HMSRP Hawaiian Monk Seal Argos Location Data Summary

This project investigates foraging behavior of Hawaiian monk seals by conducting telemetry studies. During these studies, live seals are instrumented with satellite tags and other instruments to determine foraging locations and dive and foraging behavior. This data set contains a summary of ARGOS location data which is contained in GIS data set of raster files/ESRI shape files.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is the lead agency responsible for the recovery of the Hawaiian monk seal. Each year the NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Protected Species Division, Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program conducts studies at the main breeding sites to provide information necessary to evaluate (1) the status and trends of the monk seal subpopulations, (2) natural history traits such as survival, reproduction, growth, behavior, and feeding habits, and (3) the success of various activities designed to facilitate population growth. The purpose of telemetry studies is to define Hawaiian monk seal foraging behavior to better understand the links between environment, prey variability, and demography.

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Data use for analysis or publication is expected to be conducted in collaboration with and proper attribution to NOAA scientists responsible for data collection.

Seals are instrumented opportunistically depending upon logistics and program priorities. Size/sex classes of seals are not equally represented due to considerations of seal size and reproductive status.

Seals are instrumented opportunistically depending upon logistics and program priorities. Size/sex classes of seals are not equally represented due to considerations of seal size and reproductive status.

Data should be reviewed prior to analysis.

The argosfilter routing in R was used to eliminate spurious points based on:

1) poor quality reading from the instrument,

2) biologically unrealistic distances between points

3) biologically unrealistic angles between sets of points

Original files will be regularly backed up and stored on a secure server separate from publicly accessible files.

Animals were fitted with ARGOS satellite tags. Data were downloaded from ARGOS data services. Raw data were processed using the WCDAP program. Location outputs were screened for spurious locations using the argosfilter routine in R with parameters specified for monk seal movement patterns. Output shape files were projected in the Old Hawaiian projection.