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MMS Central/Northern California High-altitude mammals

Entry ID: seamap40

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Summary

Abstract: Principal investigator/affiliation: Thomas P. Dohl, Center for Marine Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz. Marine Mammal And Seabird Surveys Of Central And Northern California Studies: Central/Northern Calif - High Aerial [Cetaceans] Study Code: CH Contract Number: 14-12-0001-29090

Purpose: To determine species composition, distribution, abundance, and seasonal variation for marine mammal and seabird populations, provide a description of habitat use, and identify areas of special biological importance to these populations in the central and northern California study area.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

Study area: Shelf, slope, and offshore waters to a distance ... of 100 nm off the California coast from Point Conception to the California-Oregon boundary. Methodology: Offshore transect surveys were flown twice-monthly at two different altitudes (200 ft and about 750-1,000 ft ASL) along approximately 40 east-west transect lines extending an average of 60 nm offshore. The transects sampled on a given survey were selected randomly from a set of 92 standard (predetermined) lines spaced at intervals of 5' of latitude. Standard transects provided systematic coverage of shelf, slope, and offshore waters in the study area. Sightings of seabirds, pinnipeds, and sea otters were recorded only on low-altitude surveys. Sightings of cetaceans and turtles were recorded on both low- and high-altitude surveys. Seabird sightings were recorded only on the shaded side of the aircraft within a strip transect of 50 m width. Marine mammal and turtle sightings were recorded within an unbounded corridor on both high- and low-altitude surveys, but only the shaded side of the aircraft was searched on the low-altitude surveys. Cross-legs connecting standard transects were searched only on high-altitude surveys. Offshore cross-legs were searched on both sides of the aircraft, while only the nearshore side was searched on cross-legs along the coast. Declination angle was measured and noted for each marine mammal/turtle sightings and later used to calculate a probability density function of frequency with right-angle sighting distance. Navigation was by Loran and VLF-Omega.

Databases Produced: Three databases of sightings at sea were produced by these studies (data on numbers of seabirds and pinnipeds on land were also collected but are not addressed in the present study). These include 1) sightings of cetaceans and turtles recorded on 36 high-altitude aerial surveys, 2) sightings of cetaceans, pinnipeds, sea otters, and turtles recorded on 36 low-altitude aerial surveys, and 3) sightings of seabirds on 36 low-altitude aerial surveys. Each sighting database is accompanied by files providing the search effort on transect and environmental characteristics of the waters surveyed (e.g., sea surface temperature). Contract Number: 14-12-0001-29090

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

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Caption: Mammals Survey

Geographic Coverage

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Spatial coordinates

N: 43.37

S: 27.52

E: -117.21

W: -125.97

Data Set Citation

Dataset Originator/Creator: Minerals Management Service

Dataset Title: MMS Central/Northern California High-altitude mammals

Dataset Series Name: OBIS-SEAMAP

Dataset Release Date: 2004-02-12 21:32:45.844445-05

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: 1980-03-10

Stop Date: 1983-02-16

Location Keywords

OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN

CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > CALIFORNIA

Data Resolution

Latitude Resolution: 0.000167 Decimal degrees
Longitude Resolution: 0.000167 Decimal degrees
Horizontal Resolution Range: 1 meter - < 30 meters

Science Keywords

BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > BIRDS

BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > MAMMALS > CARNIVORES > SEALS/SEA LIONS/WALRUSES

ISO Topic Category

ENVIRONMENT

INLAND WATERS

Project

USGS_SOFIA > South Florida Information Access

Quality Records for stations in Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (LOX) are monthly. The period of record varies for the data depending on what data were collected.

Water-quality and ancillary data were collected from the files of the U.S. Geological Survey, South Florida Water Management District, Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, the U.S. Fish and ...

Access Constraints None

Use Constraints These data are subject to change and are not citeable until reviewed and approved for official publication.

Ancillary Keywords

Palm Beach County

Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

Data Set Progress

COMPLETE

Data Center

SOUTH FLORIDA INFORMATION ACCESS, FLORIDA INTEGRATED SCIENCE CENTER, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Data Center URL: http://sofia.usgs.gov/
Dataset ID: Loxahatchee_NWR_data

Data Center Personnel
Name: HEATHER S. HENKEL Phone: 727.803.8747 ext. 3028 Fax: 727.803.2032 Email: hhenkel at usgs.gov Contact Address: USGS-FISC-St. Petersburg 600 Fourth St. South City: St. Petersburg Province or State: FL Postal Code: 33701 Country: USA

Distribution

Distribution Size: 2.5

Distribution Format: Excel

Fees: None

Personnel

ARTURO TORRES

Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT

Phone: (813) 975-8620 ext. 128

Fax: (813) 942-9521

Email: aetorres at usgs.gov

Contact Address:

U.S. Geological Survey

227 N. Bronough Street

City: Tallahassee

Province or State: FL

Postal Code: 32301

Country: USA

ALICIA ALEMAN

Role: DIF AUTHOR

Email: alicia.m.aleman at nasa.gov

Contact Address:

Goddard Space Flight Center

Code 610.2

City: Greenbelt

Province or State: MD

Postal Code: 20771

Country: USA

Publications/References

McPherson, Benjamin F., Halley, Robert; 1996; The South Florida Environment: a region under stress; USGS Circular, 1134, U.S. Geological Survey Southern Florida NAWQA Program publication
http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/circular/1134/

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2008-04-11

Last DIF Revision Date: 2008-11-25

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