Global Change Master Directory (GCMD)

Data Sets

Services / Tools

Ancillary Descriptions

Are you using a browser that doesn't support JavaScript or have you disabled JavaScript?

If you have disabled JavaScript, you must re-enable JavaScript to use this page.
Or you can view this record using the Text Only Format.

MMS Central/Northern California Low-altitude birds and mammals

Entry ID: seamap41

[ Get Data ]
[ Update this Record ]

Summary

Abstract: Principal Investigator(s)/Affiliation: Thomas P. Dohl, Center for Marine Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz.Marine Mammal and Seabird Surveys Of Central And Northern California Studies: -- Central/Northern Calif - Low Aerial [Birds and Mammals] Study Code: CL Contract Number: 14-12-0001-29090

Purpose: To determine species composition, distribution, abundance, and seasonal variation for marine mammal and seabird populations, provide a description of habitat use, and identify areas of special biological importance to these populations in the central and northern California study area.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

DATA COLLECTION:
TIME ... PERIOD: February 1980 through June 1983
STUDY AREA: Shelf, slope, and offshore waters to a distance of 100 nm off the California coast from Point Conception to the California-Oregon boundary.

METHODOLOGY: Offshore transect surveys were flown twice-monthly at two different altitudes (200 ft and about 750-1,000 ft ASL) along approximately 40 east-west transect lines extending an average of 60 nm offshore. The transects sampled on a given survey were selected randomly from a set of 92 standard (predetermined) lines spaced at intervals of 5' of latitude. Standard transects provided systematic coverage of shelf, slope, and offshore waters in the study area. Sightings of seabirds, pinnipeds, and sea otters were recorded only on low-altitude surveys. Sightings of cetaceans and turtles were recorded on both low- and high-altitude surveys. Seabird sightings were recorded only on the shaded side of the aircraft within a strip transect of 50 m width. Marine mammal and turtle sightings were recorded within an unbounded corridor on both high- and low-altitude surveys, but only the shaded side of the aircraft was searched on the low-altitude surveys. Cross-legs connecting standard transects were searched only on high-altitude surveys. Offshore cross-legs were searched on both sides of the aircraft, while only the nearshore side was searched on cross-legs along the coast. Declination angle was measured and noted for each marine mammal/turtle sightings and later used to calculate a probability density function of frequency with right-angle sighting distance. Navigation was by Loran and VLF-Omega.

DATABASES PRODUCED: Three databases of sightings at sea were produced by these studies (data on numbers of seabirds and pinnipeds on land were also collected but are not addressed in the present study). These include 1) sightings of cetaceans and turtles recorded on 36 high-altitude aerial surveys, 2) sightings of cetaceans, pinnipeds, sea otters, and turtles recorded on 36 low-altitude aerial surveys, and 3) sightings of seabirds on 36 low-altitude aerial surveys. Each sighting database is accompanied by files providing the search effort on transect and environmental characteristics of the waters surveyed (e.g., sea surface temperature).

CURRENTNESS REFERENCE: ground condition

SPATIAL REFERENCE INFORMATION - GEODETIC MODEL
Horizontal Datum Name: D_WGS_1984
Ellipsoid Name: WGS_1984
Semi-major Axis: 6378137.000000
Denominator of Flattening Ratio: 298.257224

Related URL

Link: GET DATA

Description: Access data from the OBIS and OBIS-SEAMAP websites.

Multimedia Sample

View full image

Caption: Birds and Mammals Survey

Geographic Coverage

(Click for Interactive Map)

Spatial coordinates

N: 42.07

S: 34.03

E: -119.43

W: -126.48

Data Set Citation

Dataset Originator/Creator: Minerals Management Service

Dataset Title: MMS Central/Northern California Low-altitude birds and mammals

Dataset Series Name: OBIS-SEAMAP

Dataset Release Date: 2006-03-21 17:34:57-05

Dataset Release Place: http://seamap.env.duke.edu/

Dataset Publisher: OBIS-SEAMAP

Data Presentation Form: vector digital data

Online Resource: http://www.mms.gov/

Parent DIF

This data set description is a member of a collection. The collection is described in
OBIS-SEAMAP

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1980-02-25

Stop Date: 1983-01-29

Location Keywords

CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > CANADA

CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Science Keywords

AGRICULTURE > AGRICULTURAL AQUATIC SCIENCES > FISHERIES

OCEANS > OCEAN TEMPERATURE > WATER TEMPERATURE

ISO Topic Category

BIOTA

OCEANS

Platform

SHIPS

Instrument

TRAWL

Project

OBIS > OCEAN BIOGEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM

COML > CENSUS OF MARINE LIFE

Access Constraints None.

Use Constraints Acknowledge the use of specific records from contributing databases in the form
appearing in the 'Citation' field thereof (if any); and acknowledge the use of
the OBIS facility.

For information purposes, email to obissupport@marine.rutgers.edu the full
citation of any publication made (printed or electronic) that cites OBIS or any
constituent part.

Recognize the limitations of data in OBIS. http://iobis.org/data/policy/disclaimer for more details

Originating Center

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography

Data Center

International Ocean Biogeographic Information System

Data Center URL: http://www.iobis.org/

Data Center Personnel
Name: PHOEBE ZHANG Phone: (732) 932-6555 x 503 Fax: 54-2965-451543 Email: phoebe at marine.rutgers.edu Contact Address: Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences Rutgers University 71 Dudley Road City: New Brunswick Province or State: NJ Postal Code: 08901-8521 Country: USA

Distribution

Distribution Media: HTTP

Distribution Format: OBIS Schema

Fees: None

Personnel

DONALD S. CLARK

Role: INVESTIGATOR

Phone: (506) 529-5908

Fax: (506) 529-5862

Email: ClarkD at mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Contact Address:

St Andrews Biological Station

531 Brandy Cove Road

City: St. Andrews

Province or State: New Brunswick

Postal Code: E5B 2L9

Country: Canada

LENORE BAJONA

Role: DIF AUTHOR

Email: lenore.bajona at dal.ca

Contact Address:

Ocean Tracking Network, Dalhousie University

City: Halifax

Province or State: Nova Scotia

Country: Canada

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2007-05-04

Last DIF Revision Date: 2011-11-15

Reformat as FGDC document

View Text Only Format

[ Update this Record ]