Global Change Master Directory (GCMD)

Data Sets

Services / Tools

Ancillary Descriptions

Are you using a browser that doesn't support JavaScript or have you disabled JavaScript?

If you have disabled JavaScript, you must re-enable JavaScript to use this page.
Or you can view this record using the Text Only Format.

MMS Low Altitude Survey for Mammals, Southern California

Entry ID: seamap51

[ Get Data ]
[ Update this Record ]

Summary

Abstract: Marine Mammal and Seabird Surveys of The Southern California Bight Studies: -- So. Calif. Bight Low Aerial [Mammals] Study Code: SM Contract Number: AA550-CT7-36
Principal Investigator(s)/Affiliation: K. S. Norris and B. J. Le Boeuf, University of California, Santa Cruz, and G. L. Hunt, University of California, Irvine.

Purpose: OBJECTIVES: Objectives of the study were to characterize the marine mammal and seabird fauna of the Southern California Bight, estimate abundance of species, describe the distribution, determine the timing and routes of migrations and movements, and document seasonal changes in numbers or patterns of habitat-use. In addition, studies were conducted to determine the size and status of breeding ... colonies of seabirds and pinnipeds, their productivity, and trends in growth.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
DATA COLLECTION:
TIME PERIOD: May 1975 through March 1978
STUDY AREA: The Southern California Bight, from Point Conception to the U.S.-Mexico boundary and offshore to the 2,000 m isobath.

METHODOLOGY: Aerial and ship surveys were conducted along pre-established transects designed to systematically sample marine mammal and seabird abundance in all waters of the study area. Aerial surveys were conducted at two altitudes (200 ft and about 750-1,000 ft ASL) alternating at 2-3 week intervals. Seabirds and pinnipeds were recorded only on the low-altitude surveys which predominantly sampled along eight lines of latitude, separated by 25 nm, and connecting lines of longitude. High-altitude surveys sampled cetacean abundance along 15 Loran lines oriented northeast-southwest and separated by 12-15 nm. On low-altitude surveys, seabirds were counted only within a 50 m corridor on the shaded side of the aircraft. Marine mammals were counted in an unbounded corridor on one side of the aircraft on low-altitude surveys and both sides of the aircraft on high-altitude surveys. A clinometer or marks on the wing-strut were used to estimate the declination, and the measurement or estimate later used to calculate probability density functions of frequency with right-angle distance. Ships were used for surveys of inshore waters along standard (i.e., predetermined and replicate) transects and for search, catch, and tagging/tracking of small cetaceans. The standard ship transect cruises sampled abundance of seabirds and marine mammals over banks, basins, and ridges in waters inshore of the Patton Escarpment (the shelf break). Seabirds and marine mammals were counted on both sides of the cruise track and distance estimated or measured with a range-finder. Catch cruises attempted to find and remain with schools of common dolphin and other small cetaceans; therefore, data on sightings from these cruises cannot be used as samples of animal abundance. The Southern California Bight Study also included ground and aerial censuses of pinniped and seabird colonies, and special studies of productivity, mortality rates, and foraging range.

DATABASES PRODUCED: Databases produced include 1) sightings of seabirds and marine mammals on 24 *low-altitude aerial surveys, 2) sightings of cetaceans on 35 high-altitude aerial surveys, 3) sightings of seabirds and marine mammals on 29 ship transect surveys, and 4) sightings of cetaceans on 34 catch cruises. Included in this database are the following: High Altitude Mammal Observations: 75,489 km of effort, 695 sightings of 68,557 individual animals Low Altitude Mammal Observations: 37,843 km of effort, 1,320 sightings of 15,070 individual animals Low Altitude Bird Observations: 35,445 km of effort, 7,950 sightings of 63,359 individual animals Ship Observations: 17,903 km of effort, 23,519 sightings of 181,287 individual animals

CURRENTNESS REFERENCE: ground condition

SPATIAL REFERENCE INFORMATION - GEODETIC MODEL
Horizontal Datum Name: D_WGS_1984
Ellipsoid Name: WGS_1984
Semi-major Axis: 6378137.000000
Denominator of Flattening Ratio: 298.257224

Related URL

Link: GET DATA

Description: Access data from the OBIS and OBIS-SEAMAP websites.

Multimedia Sample

View full image

Caption: Mammals Survey

Geographic Coverage

(Click for Interactive Map)

Spatial coordinates

N: 34.47

S: 32.2

E: -117.28

W: -121.01

Data Set Citation

Dataset Originator/Creator: Minerals Management Service

Dataset Title: MMS Low Altitude Survey for Mammals, Southern California

Dataset Series Name: OBIS-SEAMAP

Dataset Release Date: 2004-02-12 23:13:42.855628-05

Dataset Release Place: http://seamap.env.duke.edu/

Dataset Publisher: OBIS-SEAMAP

Data Presentation Form: vector digital data

Online Resource: http://www.mms.gov/

Parent DIF

This data set description is a member of a collection. The collection is described in
OBIS-SEAMAP

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1975-05-16

Stop Date: 1978-03-18

Location Keywords

OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN

CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > CALIFORNIA

Data Resolution

Latitude Resolution: 6000 m
Longitude Resolution: 10000 m

Science Keywords

BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES

BIOSPHERE > AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC HABITAT

ISO Topic Category

BIOTA

OCEANS

Platform

SHIPS

Instrument

GRAB SAMPLERS

Access Constraints The University of New Haven and the U.S. Geological Survey must be
referenced as the originator of the data set in any future products or
as research derived from these data. Although this derived data set
and its lineage dataset have been used by the University of New Haven
and the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the
University of New Haven or the USGS as to the accuracy of the data
and/or related materials. The act of distribution shall not constitute
any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the University
of New Haven or the USGS in the use of the data or related materials.

Use Constraints None

Ancillary Keywords

U.S. Geological Survey

USGS

Data Set Progress

COMPLETE

Originating Center

USGS

Data Center

Woods Hole Science Center, Coastal and Marine Geology, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior

Data Center URL: http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/

Data Center Personnel
Name: USGS WHSC COASTAL AND MARINE GEOLOGY PROGRAM Phone: (508) 548-8700 Fax: (508) 457-2310 Contact Address: U.S. Geological Survey 384 Woods Hole Road City: Woods Hole Province or State: MA Postal Code: 02543-1598 Country: USA

Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven

Data Center URL: http://www.newhaven.edu/4505/
Dataset ID: Long Island Sound: reidetal.shp

Data Center Personnel
Name: ROMAN ZAJAC Phone: 203-932-7114 Email: zajacrn at charger.newhaven.edu Contact Address: Biological and Environmental Sciences University of New Haven 300 Orange Avenue City: West Haven Province or State: CT Postal Code: 06516 Country: USA

Distribution

Distribution Media: CD-ROM

Distribution Size: 13Kbytes

Distribution Format: ARCView

Fees: none

Personnel

ROMAN ZAJAC

Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT

Phone: 203-932-7114

Email: zajacrn at charger.newhaven.edu

Contact Address:

Biological and Environmental Sciences

University of New Haven

300 Orange Avenue

City: West Haven

Province or State: CT

Postal Code: 06516

Country: USA

LARRY POPPE

Role: DIF AUTHOR

Phone: (508) 548-8700 x2314

Fax: (508) 457-2310

Email: lpoppe at usgs.gov

Contact Address:

U.S. Geological Survey

384 Woods Hole Road

City: Woods Hole

Province or State: MA

Postal Code: 02543-1598

Country: USA

Publications/References

R.N. Reid, A.B. Frame, and A.F. Draxler (comps.). (1979), Environmental baselines in Long Island Sound, 1972-1978,, NOAA Technical Report, SSRF-738

Paskevich, V. and L. J. Poppe, eds., (2000), Georeferenced sea-floor mapping and bottom photography in Long Island Sound - U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-304, U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole Field Center, http://pubs.usgs.gov/openfile/of00-304/

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2000-08-05

Last DIF Revision Date: 2011-07-01

Reformat as FGDC document

View Text Only Format

[ Update this Record ]