Steller sea lion satellite telemetry data used to determine at-sea distribution in the western-central Aleutian Islands, 2000-2013

This dataset was used for an analysis of the at-sea distribution of Steller sea lions in the western-central Aleutian Islands, Alaska. This analysis was prepared to support the 2014 Section 7 Biological Opinion evaluating effects of commercial groundfish fisheries on Steller sea lion populations. In this study we combined all telemetry deployments during 2000-2013 in the central and western Aleutian Islands, including recent deployments on adult females, and conducted a spatial analysis to identify patterns of use relative to sea lion critical habitat and bathymetry in an area of intense fisheries management measures intended to reduce potential competition. The analytical approach modeled travel paths using the continuous-time correlated random walk model (CTCRW; Johnson et al. 2008, Ecology 89:1208-1215.). The CTCRW model output was used to show habitat use by individual to indicate intra-animal variation, then aggregated in a by age-class, season, criticalhabitat zone (<3 nmi, 3-10 nmi, 10-20 nmi, >20 nmi), or occurrence inside/outside of the 200 m isobath contour as possible factors. Some of the deployments included in this analysis have also been used in previous published studies (Call et al., 2007; Fadely et al., 2005; Lander et al., 2011a; Lander et al. 2011b; Lander et al., 2010; Lander et al., 2009; Loughlin et al., 2003; Pitcher et al., 2005; Rehberg and Burns, 2008).

The purpose of these data were to analyze Steller sea lion habitat use and potential foraging areas relative to critical habitat designations.

Cite dataset as: Michelle Lander, Brian Fadely, Devin Johnson, Thomas Gelatt, Jeremy Sterling, Michael Rehberg, and Jennifer Burns. 2013. Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) satellite telemetry data used to determine at-sea distribution in the western-central Aleutian Islands, Alaska 2000-2013. Research Workspace. 10.24431/rw1k31z, version: 10.24431_rw1k31z_2019423183832.

Applications or inferences derived from the data should be carefully considered for accuracy. While 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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Communication and collaboration with dataset authors is strongly encouraged prior to use.

Access data through the distribution URL.

The data set is in the process of being archived with the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Once the archival process is complete and verified, the data set will be publicly available

User must read and fully comprehend the metadata prior to use. Applications or inferences derived from the data should be carefully considered for accuracy. While 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. Communication and collaboration with dataset authors is strongly encouraged.

Acknowledge the Alaska Ecosystems Program, NOAA/NMFS/AFSC and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as data sources, and cite the dataset as: Michelle Lander, Brian Fadely, Devin Johnson, Thomas Gelatt, Jeremy Sterling, Michael Rehberg, and Jennifer Burns. 2013. Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) satellite telemetry data used to determine at-sea distribution in the western-central Aleutian Islands, Alaska 2000-2013. Research Workspace. 10.24431/rw1k31z, version: 10.24431_rw1k31z_2019423183832.

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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. While 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.

Raw data are downloaded from Service Argos, decoded with tag manufacturer proprietary software, then maintained in Microsoft Excel or Access and processed through R packages.

See discussion in: Lander, M., D. Johnson, B. Fadely, and T. Gelatt. 2013. At-sea distribution of Steller sea lions in the western-central Aleutian Islands. Memo submitted to Alaska Science Center. August 2013. 20 pp.

http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/protectedresources/stellers/esa/biop/2014/default.htm

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.

See Lander et al. (2013) for description of data sources and processing. Data used in this analysis were also used in the following publications, which also provide data acquisition methods.

Call, K. A., B. S. Fadely, A. Greig, and M. J. Rehberg. 2007. At-sea and on-shore cycles of juvenile Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) derived from satellite dive recorders: A comparison between declining and increasing populations. Deep Sea Res. (II Top. Stud. Oceanogr.) 54: 298-310.

Fadely, B. S., B. W. Robson, J. T. Sterling, A. Greig, and K. A. Call. 2005. Immature Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) dive activity in relation to habitat features of the eastern Aleutian Islands. Fisheries Oceanography 14: 243-258.

Lander, M. E., D. S. Johnson, J. T. Sterling, T. Gelatt, and B. S. Fadely. 2011a. Diving behaviors and movements of juvenile Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) captured in the central Aleutian Islands, April 2005. In: U. S. D. o. Commerce (ed.). NOAA Technical Memorandum. p 41.

Lander, M. E., T. R. Loughlin, M. G. Logsdon, G. R. VanBlaricom, and B. S. Fadely. 2010. Foraging effort of juvenile Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) with respect to heterogeneity of sea surface temperature. Endangered Species Research 10: 145-158.

Lander, M. E. et al. 2009. Regional differences in the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of oceanographic habitat used by Steller sea lions. Ecol Appl 19: 1645-1659.

Lander, M.E., M.L. Logsdon, T.R. Loughlin, and G.R. VanBlaricom. 2011b. Spatial patterns and scaling behaviors of Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) distributions and their environment. Journal of Theoretical Biology 274:74-83. Doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2011.01.015.

Loughlin, T. R., J. T. Sterling, R. L. Merrick, J. L. Sease, and A. E. York. 2003. Diving behavior of immature Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). Fish B-Noaa 101: 566-582.

Pitcher, K. W. et al. 2005. Ontogeny of dive performance in pup and juvenile Steller sea lions in Alaska. Can J Zool 83: 1214-1231.

Rehberg, M. J., and J. M. Burns. 2008. Differences in diving and swimming behavior of pup and juvenile Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in Alaska. Can. J. Zool./Rev. Can. Zool. 86:539-553.