PIFSC, Cetacean Surveys, Mariana Archipelago Small-Boat Surveys 2010-2019, NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC)

Dataset credit

NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Contacts

RoleNameOrganization 
Primary contact Marie C. Hill NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Data entry Ei Fujioka Duke University

Citation

Hill, M. 2020. PIFSC, Cetacean Surveys, Mariana Archipelago Small-Boat Surveys 2010-2019, NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. Data downloaded from OBIS-SEAMAP (http://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/2071) on yyyy-mm-dd.

Abstract

The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) Cetacean Research Program has conducted research on cetaceans in the Mariana Archipelago since 2010 (Hill et al. in review). A cooperative effort with funding from U.S. Navy Pacific Feet and PIFSC has included summer and winter small-boat surveys off the southernmost islands (Saipan, Tinian, Aguijan, Rota, and Guam). Across all summer and winter small-boat survey efforts, PIFSC conducted 270 days of surveys. Most of the survey effort occurred in summer months (May–September) and there was no effort during October–December.

There were 362 groups (excluding within-day re-sights) identified to 14 species including (in order of frequency of occurrence) spinner dolphin, pantropical spotted dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, short-finned pilot whale, rough-toothed dolphin, sperm whale, false killer whale, dwarf sperm whale, pygmy killer whale, Bryde's whale, melon-headed whale, Blainville's beaked whale, and Cuvier's beaked whale. Humpback whales were encountered in January–March 2015–2019 when targeted surveys were conducted off Saipan. Across all PIFSC small-boat surveys, there were 19 mixed-species groups, each including 2–3 species. Some groups could not be identified to species, and are indicated as unidentified beaked whales, unidentified whales, and unidentified dolphins. The overall effort resulted in collection of 130,066 photos and 435 biopsy samples, and deployment of 44 satellite tags.

Purpose

The goal of these efforts has been to collect the data necessary to conduct population assessments for cetaceans within the Mariana Archipelago, including the determination of their occurrence, population structure, and abundance, movements, distribution, and habitat use. In addition, these data may be used to evaluate the potential exposure of cetaceans to human-caused stressors within the waters surrounding the Mariana Archipelago including U.S. Navy operations (e.g., sonar, use of explosives), fisheries interactions, and dolphin tourism.

Supplemental information

PIFSC has conducted visual surveys for cetaceans in the waters off the southernmost islands of the Mariana Archipelago (Saipan, Tinian, Aguijan, Rota, and Guam) aboard small vessels (5.8–12.2 m). Survey tracks did not follow a randomized design, but instead were spread out from day to day to ensure broad survey coverage over a wide range of depths and were also dictated by weather and sea conditions. The survey vessels traveled at a speed of 15–26 km/h, depending on the size of the vessel and sea conditions. Between 4 and 6 observers scanned for marine mammals with unaided eyes or, occasionally handheld binoculars, collectively searching 360-degrees around the vessel.

All cetacean groups encountered were approached for species confirmation, group size estimates, photo-identification, and biopsy sampling/sloughed skin collection. In 2013, satellite tagging was implemented to investigate movements and spatial use of individuals of some species. Additional data collected during each sighting included the location (latitude/longitude), behavior, and estimates of calf numbers. Survey conditions (e.g., Beaufort sea state, swell height) and effort status were recorded regularly as conditions changed. A handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) automatically recorded the vessel’s track at 1-minute intervals.

References

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.
All attributes are included in the downloadable file (CSV or ESRI File Geodatabase) for "Complete Set of Dataset".

Attributes in dataset

Attribute (table column)Description
oidUnique ID number (generated by OBIS-SEAMAP)
lineLine
local_dateDate at local time zone (GMT +10)
sighting_noSighting No.
speciesSpecies name
sp_tsnTaxonomic Serial Number added by OBIS-SEAMAP
local_timeTime at local time zone (GMT +10)
regionRegion (CNMI = Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands)
island_reefIsland, reef (CK Reef = Chalan Kanoa Reef)
latitudeLatitude in decimal degrees
longitudeLongitude in decimal degrees
group_sizeGroup size
no_calvesNumber of calves
no_photosNumber of photos
no_biopsy_samplesNumber of biopsy samples
no_tags_deployedNumber of tags deployed
behaviorBehavior
beaufortBeaufort sea scale
swell_categorySwell height (1: 0-2; 2: 2-4; 3: 4-6; 4: 6-8; 5: 8-10; 6: 10+ (ft))
depthDepth (m)
depth_binDepth Bin (m)
distance_to_shoreDistance to Shore (km)
geomGeometry field added by OBIS-SEAMAP
OBIS-SEAMAP ID2071
Seabirds0
Marine mammals378
Sea turtles0
Rays and sharks0
Other species0
Non spatial0
Non species0
Total378
Date, Begin2010-02-09
Date, End2019-01-26
Temporal prec.111111
Latitude13.12 - 15.62
Longitude144.40 - 145.89
Coord. prec.6 decimal digits
PlatformBoat
Data typeAnimal sighting
EffortYES (ID: 2072)
Traveled (km)25,609
Effort hours1,784
Contr. through
Registered2020-07-09
Updated2020-07-17
StatusPublished
Sharing policy CC-BY-NC (All)
Shared with OBIS
GBIF (via DOI)
See metadata in static HTML
See metadata in FGDC XML
See download history / statistics