphical Locater Information".
Begin a single query now.
11 JUNE 2001, Last Updated 4 APR 2002
dlg@rapid.msu.montana.edu