65828
Cetacean and sea turtle visual observations using line-transect survey methods aboard a NOAA DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (TO) aircraft in the Gulf of Mexico, during the Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (GoMMAPPS survey TO17Su) from 6/29/2017 to 8/17/2017.
Data Set
Published / External
67243
Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species
Project
Completed
2017
2021
As part of the Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (GoMMAPPS), the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) conducted aerial surveys of the U.S. continental shelf waters (up to the 200-m isobath) in the Gulf of Mexico from 2017-06-29 to 2017-08-17. The survey was designed for a two-team independent visual observer approach with distance sampling to estimate abundance and characterize spatial distribution of marine mammals and sea turtles. This dataset includes marine mammal and sea turtle visual observation data and effort points with surveying conditions that can be used in abundance and density modeling per visual line-transect survey protocols. This dataset also includes marine mammal photographs used to aid in species identification
The primary goal was to collect data on the distribution and abundance of marine mammals and sea turtles in the U.S. continental shelf waters of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) using two independent visual survey teams.
Additional staff support was provided by the NOAA Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center and NOAA Aircraft Operations Center. We would also like to thank the airplane's crew and observers that were involved in collecting these data
Cite as: Litz, Jenny; Barry, Kevin; Aichinger Dias, Laura; Rappucci, Gina; Martinez, Anthony; Soldevilla, Melissa; Garrison, Lance; Mullin, Keith. (2021). Cetacean and sea turtle visual observations using line-transect survey methods aboard a NOAA DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (TO) aircraft in the Gulf of Mexico, during the Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (GoMMAPPS survey TO17Su) from 6/29/2017 to 8/17/2017 (NCEI Accession 0243469). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/mdc3-3246. Accessed [date].
This study was funded by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management through Interagency Agreement M17PG00013 with the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
This research was carried out [in part] under the auspices of the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS), a Cooperative Institute of the University of Miami and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, cooperative agreements NA15OAR4320064 and NA20OAR4320472.
Marine mammal data and photographs were collected under the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA) Permit Number: NMFS ESA/MMPA Permit Number 14450
10.25921/mdc3-3246
Theme
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
Theme
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > MAMMALS
Theme
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > MAMMALS > CETACEANS
Theme
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > MAMMALS > CETACEANS > BALEEN WHALES
Theme
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > MAMMALS > CETACEANS > TOOTHED WHALES
Theme
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS > COMMUNITY DYNAMICS > INDICATOR SPECIES
Theme
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS > SPECIES/POPULATION INTERACTIONS
Theme
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS > SPECIES/POPULATION INTERACTIONS > ENDANGERED SPECIES
Theme
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > CLIMATE INDICATORS > PALEOCLIMATE INDICATORS > BIOLOGICAL RECORDS > POPULATION ABUNDANCE
Spatial
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA
Spatial
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF MEXICO
Instrument
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
BINOCULAR > BINOCULAR
Instrument
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
CAMERAS
Instrument
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
VIDEO CAMERA > VIDEO CAMERA
Instrument
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
VISUAL OBSERVATIONS > VISUAL OBSERVATIONS
Platform
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
Airplane > Airplane
Platform
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
NOAA Twin Otter > NOAA De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter
Theme
DOI
10.25921/mdc3-3246
Theme
ESA/MMPA Permit Number
14450
Theme
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
GOMMAPPS > Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program
Theme
Interagency Agreement
M17PG00013
Theme
NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
0243469
Theme
NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS
US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Theme
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS
MARINE MAMMALS
Theme
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS
SPECIES IDENTIFICATION
Theme
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS
cetacean
Theme
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS
species abundance
Theme
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS
biological
Theme
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS
in situ
Theme
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS
marine mammal observation
Theme
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS
visual estimate
Theme
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS
visual observation
Theme
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS
Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (GOMMAPPS)
Theme
NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS
Gulf of Mexico
Theme
NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS
US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Southeast Fisheries Science Center; Miami, FL Laboratory
Theme
cooperative agreement
NA15OAR4320064
Theme
cooperative agreement
NA20OAR4320472
Theme
wmo_categorycode
oceanography
Theme
CETACEANS
Theme
DOLPHIN
Theme
PHOTOGRAPHS
Theme
SEA TURTLE
Theme
SIGHTING
Theme
VIDEO
Theme
VISUAL OBSERVATIONS
Temporal
2017
Instrument
NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS
binoculars
Instrument
NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS
camera
Instrument
NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS
photograph
Instrument
NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS
video camera
Instrument
AIRCRAFT
Instrument
DISTANCE SAMPLING
Instrument
LINE-TRANSECT SURVEY
Platform
DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft
National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring
MD
Data Set
As Needed
Multimedia (digital)
66295
NOAA_SEFSC_GoMMAPPS_TO17Su_DataDictionary_20211207.csv
Published / External
Completed
PI Supplied Data Dictionary Table
Data dictionary: definitions, vocabulary and keywords used in SEFSC datasets follow standard terms, such as The Darwin Core (dwc) and the Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) as much as possible. In addition, other extensions such as the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) Marine BioGeography (MBG) and OBIS MBG Visual Line Transect Survey (MBGVLTS) are also consulted. Terms are used as defined in each standard, modified, or created all together to fit specific SEFSC needs
Data Table
Yes
Data Dictionary Table For This Dataset
10
Parameter or variable
Character
40
Yes
Yes
Active
Column Name to be documented
20
Definition
Character
120
Yes
No
Active
Textual DEscription Of Column
30
Units
Character
200
No
No
Active
Units Of Measurement or a list of coded values with their explanation
40
Sampling instrument
Character
100
No
No
Active
The instrument (or part of the human body) used to take the data reading for this column.
N/A
70
Standard
Character
100
No
No
Active
Source Of the Definition
80
Files_arial
Character
40
Yes
No
Active
Index which class of data aerial data files that contain the same column name as is in record
A list of values including cues, cetacean sightings, non-mammal occurrences, effort
66296
NOAA_SEFSC_GoMMAPPS_TO17Su_T1_EffortPoints_20211117.csv
Published / External
Completed
Effort points with sampling conditions collected by the forward team (T1) .
Within files for each team, effort points can be cross-referenced to cues, sightings, and non-mammal occurrences via eventID
Data Table
Yes
Effort points with sampling conditions for the forward team
10
surveyEventID
Character
6
6
Yes
No
Active
Unique identifier to a survey (vessel or aircraft based) event. For vessel survey: composed of the vessel's acronym followed by a 2-digit survey year and a 2-digit consecutive mission-number on that vessel (a.k.a cruise code).
Cruise name / Cruise Number
Made up of a combination of
a two character Boat Abbreviation : GU = Gordon Gunther
a two digit year: 18 for 2018
a two digit cruise number: 01 for first cruise of the year
15
eventID
numeric
Yes
No
Active
Unique numeric identifier for each survey effort point recorded at regular time intervals. For vessel surveys: approximately every 30 seconds. For aerial surveys: approximately every 10 seconds. This is the indexing number that allows each marine mammal sighting, non-mammal occurence and cue to be linked to the effort points. See also dwc:eventID
24
eventdate
time
Yes
No
Active
Local date-time during data recording.
YYYY-MM-DDHH24:MN:SS
28
platformLatitude
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
The latitude of the platform at the moment of data recording.
degrees latitude
32
platformLongitude
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
The longitude of the platform at the moment of data recording
Degrees Longitude
40
platformspeed
numeric
4
Yes
No
Active
Speed of the platform (vessel or aircraft) over ground (SOG) at the time of data recording.
knots
50
platformheading
Numeric
1
Yes
No
Active
Platform direction of travel in true bearing in degrees.
80
onEffort
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Effort status designating if observers were on effort (e.g. observers actively scanning for marine mammals through the big eye binoculars with the vessel steadily cruising on the trackline) or off effort (e.g. observers searching naked eyed, whenever the ship was maneuvering and turning .
Y = Yes
N = No
90
observerLeft
Numeric
2
Yes
No
Active
Numeric codes for observers (as in recordedBy) according to observationLocationPosition (For vessel survey: Left, Center, Right) and observationLocation (1=vessel's Flying Bridge, 2=vessel's Bridge Wing (a.k.a. bridge deck)).
110
observerRight
numeric
2
Yes
No
Active
Numeric codes for observers (as in recordedBy) according to observationLocationPosition (For vessel survey: Left, Center, Right) and observationLocation (1=vessel's Flying Bridge, 2=vessel's Bridge Wing (a.k.a. bridge deck)).
125
observerbelly
character
Yes
No
Active
Numeric codes for observers (as in recordedBy) according to observationLocationPosition (For vessel survey: Left, Center, Right. For aerial survey: Left, Right, Belly) and observationLocation (1=vessel's Flying Bridge, 2=vessel's Bridge Wing (a.k.a. bridge deck)).
YYYY-MM-DDHH24:MN:SS
135
observerRecorder
character
3
Yes
No
Active
Numeric codes for observers (as in recordedBy) in the data recorder role.
145
Trackline
Numeric
2
Yes
No
Active
Unique identifier for the trackline. The trackline is defined as the line of travel that the platform is actually doing, which may not necessarily be the proposed line that was in the original design.Trackline numbers are unique for each survey day.
150
beaufortSeaState
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
Number corresponding to Beaufort sea state (scale 0 to 12) to describe sea conditions. Please see https://www.weather.gov/pqr/beaufort
0=Calm, mirror like seas;
1=Waves <1ft, rippled surface;
2=Small wavelets (<2 ft), no white caps;
3=Large wavelets (<3ft), scattered white caps;
4=Swell 3-4 ft, numerous white caps,
5=Swell >5 ft, many white caps, some spray;
6= Swell >10 ft, white caps everywhere, spray
[Vessel is not out if Beaufort scale > 6)
165
samplingConditionsWeather
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Absence or presence of precipitation.
0=Clear,
1=Mist,
2=Light Rain,
3=Heavy Rain
177
samplingConditionsGlareleft
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Degree of impairment from glare on the ability to detect sightings.
0=No Impairment,
1=Slight Impairment,
2=Moderate Impairment,
3=Severe Impairment
180
samplingConditionsGlareRight
Character
1
Yes
No
Active
Presence of glare, evaluated as the percentage obstruction of the visual field (180 degrees).
0=No Glare,
1=<10% obstruction of visual field,
2=10-25%,
3=26-50%,
4=51-75%,
5=>75%
182
samplingConditionsGlareIntensityLeft
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Degree of impairment from glare on the ability to detect sightings. .
0=No Impairment,
1=Slight Impairment,
2=Moderate Impairment,
3=Severe Impairment
184
samplingConditionsGlareIntensityright
character
Yes
No
Active
Degree of impairment from glare on the ability to detect sightings.
0=No Impairment,
1=Slight Impairment,
2=Moderate Impairment,
3=Severe Impairment
187
samplingConditionsConditions
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Overall and cumulative assessment of likelihood of detecting a sighting based on all environmental parameters.
0=Poor,
1=Fair,
2=Moderate,
3=Good,
4=Excellent
190
samplingConditionsCloudCover
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Absence or presence of clouds evaluated as the percentage obstruction of the sky (360 degrees).
0=Clear,
1=0-25% Cloudy,
2=26-50% Cloudy,
3=51-75% Cloudy,
4=76-100% Cloudy,
5=Overcast
195
samplingConditionsHaze
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Absence or presence of haze.
0=no,
1=yes
198
samplingConditionsFog
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Absence or presence of fog.
0=no,
1=yes
200
samplingConditionsSunPenetration
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Degree of sun penetration on the water.
0=Poor,
1=Fair,
2=Good,
3=Excellent
204
samplingConditionsTurbidity
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Level of turbidity of the water and visibility through out the water.
0=Poor,
1=Fair,
2=Good,
3=Excellent
207
eventDateTimeZone
Numeric
3
Yes
No
Active
The time zone of the observation event, expressed as +/- hh:mm offset from UTC.
210
platformVLTS
character
1
1
Yes
No
Active
One-character string to flag survey platform type for visual line transect surveys.
A = aerial surveys
B = boat-based surveys
220
geodeticDatum
character
Yes
No
Active
The ellipsoid, geodetic datum, or spatial reference system (SRS) upon which the geographic coordinates given in decimal Latitude and decimal Longitude as based.
230
higherInstitutionCode
Character
Yes
No
Active
Institution codes, in the form of abbreviated institution names, separated by semicolons, that define the hierarchy of institutions within which the data originator operates. Includes the originating institution as the lowest level (rightmost) code.
235
permitNumber
character
Yes
No
Active
Research permit number issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) for research activities on marine mammals.
240
platformAttributes
character
Yes
No
Active
Model, name and/or other proper characteristics of the platform where the survey was conducted. For vessel: e.g. NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter, NOAA Ship Pisces. For aerial survey: e.g. NOAA De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter.
250
relatedProjectProgram
character
100
Yes
No
Active
Official project and/or program under which the survey was conducted (e.g. AMAPPS, GoMMAPPS). If applicable.
66301
NOAA_SEFSC_GoMMAPPS_TO17Su_T2_EffortPoints_20211117.csv
Published / External
Completed
Effort points with sampling conditions collected by the aft. team (t2) .
Within files for each team, effort points can be cross-referenced to cues, sightings, and non-mammal occurrences via eventID
Data Table
Yes
Effort points with sampling conditions for the Aft team
10
surveyEventID
Character
6
6
Yes
No
Active
Unique identifier to a survey (vessel or aircraft based) event. For vessel survey: composed of the vessel's acronym followed by a 2-digit survey year and a 2-digit consecutive mission-number on that vessel (a.k.a cruise code).
Cruise name / Cruise Number
Made up of a combination of
a two character Boat Abbreviation : GU = Gordon Gunther
a two digit year: 18 for 2018
a two digit cruise number: 01 for first cruise of the year
15
eventID
numeric
Yes
No
Active
Unique numeric identifier for each survey effort point recorded at regular time intervals. For vessel surveys: approximately every 30 seconds. For aerial surveys: approximately every 10 seconds. This is the indexing number that allows each marine mammal sighting, non-mammal occurence and cue to be linked to the effort points. See also dwc:eventID
24
eventdate
time
Yes
No
Active
Local date-time during data recording.
YYYY-MM-DDHH24:MN:SS
28
platformLatitude
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
The latitude of the platform at the moment of data recording.
degrees latitude
32
platformLongitude
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
The longitude of the platform at the moment of data recording
Degrees Longitude
40
platformspeed
numeric
4
Yes
No
Active
Speed of the platform (vessel or aircraft) over ground (SOG) at the time of data recording.
knots
50
platformheading
Numeric
1
Yes
No
Active
Platform direction of travel in true bearing in degrees.
80
onEffort
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Effort status designating if observers were on effort (e.g. observers actively scanning for marine mammals through the big eye binoculars with the vessel steadily cruising on the trackline) or off effort (e.g. observers searching naked eyed, whenever the ship was maneuvering and turning .
Y = Yes
N = No
90
observerLeft
Numeric
2
Yes
No
Active
Numeric codes for observers (as in recordedBy) according to observationLocationPosition (For vessel survey: Left, Center, Right) and observationLocation (1=vessel's Flying Bridge, 2=vessel's Bridge Wing (a.k.a. bridge deck)).
110
observerRight
numeric
2
Yes
No
Active
Numeric codes for observers (as in recordedBy) according to observationLocationPosition (For vessel survey: Left, Center, Right) and observationLocation (1=vessel's Flying Bridge, 2=vessel's Bridge Wing (a.k.a. bridge deck)).
125
observerbelly
character
Yes
No
Active
Numeric codes for observers (as in recordedBy) according to observationLocationPosition (For vessel survey: Left, Center, Right. For aerial survey: Left, Right, Belly) and observationLocation (1=vessel's Flying Bridge, 2=vessel's Bridge Wing (a.k.a. bridge deck)).
YYYY-MM-DDHH24:MN:SS
135
observerRecorder
character
3
Yes
No
Active
Numeric codes for observers (as in recordedBy) in the data recorder role.
145
Trackline
Numeric
2
Yes
No
Active
Unique identifier for the trackline. The trackline is defined as the line of travel that the platform is actually doing, which may not necessarily be the proposed line that was in the original design.Trackline numbers are unique for each survey day.
150
beaufortSeaState
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
Number corresponding to Beaufort sea state (scale 0 to 12) to describe sea conditions. Please see https://www.weather.gov/pqr/beaufort
0=Calm, mirror like seas;
1=Waves <1ft, rippled surface;
2=Small wavelets (<2 ft), no white caps;
3=Large wavelets (<3ft), scattered white caps;
4=Swell 3-4 ft, numerous white caps,
5=Swell >5 ft, many white caps, some spray;
6= Swell >10 ft, white caps everywhere, spray
[Vessel is not out if Beaufort scale > 6)
165
samplingConditionsWeather
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Absence or presence of precipitation.
0=Clear,
1=Mist,
2=Light Rain,
3=Heavy Rain
170
samplingConditionsGlareRight
Character
1
Yes
No
Active
Presence of glare, evaluated as the percentage obstruction of the visual field (180 degrees).
0=No Glare,
1=<10% obstruction of visual field,
2=10-25%,
3=26-50%,
4=51-75%,
5=>75%
177
samplingConditionsGlarebelly
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Degree of impairment from glare on the ability to detect sightings.
0=No Impairment,
1=Slight Impairment,
2=Moderate Impairment,
3=Severe Impairment
180
samplingConditionsGlareIntensityright
character
Yes
No
Active
Degree of impairment from glare on the ability to detect sightings.
0=No Impairment,
1=Slight Impairment,
2=Moderate Impairment,
3=Severe Impairment
182
samplingConditionsGlareIntensityBelly
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Degree of impairment from glare on the ability to detect sightings. .
0=No Impairment,
1=Slight Impairment,
2=Moderate Impairment,
3=Severe Impairment
187
samplingConditionsConditions
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Overall and cumulative assessment of likelihood of detecting a sighting based on all environmental parameters.
0=Poor,
1=Fair,
2=Moderate,
3=Good,
4=Excellent
190
samplingConditionsCloudCover
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Absence or presence of clouds evaluated as the percentage obstruction of the sky (360 degrees).
0=Clear,
1=0-25% Cloudy,
2=26-50% Cloudy,
3=51-75% Cloudy,
4=76-100% Cloudy,
5=Overcast
195
samplingConditionsHaze
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Absence or presence of haze.
0=no,
1=yes
198
samplingConditionsFog
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Absence or presence of fog.
0=no,
1=yes
200
samplingConditionsSunPenetration
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Degree of sun penetration on the water.
0=Poor,
1=Fair,
2=Good,
3=Excellent
204
samplingConditionsTurbidity
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Level of turbidity of the water and visibility through out the water.
0=Poor,
1=Fair,
2=Good,
3=Excellent
207
eventDateTimeZone
Numeric
3
Yes
No
Active
The time zone of the observation event, expressed as +/- hh:mm offset from UTC.
210
platformVLTS
character
1
1
Yes
No
Active
One-character string to flag survey platform type for visual line transect surveys.
A = aerial surveys
B = boat-based surveys
220
geodeticDatum
character
Yes
No
Active
The ellipsoid, geodetic datum, or spatial reference system (SRS) upon which the geographic coordinates given in decimal Latitude and decimal Longitude as based.
230
higherInstitutionCode
Character
Yes
No
Active
Institution codes, in the form of abbreviated institution names, separated by semicolons, that define the hierarchy of institutions within which the data originator operates. Includes the originating institution as the lowest level (rightmost) code.
235
permitNumber
character
Yes
No
Active
Research permit number issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) for research activities on marine mammals.
240
platformAttributes
character
Yes
No
Active
Model, name and/or other proper characteristics of the platform where the survey was conducted. For vessel: e.g. NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter, NOAA Ship Pisces. For aerial survey: e.g. NOAA De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter.
250
relatedProjectProgram
character
100
Yes
No
Active
Official project and/or program under which the survey was conducted (e.g. AMAPPS, GoMMAPPS). If applicable.
66302
NOAA_SEFSC_GoMMAPPS_TO17Su_MMSights_BehObs_20211118.csv
Published / External
Completed
Marine mammal (cetacean) sightings with species (or lowest taxonomic level possible) identifications and behavioral observations: marine mammal sightings;
This file can be cross-referenced to sightings (MMSightsAndCues) by date and sighting number
Data Table
Yes
Marine mammal (cetacean) sightings with species (or lowest taxonomic level possible) identifications and behavioral observations: marine mammal sightings;
10
surveyEventID
Character
6
6
Yes
No
Active
Unique identifier to a survey (vessel or aircraft based) event. For vessel survey: composed of the vessel's acronym followed by a 2-digit survey year and a 2-digit consecutive mission-number on that vessel (a.k.a cruise code).
Cruise name / Cruise Number
Made up of a combination of
a two character Boat Abbreviation : GU = Gordon Gunther
a two digit year: 18 for 2018
a two digit cruise number: 01 for first cruise of the year
40
date
date
Yes
No
Active
Local date during data recording.
50
sightingNumber
numeric
4
Yes
No
Active
The unique identifier for the marine mammal sighting
60
scientificName
character
80
Yes
No
Active
The scientific name of the marine mammal sighted.
65
vernacularName
character
Yes
No
Active
The vernacular name of the marine mammal sighted.
88
individualCount
Numeric
3
Yes
No
Active
Number of animal observed
95
individualCountCalves
character
Yes
No
Active
Minimum number of calves observed during the sighting. This value is included in the overall observers count for the sighting.
-9
not recorded
100
Photographs
character
1
Yes
No
Active
If photographs from the animals present during the sighting were taken and are available.
1=yes, 0=no
105
behaviorInitial1
character
20
Yes
No
Active
Overall behavior(s) displayed by the animal(s) at the first moment the sighting was observed. Different numbers (#) on the column heading are unique identifiers for each column and do not imply order.
0=Unk, 1=Slow travel, 2=Resting, 3=Feeding, 4=Complex social, 5=Bow riding, 6=Milling, 7=Spy hopping, 8=Fast travel, 9=Tail slaps, 10=Other, 11=Diving, 12=Breaching, 13=Toward aircraft, 14=Away from aircraft, 15=Traveling North, 16=Traveling South, 17=Traveling East, 18=Traveling West, 19=No change, 20=Not recorded.
112
behaviorNew1
character
Yes
No
Active
Subsequent overall behaviors displayed by the animal(s) as observation of the sighting progressed. Different numbers (#) on the column heading are unique identifiers for each column and do not imply order.
0=Unk, 1=Slow travel, 2=Resting, 3=Feeding, 4=Complex social, 5=Bow riding, 6=Milling, 7=Spy hopping, 8=Fast travel, 9=Tail slaps, 10=Oth, 11=Diving, 12=Breaching, 13= toward aircraft, 14=away from aircraft, 15=Traveling North, 16=Traveling South, 17=Traveling East, 18=Traveling West, 19=No change, 20=Not recorded
118
behaviorInitialFormation
character
Yes
No
Active
Subjective evaluation by the observer of the overall distribution of the animals at the first moment the sighting was observed. See also dwc:behavior.
0=Single, 1=Chorus line, 2=Loose aggregation, 3=Tight aggregation, 4=Widely scattered, 5=Parade, 6=Soldier, 7=Confused, 8=Multiple tightly packed groups, 9=No change, 10=Not recorded.
143
behaviornewFormation
character
Yes
No
Active
Subjective evaluation by the observer of the overall distribution of the animals as observation of the sighting progressed.
0=Single, 1=Chorus line, 2=Loose aggregation, 3=Tight aggregation, 4=Widely scattered, 5=Parade, 6=Soldier, 7=Confused, 8=Multiple tightly packed groups, 9=No change, 10=Not recorded.
155
sightingRemarks
character
Yes
No
Active
sightingRemarks
200
typeVLTS
character
Yes
No
Active
One-character string to flag only the initial sighting records which can be used in density and abundance estimation. Opportunistic and subsequent sighting records can be included in the dataset, but these are easily identified from this term for exclusion from abundance and density modeling. The fixed vocabulary terms are: F = first observation sighting on transect, O = opportunistic sighting, S = subsequent sighting either on or off transect, Null = for position-only records or non-VLTS datasets.
210
platformVLTS
character
1
1
Yes
No
Active
One-character string to flag survey platform type for visual line transect surveys. For aerial surveys: All records flagged “A” For boat-based surveys: All records flagged “B”.
220
geodeticDatum
character
Yes
No
Active
The ellipsoid, geodetic datum, or spatial reference system (SRS) upon which the geographic coordinates given in decimal Latitude and decimal Longitude as based.
230
higherInstitutionCode
Character
Yes
No
Active
Institution codes, in the form of abbreviated institution names, separated by semicolons, that define the hierarchy of institutions within which the data originator operates. Includes the originating institution as the lowest level (rightmost) code.
235
permitnumber
character
120
Yes
No
Active
Research permit number issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) for research activities on marine mammals.
240
platformAttributes
character
Yes
No
Active
Model, name and/or other proper characteristics of the platform where the survey was conducted. For vessel: e.g. NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter, NOAA Ship Pisces. For aerial survey: e.g. NOAA De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter.
250
relatedProjectProgram
character
100
Yes
No
Active
Official project and/or program under which the survey was conducted (e.g. AMAPPS, GoMMAPPS). If applicable.
66303
NOAA_SEFSC_GoMMAPPS_TO17Su_T1_MMSightsAndCues_20211118.csv
Published / External
Completed
Marine mammal (cetacean) cue (when recorded) and sighting data with calculated perpendicular distances (sightingDistanceInMeters) for the forward team (T1).
Please note that cues to marine mammal sightings are not necessarily recorded for all sightings.
Data Table
Marine mammal (cetacean) sighting cues with calculated perpendicular distances for the forward team (T1):
10
surveyEventID
Character
6
6
Yes
No
Active
Unique identifier to a survey (vessel or aircraft based) event. For vessel survey: composed of the vessel's acronym followed by a 2-digit survey year and a 2-digit consecutive mission-number on that vessel (a.k.a cruise code).
Cruise name / Cruise Number
Made up of a combination of
a two character Boat Abbreviation : GU = Gordon Gunther
a two digit year: 18 for 2018
a two digit cruise number: 01 for first cruise of the year
20
eventID
numeric
Yes
No
Active
Unique numeric identifier for each survey effort point recorded at regular time intervals. For vessel surveys: approximately every 30 seconds. For aerial surveys: approximately every 10 seconds. This is the indexing number that allows each marine mammal sighting, non-mammal occurence and cue to be linked to the effort points. See also dwc:eventID
50
sightingNumber
numeric
4
Yes
No
Active
The unique identifier for the Sighting (for marine mammal sighting).
60
sightingCue
character
20
Yes
No
Active
Description of what was seen first of the group, that is, the cue associated with the first sighting of the animal (or group of animals). A behavioral code may be used (e.g. BL = blow).
65
scientificName
Character
50
Yes
No
Active
The full scientific name or lowest level taxonomic rank that could be determined for the sighting.
70
vernacularName
Character
50
Yes
No
Active
The common or vernacular name for the species or lowest level taxonomic rank that could be determined for the sighting.
75
eventDateCue
date
Yes
No
Active
Local date-time during cue data recording.
NA
NA = Not applicable
80
platformLatitudeCue
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
The latitude of the platform at the moment of cue data recording.
90
platformLongitudeCue
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
The longitude of the platform at the moment of cue data recording.
95
eventDateSight
Character
Yes
No
Active
Local date-time during sighting data recording.
98
platformLatitude
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
Latitude Value (Location) of the platform at time of sighting
Degrees of Latitude
102
platformLongitude
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
Platform Location Longitude at the time of sighting
Degrees Longitude
105
onEffort
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Effort status designating if observers were on effort (e.g. observers actively scanning for marine mammals through the big eye binoculars with the vessel steadily cruising on the trackline) or off effort (e.g. observers searching naked eyed, whenever the ship was maneuvering and turning onto a new trackline, if other operations were taking place, during bad weather and whenever observers were not actively searching for cetaceans through the big eyes) at the moment of data recording. Y=Yes (on effort), N=No (off effort). For vessel survey: #1=vessel's Flying Bridge, #2=vessel's Bridge Wing (a.k.a. bridge deck).
Y=Yes (on effort),
N=No
110
observationLocation
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Description of where on the vessel the observer was located when the animal was first detected. For vessel survey:
1=vessel's Flying Bridge (FB),
2=vessel's Bridge Wing (BW) (a.k.a. bridge deck).
115
verticalangle
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
Angle from the plane to the sighting measured with a digital inclinometer.
120
verticalIncrement
character
Yes
No
Active
Interval for the sighting based on markings on the belly port splitting the window into sections with numbers from 1 to 4 and letters to designate the left (L) or right (R) side in relation to the plane, with 1 being closest to the center of the window, i.e., closest to the trackline. Observers record the section of the window when the sighting is directly under the aircraft.
130
recordedBy
Numeric
2
Yes
No
Active
Numeric code for each observer
170
observationHeight
numeric
Yes
No
Active
Height in meters of each observationLocation (for vessel survey: flying bridge or bridge wing) from the water surface to the big eyes binoculars at an average's adult height. Measurement is specific to each platform (vessel).
meters
180
sightingDistanceInMeters
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
Radial distance calculated based on the distance reading (reticle or meters) and the observationHeight (Lerczak and Hobbs, 1998. Calculating sighting distances from angular readings during shipboard, aerial, and shore-based marine mammal surveys. Marine Mammal Science, Vol. 14(3):590-599)
200
eventDateTimeZone
Numeric
3
Yes
No
Active
Number of hours from Greenwich mean time
205
typeVLTS
character
Yes
No
Active
One-character string to flag only the initial sighting records which can be used in density and abundance estimation. Opportunistic and subsequent sighting records can be included in the dataset, but these are easily identified from this term for exclusion from abundance and density modeling. The fixed vocabulary terms are: F = first observation sighting on transect, O = opportunistic sighting, S = subsequent sighting either on or off transect, Null = for position-only records or non-VLTS datasets.
210
platformVLTS
character
1
1
Yes
No
Active
One-character string to flag survey platform type for visual line transect surveys.
A = aerial surveys
B = boat-based surveys
220
geodeticDatum
character
Yes
No
Active
The ellipsoid, geodetic datum, or spatial reference system (SRS) upon which the geographic coordinates given in decimal Latitude and decimal Longitude as based.
230
higherInstitutionCode
Character
Yes
No
Active
Institution codes, in the form of abbreviated institution names, separated by semicolons, that define the hierarchy of institutions within which the data originator operates. Includes the originating institution as the lowest level (rightmost) code.
234
permitNumber
character
100
Yes
No
Active
The federal permit number which gives permission for the data collection.
(This value is the same for every record in this file)
240
platformAttributes
character
Yes
No
Active
Model, name and/or other proper characteristics of the platform where the survey was conducted. For vessel: e.g. NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter, NOAA Ship Pisces. For aerial survey: e.g. NOAA De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter.
250
relatedProjectProgram
character
100
Yes
No
Active
Official project and/or program under which the survey was conducted (e.g. AMAPPS, GoMMAPPS). If applicable.
66304
NOAA_SEFSC_GoMMAPPS_TO17Su_T1_NonMammals_20211118.csv
Published / External
Completed
Non-mammal (cetacean) opportunistic occurrences (ex. Sea turtles, rays, sharks) with calculated perpendicular distances collected by the forward team (T1):
Non-mammal occurrences (e.g. sea turtles, fish) matched between teams can be cross-referenced via the matchedOccurrenceID. Matches are based on the following criteria: time between occurrences was < 15 seconds, occurrences were seen on the same side of the plane (when known), angle differed <= 15 degrees, and individualCount was equal. If present, other types of non-mammal occurrences are recorded opportunistically and not matched across teams.
Data Table
Yes
Non-mammal (cetacean) opportunistic occurrences (ex. Sea turtles, rays, sharks) with calculated perpendicular distances for the forward team (T1):
10
surveyEventID
Character
6
6
Yes
No
Active
Unique identifier to a survey (vessel or aircraft based) event. For vessel survey: composed of the vessel's acronym followed by a 2-digit survey year and a 2-digit consecutive mission-number on that vessel (a.k.a cruise code).
Cruise name / Cruise Number
Made up of a combination of
a two character Boat Abbreviation : GU = Gordon Gunther
a two digit year: 18 for 2018
a two digit cruise number: 01 for first cruise of the year
20
eventID
numeric
Yes
No
Active
Unique numeric identifier for each survey effort point recorded at regular time intervals. For vessel surveys: approximately every 30 seconds. For aerial surveys: approximately every 10 seconds. This is the indexing number that allows each marine mammal sighting, non-mammal occurence and cue to be linked to the effort points. See also dwc:eventID
50
occurrenceID
numeric
4
Yes
Yes
Active
The unique identifier for the Occurrence (non-marine mammal sighting).
55
matchedOccurrenceID
Numeric
6
Yes
No
Active
The unique identifier assigned to the matched Occurrence (non-marine mammal sighting) from the other survey team. Sightings were matched if time between sightings was < 15 seconds, if seen on same side of plane (when known), if SightingAngle differed <= 15 degrees, and individualCount was equal.
N/A
The animal was seen by one of the two people. but not both
60
occurrenceAttributes
character
80
Yes
No
Active
A list (concatenated and separated) indicating the type and description of the Occurrence (non-marine mammal sighting).
Usually this is a description of an organism, but need not be so
70
observationLocation
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Description of where on the vessel the observer was located when the animal was first detected. For vessel survey:
1=vessel's Flying Bridge (FB),
2=vessel's Bridge Wing (BW) (a.k.a. bridge deck).
80
onEffort
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Effort status designating if observers were on effort (e.g. observers actively scanning for marine mammals through the big eye binoculars with the vessel steadily cruising on the trackline) or off effort (e.g. observers searching naked eyed, whenever the ship was maneuvering and turning onto a new trackline, if other operations were taking place, during bad weather and whenever observers were not actively searching for cetaceans through the big eyes) at the moment of data recording. Y=Yes (on effort), N=No (off effort). For vessel survey: #1=vessel's Flying Bridge, #2=vessel's Bridge Wing (a.k.a. bridge deck).
Y,N
105
verticalAngle
Numeric
3
Yes
No
Active
Angle from the plane to the sighting measured with a digital inclinometer.
NA
Not Available
107
verticalIncrement
Character
Yes
No
Active
Interval for the sighting based on markings on the belly port splitting the window into sections with numbers from 1 to 4 and letters to designate the left (L) or right (R) side in relation to the plane, with 1 being closest to the center of the window, i.e., closest to the trackline. Observers record the section of the window when the sighting is directly under the aircraft.
NA
Not Available
1L, 2L, 3L, 4L, 1R, 2R, 3R, 4R
150
sightingDistanceInMeters
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
Radial distance calculated based on the distance reading (reticle or meters) and the observationHeight (Lerczak and Hobbs, 1998. Calculating sighting distances from angular readings during shipboard, aerial, and shore-based marine mammal surveys. Marine Mammal Science, Vol. 14(3):590-599)
170
observationHeight
numeric
Yes
No
Active
Height in meters of each observationLocation (for vessel survey: flying bridge or bridge wing) from the water surface to the big eyes binoculars at an average's adult height. Measurement is specific to each platform (vessel).
meters
180
platformLatitude
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
The latitude of the platform at the moment of data recording.
degrees latitude
190
platformLongitude
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
The longitude of the platform at the moment of data recording
Degrees Longitude
192
Behavior
character
Yes
No
Active
The behavior shown by the subject at the time the sighting was recorded.
0=Not Observed,
1=At Surface,
2=Submerged,
3=Diving.
NA = Not applicable
197
individualCount
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
The number of individuals present at the time of the Occurrence (non-marine mammal sighting).
205
eventdate
time
Yes
No
Active
Local date-time during data recording.
YYYY-MM-DDHH24:MN:SS
207
eventDateTimeZone
Numeric
2
Yes
No
Active
Number Of Hours From Greenwich meantime
YYYY-MM-DDHH24:MN:SS
209
typeVLTS
character
Yes
No
Active
One-character string to flag only the initial sighting records which can be used in density and abundance estimation. Opportunistic and subsequent sighting records can be included in the dataset, but these are easily identified from this term for exclusion from abundance and density modeling. The fixed vocabulary terms are: F = first observation sighting on transect, O = opportunistic sighting, S = subsequent sighting either on or off transect, Null = for position-only records or non-VLTS datasets.
210
platformVLTS
character
1
1
Yes
No
Active
One-character string to flag survey platform type for visual line transect surveys. For aerial surveys: All records flagged “A” For boat-based surveys: All records flagged “B”.
220
geodeticDatum
character
Yes
No
Active
The ellipsoid, geodetic datum, or spatial reference system (SRS) upon which the geographic coordinates given in decimal Latitude and decimal Longitude as based.
230
higherInstitutionCode
Character
Yes
No
Active
Institution codes, in the form of abbreviated institution names, separated by semicolons, that define the hierarchy of institutions within which the data originator operates. Includes the originating institution as the lowest level (rightmost) code.
240
platformAttributes
character
Yes
No
Active
Model, name and/or other proper characteristics of the platform where the survey was conducted. For vessel: e.g. NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter, NOAA Ship Pisces. For aerial survey: e.g. NOAA De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter.
250
relatedProjectProgram
character
100
Yes
No
Active
Official project and/or program under which the survey was conducted (e.g. AMAPPS, GoMMAPPS). If applicable.
66305
NOAA_SEFSC_GoMMAPPS_TO17Su_T2_NonMammals_20211118.csv
Published / External
Completed
Non-mammal (cetacean) opportunistic occurrences (ex. Sea turtles, rays, sharks) with calculated perpendicular distances for the forward team (T1):
Non-mammal occurrences (e.g. sea turtles, fish) matched between teams can be cross-referenced via the matchedOccurrenceID. Matches are based on the following criteria: time between occurrences was < 15 seconds, occurrences were seen on the same side of the plane (when known), angle differed <= 15 degrees, and individualCount was equal. If present, other types of non-mammal occurrences are recorded opportunistically and not matched across teams.
Data Table
Yes
Non-mammal (cetacean) opportunistic occurrences (ex. Sea turtles, rays, sharks) with calculated perpendicular distances for the forward team (T1):
10
surveyEventID
Character
6
6
Yes
No
Active
Unique identifier to a survey (vessel or aircraft based) event. For vessel survey: composed of the vessel's acronym followed by a 2-digit survey year and a 2-digit consecutive mission-number on that vessel (a.k.a cruise code).
Cruise name / Cruise Number
Made up of a combination of
a two character Boat Abbreviation : GU = Gordon Gunther
a two digit year: 18 for 2018
a two digit cruise number: 01 for first cruise of the year
20
eventID
numeric
Yes
No
Active
Unique numeric identifier for each survey effort point recorded at regular time intervals. For vessel surveys: approximately every 30 seconds. For aerial surveys: approximately every 10 seconds. This is the indexing number that allows each marine mammal sighting, non-mammal occurence and cue to be linked to the effort points. See also dwc:eventID
50
occurrenceID
numeric
4
Yes
Yes
Active
The unique identifier for the Occurrence (non-marine mammal sighting).
55
matchedOccurrenceID
Numeric
6
Yes
No
Active
The unique identifier assigned to the matched Occurrence (non-marine mammal sighting) from the other survey team. Sightings were matched if time between sightings was < 15 seconds, if seen on same side of plane (when known), if SightingAngle differed <= 15 degrees, and individualCount was equal.
N/A
The animal was seen by one of the two people. but not both
60
occurrenceAttributes
character
80
Yes
No
Active
A list (concatenated and separated) indicating the type and description of the Occurrence (non-marine mammal sighting).
Usually this is a description of an organism, but need not be so
70
observationLocation
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Description of where on the vessel the observer was located when the animal was first detected. For vessel survey:
1=vessel's Flying Bridge (FB),
2=vessel's Bridge Wing (BW) (a.k.a. bridge deck).
80
onEffort
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Effort status designating if observers were on effort (e.g. observers actively scanning for marine mammals through the big eye binoculars with the vessel steadily cruising on the trackline) or off effort (e.g. observers searching naked eyed, whenever the ship was maneuvering and turning onto a new trackline, if other operations were taking place, during bad weather and whenever observers were not actively searching for cetaceans through the big eyes) at the moment of data recording. Y=Yes (on effort), N=No (off effort). For vessel survey: #1=vessel's Flying Bridge, #2=vessel's Bridge Wing (a.k.a. bridge deck).
Y,N
105
verticalAngle
Numeric
3
Yes
No
Active
Angle from the plane to the sighting measured with a digital inclinometer.
NA
Not Available
107
verticalIncrement
Character
Yes
No
Active
Interval for the sighting based on markings on the belly port splitting the window into sections with numbers from 1 to 4 and letters to designate the left (L) or right (R) side in relation to the plane, with 1 being closest to the center of the window, i.e., closest to the trackline. Observers record the section of the window when the sighting is directly under the aircraft.
NA
Not Available
1L, 2L, 3L, 4L, 1R, 2R, 3R, 4R
150
sightingDistanceInMeters
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
Radial distance calculated based on the distance reading (reticle or meters) and the observationHeight (Lerczak and Hobbs, 1998. Calculating sighting distances from angular readings during shipboard, aerial, and shore-based marine mammal surveys. Marine Mammal Science, Vol. 14(3):590-599)
170
observationHeight
numeric
Yes
No
Active
Height in meters of each observationLocation (for vessel survey: flying bridge or bridge wing) from the water surface to the big eyes binoculars at an average's adult height. Measurement is specific to each platform (vessel).
meters
180
platformLatitude
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
The latitude of the platform at the moment of data recording.
degrees latitude
190
platformLongitude
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
The longitude of the platform at the moment of data recording
Degrees Longitude
192
Behavior
character
Yes
No
Active
The behavior shown by the subject at the time the sighting was recorded.
0=Not Observed,
1=At Surface,
2=Submerged,
3=Diving.
NA = Not applicable
197
individualCount
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
The number of individuals present at the time of the Occurrence (non-marine mammal sighting).
205
eventdate
time
Yes
No
Active
Local date-time during data recording.
YYYY-MM-DDHH24:MN:SS
207
eventDateTimeZone
Numeric
2
Yes
No
Active
Number Of Hours From Greenwich meantime
YYYY-MM-DDHH24:MN:SS
209
typeVLTS
character
Yes
No
Active
One-character string to flag only the initial sighting records which can be used in density and abundance estimation. Opportunistic and subsequent sighting records can be included in the dataset, but these are easily identified from this term for exclusion from abundance and density modeling. The fixed vocabulary terms are: F = first observation sighting on transect, O = opportunistic sighting, S = subsequent sighting either on or off transect, Null = for position-only records or non-VLTS datasets.
210
platformVLTS
character
1
1
Yes
No
Active
One-character string to flag survey platform type for visual line transect surveys. For aerial surveys: All records flagged “A” For boat-based surveys: All records flagged “B”.
220
geodeticDatum
character
Yes
No
Active
The ellipsoid, geodetic datum, or spatial reference system (SRS) upon which the geographic coordinates given in decimal Latitude and decimal Longitude as based.
230
higherInstitutionCode
Character
Yes
No
Active
Institution codes, in the form of abbreviated institution names, separated by semicolons, that define the hierarchy of institutions within which the data originator operates. Includes the originating institution as the lowest level (rightmost) code.
240
platformAttributes
character
Yes
No
Active
Model, name and/or other proper characteristics of the platform where the survey was conducted. For vessel: e.g. NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter, NOAA Ship Pisces. For aerial survey: e.g. NOAA De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter.
250
relatedProjectProgram
character
100
Yes
No
Active
Official project and/or program under which the survey was conducted (e.g. AMAPPS, GoMMAPPS). If applicable.
66306
NOAA_SEFSC_GoMMAPPS_TO17Su_T2_MMSightsAndCues_20211118.csv
Published / External
Completed
Marine mammal (cetacean) cue (when recorded) and sighting data with calculated perpendicular distances (sightingDistanceInMeters) for the aft team (T2).
Please note that cues to marine mammal sightings are not necessarily recorded for all sightings.
Data Table
Marine mammal (cetacean) sighting cues with calculated perpendicular distances for the aft team (T2):
10
surveyEventID
Character
6
6
Yes
No
Active
Unique identifier to a survey (vessel or aircraft based) event. For vessel survey: composed of the vessel's acronym followed by a 2-digit survey year and a 2-digit consecutive mission-number on that vessel (a.k.a cruise code).
Cruise name / Cruise Number
Made up of a combination of
a two character Boat Abbreviation : GU = Gordon Gunther
a two digit year: 18 for 2018
a two digit cruise number: 01 for first cruise of the year
20
eventID
numeric
Yes
No
Active
Unique numeric identifier for each survey effort point recorded at regular time intervals. For vessel surveys: approximately every 30 seconds. For aerial surveys: approximately every 10 seconds. This is the indexing number that allows each marine mammal sighting, non-mammal occurence and cue to be linked to the effort points. See also dwc:eventID
50
sightingNumber
numeric
4
Yes
No
Active
The unique identifier for the Sighting (for marine mammal sighting).
60
sightingCue
character
20
Yes
No
Active
Description of what was seen first of the group, that is, the cue associated with the first sighting of the animal (or group of animals). A behavioral code may be used (e.g. BL = blow).
65
scientificName
Character
50
Yes
No
Active
The full scientific name or lowest level taxonomic rank that could be determined for the sighting.
70
vernacularName
Character
50
Yes
No
Active
The common or vernacular name for the species or lowest level taxonomic rank that could be determined for the sighting.
75
eventDateCue
date
Yes
No
Active
Local date-time during cue data recording.
NA
NA = Not applicable
80
platformLatitudeCue
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
The latitude of the platform at the moment of cue data recording.
90
platformLongitudeCue
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
The longitude of the platform at the moment of cue data recording.
95
eventDateSight
Character
Yes
No
Active
Local date-time during sighting data recording.
98
platformLatitude
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
Latitude Value (Location) of the platform at time of sighting
Degrees of Latitude
102
platformLongitude
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
Platform Location Longitude at the time of sighting
Degrees Longitude
105
onEffort
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Effort status designating if observers were on effort (e.g. observers actively scanning for marine mammals through the big eye binoculars with the vessel steadily cruising on the trackline) or off effort (e.g. observers searching naked eyed, whenever the ship was maneuvering and turning onto a new trackline, if other operations were taking place, during bad weather and whenever observers were not actively searching for cetaceans through the big eyes) at the moment of data recording. Y=Yes (on effort), N=No (off effort). For vessel survey: #1=vessel's Flying Bridge, #2=vessel's Bridge Wing (a.k.a. bridge deck).
Y=Yes (on effort),
N=No
110
observationLocation
character
1
Yes
No
Active
Description of where on the vessel the observer was located when the animal was first detected. For vessel survey:
1=vessel's Flying Bridge (FB),
2=vessel's Bridge Wing (BW) (a.k.a. bridge deck).
115
verticalangle
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
Angle from the plane to the sighting measured with a digital inclinometer.
120
verticalIncrement
character
Yes
No
Active
Interval for the sighting based on markings on the belly port splitting the window into sections with numbers from 1 to 4 and letters to designate the left (L) or right (R) side in relation to the plane, with 1 being closest to the center of the window, i.e., closest to the trackline. Observers record the section of the window when the sighting is directly under the aircraft.
130
recordedBy
Numeric
2
Yes
No
Active
Numeric code for each observer
170
observationHeight
numeric
Yes
No
Active
Height in meters of each observationLocation (for vessel survey: flying bridge or bridge wing) from the water surface to the big eyes binoculars at an average's adult height. Measurement is specific to each platform (vessel).
meters
180
sightingDistanceInMeters
Numeric
Yes
No
Active
Radial distance calculated based on the distance reading (reticle or meters) and the observationHeight (Lerczak and Hobbs, 1998. Calculating sighting distances from angular readings during shipboard, aerial, and shore-based marine mammal surveys. Marine Mammal Science, Vol. 14(3):590-599)
200
eventDateTimeZone
Numeric
3
Yes
No
Active
Number of hours from Greenwich mean time
205
typeVLTS
character
Yes
No
Active
One-character string to flag only the initial sighting records which can be used in density and abundance estimation. Opportunistic and subsequent sighting records can be included in the dataset, but these are easily identified from this term for exclusion from abundance and density modeling. The fixed vocabulary terms are: F = first observation sighting on transect, O = opportunistic sighting, S = subsequent sighting either on or off transect, Null = for position-only records or non-VLTS datasets.
210
platformVLTS
character
1
1
Yes
No
Active
One-character string to flag survey platform type for visual line transect surveys.
A = aerial surveys
B = boat-based surveys
220
geodeticDatum
character
Yes
No
Active
The ellipsoid, geodetic datum, or spatial reference system (SRS) upon which the geographic coordinates given in decimal Latitude and decimal Longitude as based.
230
higherInstitutionCode
Character
Yes
No
Active
Institution codes, in the form of abbreviated institution names, separated by semicolons, that define the hierarchy of institutions within which the data originator operates. Includes the originating institution as the lowest level (rightmost) code.
234
permitNumber
character
100
Yes
No
Active
The federal permit number which gives permission for the data collection.
(This value is the same for every record in this file)
240
platformAttributes
character
Yes
No
Active
Model, name and/or other proper characteristics of the platform where the survey was conducted. For vessel: e.g. NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter, NOAA Ship Pisces. For aerial survey: e.g. NOAA De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter.
250
relatedProjectProgram
character
100
Yes
No
Active
Official project and/or program under which the survey was conducted (e.g. AMAPPS, GoMMAPPS). If applicable.
Data Steward
2021
Person
Litz, Jenny
Jenny.Litz@noaa.gov
75 Virginia Beach Drive
Miami
FL
33139
305-361-4224
305-365-4102
Distributor
2021
Organization
National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
NCEI-MD
NOAA/NESDIS E/OC SSMC3, 4th Floor, 1351 East-West Highway
Silver Spring
MD
20910-3282
(301) 713-3277
Metadata Contact
2021
Person
Dias, Laura A
laura.dias@noaa.gov
75 Virginia Beach Drive
Miami
FL
33149
(305) 361-4269
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9378-4577
ORCID Page Laura Dias
Online Resource
Originator
2017
Organization
Southeast Fisheries Science Center
SEFSC
75 Virginia Beach Drive
Miami
FL
33149
USA
(305)361-5761
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-fisheries-science-center
About SEFSC
Online Resource
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST
Point of Contact
2021
Person
Rappucci, Gina
gina.rappucci@noaa.gov
75 Virginia Beach Drive
Miami
FL
33149
(305) 361-4283
Point of Contact
2021
Person
Dias, Laura A
laura.dias@noaa.gov
75 Virginia Beach Drive
Miami
FL
33149
(305) 361-4269
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9378-4577
ORCID Page Laura Dias
Online Resource
Principal Investigator
2017
Person
Garrison, Lance
Lance.Garrison@noaa.gov
75 Virginia Beach Dr
Miami
FL
33149
305-361-4488
305-361-4478
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM EST/EDT
Principal Investigator
2017
Person
Litz, Jenny
Jenny.Litz@noaa.gov
75 Virginia Beach Drive
Miami
FL
33139
305-361-4224
305-365-4102
Principal Investigator
2017
Person
Mullin, Keith D
keith.d.mullin@noaa.gov
3209 Frederic St.
Pascagoula
MS
39568
228-549-1632
228-769-9200
Principal Investigator
2017
2023-07
Person
Barry, Kevin
kevin.barry@noaa.gov
3209 Frederic St.
Pascagoula
MS
39568
228-549-1608
228-769-9200
Publisher
2021
Organization
National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
NCEI-MD
NOAA/NESDIS E/OC SSMC3, 4th Floor, 1351 East-West Highway
Silver Spring
MD
20910-3282
(301) 713-3277
Ground Condition
-96.93520934
-82.44092755
30.412986948
27.658528425
Range
2017-06-29
2017-08-17
Unclassified
Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
All marine mammal data and photographs were collected under the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA) permit number: NMFS ESA/MMPA Permit No.14450. If a photo displaying a marine mammal is used, please include the permit number in the captions and acknowledge NOAA Fisheries.
Cite as: Litz, Jenny; Barry, Kevin; Aichinger Dias, Laura; Rappucci, Gina; Martinez, Anthony; Soldevilla, Melissa; Garrison, Lance; Mullin, Keith. (2021). Cetacean and sea turtle visual observations using line-transect survey methods aboard a NOAA DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (TO) aircraft in the Gulf of Mexico, during the Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (GoMMAPPS survey TO17Su) from 6/29/2017 to 8/17/2017 (NCEI Accession 0243469). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/mdc3-3246. Accessed [date].
2021
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/archive-management-system/OAS/bin/prd/jquery/accession/download/243469
2021
Organization
National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
243469.1.1.tar.gz
NCEI tar file containing all files of NCEI Accession TBD
NCEI Archived Data Accession
2199.592 MB
TAR
Chked Viruses Inapp Content
https://doi.org/10.25921/mdc3-3246
Landing Page NCEI Accession 0243469
Online Resource
html
Cetacean and sea turtle visual observations using line-transect survey methods aboard a NOAA DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (TO) aircraft in the Gulf of Mexico, during the Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (GoMMAPPS survey TO17Su) from 6/29/2017 to 8/17/2017.
https://www.boem.gov/gommapps
Gommapps Home Page
Online Resource
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/population-assessments/marine-mammal-research-surveys-noaas-southeast-region
NOAA Fisheries Population Assessment of Marine Mammals in SE
Online Resource
While still on the plane, observers across both teams discuss and agree upon species identification, group size and behavioral observations for mammal sightings.
Data auditing consisted of making corrections based on error log notes from the field, plotting trackline points to identify errors made when recording effort status, and verifying sighting data based on data sheets from the field
No
Unknown
Yes
No
NCEI-MD
1
Parameter or Variable: CETACEANS, VISUAL OBSERVATIONS (measured); Units: NA; Observation Category: In Situ/Laboratory Instruments, SPECIES DISTRIBUTION MODELS, POPULATION ABUNDANCE; Sampling Instrument: AIRCRAFT, LINE-TRANSECT SURVEY, DISTANCE SAMPLING; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The goal of the survey was to conduct line-transect surveys using the distance sampling approach to estimate the abundance and spatial distribution of marine mammals and sea turtles in waters over the continental shelf in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. A two-team independent observer approach was used to correct for perception bias in resulting abundance estimates. Survey tracklines were oriented perpendicular to the shoreline and latitudinally spaced 20 km apart.; Data Quality Method: Data auditing consisted of making corrections based on error log notes from the field, plotting trackline points to identify errors made when recording effort status, and verifying sighting data based on data sheets from the field..
Person
Rappucci, Gina
gina.rappucci@noaa.gov
75 Virginia Beach Drive
Miami
FL
33149
(305) 361-4283
66264
Document
.xml file describing building of NCEI Accession
66276
Document
0243469_lonlat.txt
66274
Document
0243469_map.jpg
66278
Document
9WK7GK-confirmation_email.txt
66275
Document
NCEI Journal FIle
66294
Document
NOAA_SEFSC_GoMMAPPS_TO17Su_AddlInfo_DataDictionary.docx
66277
Document
Ncei-readme.txt
66319
Data Set
Photographs
66295
Entity
NOAA_SEFSC_GoMMAPPS_TO17Su_DataDictionary_20211207.csv
66302
Entity
NOAA_SEFSC_GoMMAPPS_TO17Su_MMSights_BehObs_20211118.csv
66296
Entity
NOAA_SEFSC_GoMMAPPS_TO17Su_T1_EffortPoints_20211117.csv
66303
Entity
NOAA_SEFSC_GoMMAPPS_TO17Su_T1_MMSightsAndCues_20211118.csv
66304
Entity
NOAA_SEFSC_GoMMAPPS_TO17Su_T1_NonMammals_20211118.csv
66301
Entity
NOAA_SEFSC_GoMMAPPS_TO17Su_T2_EffortPoints_20211117.csv
66306
Entity
NOAA_SEFSC_GoMMAPPS_TO17Su_T2_MMSightsAndCues_20211118.csv
66305
Entity
NOAA_SEFSC_GoMMAPPS_TO17Su_T2_NonMammals_20211118.csv
gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:65828
Lee Weinberger
2021-11-23T12:54:26
SysAdmin InPortAdmin
2023-08-15T17:09:49
2022-09-23
Southeast Fisheries Science Center
SEFSC
75 Virginia Beach Drive
Miami
FL
33149
USA
(305)361-5761
www.sefsc.noaa.gov
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST
1001
Public
No
2022-01-03
1 Year
2023-01-03