Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Sightings in the Vicinity of the Maryland Wind Energy Area 2013-2015

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

Dataset credit

Virginia Aquarium Foundation - Susan G. Barco & Gwen G. Lockhart
Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Monitoring, St. Andrews University - Louise Burt
Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research & Preservation - Robert A. DiGiovanni Jr. & Allison M. DePerte

Contacts

RoleNameOrganization 
Primary contact Sue Barco Virginia Aquarium Foundation-Research
Data entry Ei Fujioka Duke University

Citation

Barco, S. 2015. Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Sightings in the Vicinity of the Maryland Wind Energy Area 2013-2015. Data downloaded from OBIS-SEAMAP (http://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/1340) on yyyy-mm-dd.

Abstract

There have been no consistent, year-round marine mammal surveys of the ocean waters off of Maryland since the late 1970s (Scott et al. 1979). Current survey efforts by the National Marine Fisheries Service and partner agencies as part of the Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS) include broad scale surveys that may not provide sufficient data for the Maryland Wind Energy Area. Data on protected species presence and seasonality are needed to inform state and federal agencies responsible for permitting offshore energy development and construction (BOEM 2013). The goal of this two year effort was designed to provide fine scale data on presence of protected species, especially large whales, for Maryland’s wind development efforts.

Purpose

The goal of this two year effort was designed to provide fine scale data on presence of protected species, especially large whales, for Maryland’s wind development efforts.

Supplemental information

Static line transect image is available to visualize.

References

Barco S., L. Burt, A. DePerte, and R. Digiovanni, Jr. 2015. Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Sightings in the Vicinity of the Maryland Wind Energy Area July 2013-June 2015. Prepared for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. VAQF Scientific Report # 2015-06.

Attributes

Overview

This section explains attributes included in the original dataset. OBIS-SEAMAP restricts the attributes available to the public to date/time, lat/lon and species names/counts only. Should you need other attributes described here, you are encouraged to contact the data provider.

Attributes described below represent those in the original dataset provided by the provider.
Only minimum required attributes are visible and downloadable online. Other attributes may be obtained upon provider's permission.

Attributes in dataset

Attribute (table column)Description
oidUnique ID number (generated by OBIS-SEAMAP)
objectidUnique ID number
dataString expression of the temporal period: Month_Year
strataStrata. Always MD
surveySurvey ID
transectTransect
seriesSeries. Always MD
linenumberTransect line number
teamObserver team: 1 = front, 2 = rear, 3 = both
newteamNew team
lineLine identifier
sightingnumberSighting number
duplicatesightingnumberDuplicate Sighting Number
dayDay of the sighting
monthMonth of the sighting
yearYear of the sighting
gmttimeTime of the sighting at UTC
obstimeTime of the sighting at local time (generated by OBIS-SEAMAP)
obsnameObserver code
angleAngle in degrees
angle_sideAngle side
dist_mDistance in meters
groupsizeGroup size
cueCue
swimdirSwim direction
diveIndicate if the animals are diving
obspositionObserver position
latLatitude in decimal degrees
lonLongitude in decimal degrees
speedSpeed
directionDirection
altitudeAltitude in meters
sstcSea surface temperature in celcius
beaufortBeaufort sea state
turbidityTurbidity
ccdefinition not provided
glarefromGlare from
glaretoGlare to
severitySeverity
qualitySubjective quality for the survey conditions
behaviorBehavior
transect_labelTransect label
sigidSighting ID
dupsigidDuplicate sighting ID
speciesgroupSpecies group
speciesSpecies code
sp_tsnTaxonomic Serial Number added by OBIS-SEAMAP
calfnumThe number of calves if exists
turtsizeTurtle size (L: large; M: medium; S:small)
geomGeometry field added by OBIS-SEAMAP
OBIS-SEAMAP ID1340
Seabirds0
Marine mammals551
Sea turtles1,082
Rays and sharks161
Other species29
Non spatial0
Non species3
Total1,826
Date, Begin2013-07-30
Date, End2015-06-26
Temporal prec.111111
Latitude38.16 - 38.81
Longitude-75.16 - -74.29
Coord. prec.6 decimal digits
PlatformPlane
Data typeAnimal sighting
EffortN/A
Traveled (km)0
0
Contr. through
Registered2015-12-04
Updated2015-12-16
StatusPublished
Sharing policy CC-BY-NC (Minimum)
Shared with OBIS
GBIF (via DOI)
See metadata in static HTML
See metadata in FGDC XML
See download history / statistics