AFSC/NMML/CCEP: Food Habits of Pinnipeds at San Miguel Island, California

The National Marine Mammal Laboratories' California Current Ecosystem Program (AFSC/NOAA) collects fecal samples to examine the diet of pinnipeds, including California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus), northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), and Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) on San Miguel Island, California. Data are used to examine temporal changes in diet by the populations, as well as to make intra- and inter-specific comparisons at San Miguel Island.

The San Miguel Island Food Habits dataset is used to describe the diet of pinnipeds using San Miguel Island by identifying prey consumed over years and seasons. This information is primarily used to describe diet patterns of pinnipeds over time.

Cite data as: Melin, S. R.; DeLong, R. L.; Antonelis, G. A.; Orr, A. J.; Harris, J. D. 2016. Food habit studies of pinnipeds conducted at San Miguel Island, California by Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Mammal Laboratory from 1980-02-01 to 2014-01-31 (NCEI Accession 0145166). Version 1.1. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset.

Tables include information about the taxa identification, presence, number, size, etc. found in pinniped scat, stomach, enema, or lavage samples collected at San Miguel Island, CA. See "Child Items" for more detailed information.

The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose. NOAA denies liability if the data are misused. Applications or inferences derived from the data should be carefully considered for accuracy. Whereas every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.

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The dataset is archived with the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Acknowledgement of NOAA/NMFS/AFSC, as the source from which these data were obtained in any publications and/or other representations of these data is suggested. Communication and collaboration with dataset authors is strongly encouraged prior to use.

The dataset is available for download via the NCEI Ocean Archive System at http://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0145166.

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

User must read and fully comprehend the metadata prior to use. Applications or inferences derived from the data should be carefully considered for accuracy. Acknowledgement of NOAA/NMFS/AFSC, as the source from which these data were obtained in any publications and/or other representations of these, data is suggested. Data should be cited as: Cite data as: Melin, S. R.; DeLong, R. L.; Antonelis, G. A.; Orr, A. J.; Harris, J. D. 2016. Food habit studies of pinnipeds conducted at San Miguel Island, California by Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Mammal Laboratory from 1980-02-01 to 2014-01-31 (NCEI Accession 0145166). Version 1.1. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset.

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Metadata are subject to revision at any time and information within the metadata record should not be cited without author consent. Whereas every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.

MS Access

Some years are missing due to no collection in the year, samples not processed, or identifications of prey hard parts not complete.

Fish bone identification began in 1996. Prior to that, only fish otoliths and cephalopod beaks were retained and identified.

Check data entered into computer against datasheets for duplicates, spelling errors, incorrect field assignments. Hard-to-identify samples were given to an expert to confirm identifications.

Data not automatically processed

IT Security and Contingency Plan for the system establishes procedures and applies to the functions, operations, and resources necessary to recover and restore data as hosted in the Western Regional Support Center in Seattle, Washington, following a disruption.

Biologists walk through areas where pinnipeds have hauled out on San Miguel Island. They collect individual fresh (i.e. minimal dessication) scats into Whirl-Pak or mesh bags. Scats are kept at room temperature until they arrive in the laboratory from the field and then frozen at -20 until processed for contents. Prior to 2002, scats were thawed and soaked in warm water with detergent for 24 hours and then rinsed through nested sieves. Prey hard parts were recovered from each sieve and placed in vials. Prior to 1996, only cephalopod beaks and fish otoliths were retained and identified. After 1996, all fish hard parts and cephalopod beaks were identified. A change in processing methods occurred after 2002. Scats were thawed, placed in a washing machine and washed on the gentle cycle to remove organic material (Orr et al. 2003). Prey hard parts were collected and placed in vials using post-1996 methods. Each vial was labeled with date and scat number. Fish parts were stored dry and cephalopod remains were stored in alcohol in vials. Prey parts were identified to the lowest taxonomic level using a compound microscope, reference collection, and species identification keys. Fish otoliths and cephalopod beaks were measured using calipers or ocular micrometer. These measurements were used to estimate prey size from published regression equations. Data were entered on paper datasheets in the identification laboratory and then transcribed into the database.