AFSC/NMML with NPRB: Whale broad-scale distribution in southeastern Bering Sea, 2008 and 2010

As part of the Bering Sea Integrated Ecosystem Research Program (BSIERP) funded by the North Pacific Research Board (http://www.nprb.org/bering-sea-project), cetacean surveys were conducted to describe distribution and estimate abundance on the eastern Bering Sea shelf. Three marine mammal observers conducted visual surveys along transect lines sampled during the Alaska Fisheries Science Center walleye pollock assessment survey in June and July of 2008 and 2010. We collected sighting data for all cetaceans, and produced abundance estimates for the following species: humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), minke whale (B. acutorostrata), Dalls (Phocoenoides dalli) and harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena).

Understanding distribution and abundance is important for evaluating how environmental changes will influence the habitat and behavior of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoise). Also, because year-to-year variation in ocean temperatures and productivity has been shown to affect their prey of zooplankton and schooling fish, determining how cetaceans interact with their environment will help predict how they will respond to these changes.

Loaded by FGDC Metadata Uploader, batch 6130, 06-05-2015 17:42

The following FGDC sections are not currently supported in InPort, but were preserved and will be included in the FGDC export:

- Taxonomy (FGDC:taxonomy)

- Spatial Reference Information (FGDC:spref),

- Spatial Data Organization Information (FGDC:spdoinfo)

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It is strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with the data. The NPRB shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein.

Data can be accessed at the NPRB website http://beringsea.eol.ucar.edu/data/

There are no legal restrictions on access to the data. They reside in public domain and can be freely distributed.

Must cite originator if used in publications, reports, presentations, etc. Author requests notification when data are used in publications, reports, presentations, etc.

BSIERP_B66_2008_2010_Data_20150520.xls was produced using Microsoft Excel 2007 and saved in Excel 2003 format.

Data was collected using the software WINCRUZ version 6.24 (http://tinyurl.com/qhtakea) and standard line transect protocols as described in Moore et al. 2002; Progress in Oceanography. Accuracy was ensured by reviewing and editing the data in the field on a daily basis. Post cruise processing included data extraction and error checking using customized software (Paul Wade, National Marine Mammal Laboratory). Tracklines and sightings were plotted in ArcMap to check for accuracy.

Survey data collected with Wincruz (Windows Real Time Sighting-Effort Event Logger developed by Robert Holland at Southwest Fisheries Science Center (http://swfsc.noaa.gov/uploadedFiles/Divisions/PRD/WinCruz.pdf).

Accuracy was ensured by reviewing and editing the data in the field on a daily basis. Post cruise processing included data extraction and error checking using customized software (Paul Wade, National Marine Mammal Laboratory). Tracklines and sightings were plotted in ArcMap to check for accuracy.

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