SEFSC GoMex Oceanic 1992 (199)

NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)

Dataset credit

Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA

Contacts

RoleNameOrganization 
Primary contact Lance Garrison NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Data entry Ei Fujioka Duke University

Citation

Abstract

A spring marine mammals survey in Gulf of Mexico was conducted in 1992 by NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center to examine the distribution and estimate abundance of cetaceans in U.S. waters. The survey was taken place along with Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP) ichthyoplankton survey in coordination with Minerals Management Service. This dataset contains sightings of not only cetaceans but also other species including sea turtles, fish and shark observed during the ship survey.

During the planned 54 survey days, 20 species were sighted, including

Atlantic spotted dolphin
Blainville’s beaked whale
Bryde’s whale
Clymene dolphin
Dwarf sperm whale
Dwarf/pygmy sperm whale
False killer whale
Fraser’s dolphin
Killer whale
Melon-headed whale
Pantropical spotted dolphin
Pygmy killer whale
Risso's dolphin
Rough-toothed dolphin
Short/Long-finned pilot whale
Sperm whale
Spinner dolphin
Standard Bottlenose dolphin
Striped dolphin

The dataset is accompanied by transect data which is provided as a separate file.

Purpose

The purpose of this survey is to examine the distribution and estimate abundance of cetaceans in U.S. waters.

Specific objectives of this survey are:

1. Conduct line transect surveys of marine mammals to study their diversity, distribution and abundance.

2. Collect ichthyoplankton (particularly bluefin tuna eggs and larva) for distribution and abundance determinations.


3. Collect associated environmental data in order to study the factors which may ultimately affect the diversity, distribution and abundance of both ichthyoplankton and marine mammals.

4. Collect biopsy samples of marine mammals for genetic analysis in order to learn about the population structure of selected species.

5. Collect flying fish (Exocoetidae) samples in order to study their diversity and distribution in the Gulf of Mexico.

Supplemental information

[2020-09-30] The following invalid species names were corrected according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Bridled Tern: Sterna anaethetus (176897) => Onychoprion anaethetus (824104)
Franklin's Gull: Larus pipixcan (176838) => Leucophaeus pipixcan (824082)
Gull-billed Tern: Sterna nilotica (176926) => Gelochelidon nilotica (176882)
Laughing Gull: Larus atricilla (176837) => Leucophaeus atricilla (824079)
Least Tern: Sterna antillarum (176923) => Sternula antillarum (824127)
Royal Tern: Sterna maxima (176922) => Thalasseus maximus (824142)
Sandwich Tern: Sterna sandvicensis (176927) => Thalasseus sandvicensis (176932)
Sooty Tern: Sterna fuscata (176894) => Onychoprion fuscatus (824105)

References

NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center. 1992. Distribution and Abundance of Marine Mammals in the Northern-Central and Western Gulf of Mexico.
NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center. 1992. Cruise Results; SEAMAP Spring Ichthyoplankton Survey; NOAA Ship Oregon II Cruise 92-02 (199).

Attributes

Overview

The dataset contains information necessary to locate the species sightings observed in the survey. The structure of the dataset was defined by NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Note that the dataset is a subset of the larger, complete dataset collected in the survey which includes environmental information. The columns before LineNo are applied to the shapefile only. The following information is not included in the dataset but will be found in the master data. For details, please contact NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Track; Speed; GPS Status; Observers; Wind direction; Weather; Sea state; Swell; Visibility; Turbidity; Sunlight; Water depth; Water color; Water temperature; Sighting angle; Effort status.

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
linenoLine number
cardCard
cruisenoCruise No.
dateDate of the sighting
timeTime of the observation (local time)
latitudeLatitude in decimal degrees
longitudeLongitude in decimal degrees
trackTrack No
speedSpeed
gpswarningGPS Warning
leftobsLeft observer
rightobsRight observer
datarcdrdefinition not provided
windWind
weatherWeather code
seastateSea state
swellSwell
visibilityVisibility
versunposVertical sun position
radsunposRadial sun position
watercolorWater color
sightingnoSighting No.
shipidShip ID
oneffortIndicator of on or off effort
watertempWater temperature in degree Celsius
waterdepthWater depth
spcodeSpecies code defined by provider
species_tsnITIS Taxonomic Serial Number added by OBIS-SEAMAP
speciesSpecies name
scientificSpecies scientific name.
herdsizeHerd size
calvesNumber of calves
ontransectOn or off transect
cookiecttrCookie cutter
remoraRemora
glareGlare
gpclassGP class
behaviorBehavior code
cuetimeCue time
cuelatCue latitude
cuelonCue longitude
obsposObserver position
obscodeObservation code
sourceSource
reticleReticle
distanceDistance
bearingBearing
wdepthmWater depth in meters
geomGeometry field added by OBIS-SEAMAP
oidUnique ID number (generated by OBIS-SEAMAP)
OBIS-SEAMAP ID13
Seabirds1,122
Marine mammals270
Sea turtles3
Rays and sharks25
Other species521
Non spatial0
Non species400
Total2,342
Date, Begin1992-04-22
Date, End1992-06-07
Temporal prec.111111
Latitude24.47 - 29.68
Longitude-96.32 - -83.99
Coord. prec.4 decimal digits
PlatformBoat
Data typeAnimal sighting
EffortYES (ID: 14)
Traveled (km)6,203
Effort hours320
Contr. through
Registered2004-01-01
Updated2020-09-30
StatusPublished
Sharing policy CC0 no rights reserved
Shared with OBIS
GBIF (via DOI)
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