SEFSC Gomex Shelf 1994

NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)

Dataset credit

Carol Roden, NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center

Contacts

RoleNameOrganization 
Primary contact Lance Garrison NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Data entry Benjamin Best Duke University

Citation

Abstract

A Eastern Gulf of Mexico cetacean survey was conducted in 1994 by NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center to examine the distribution and estimate abundance of cetaceans in U.S. waters. This dataset contains sightings of not only cetaceans but also other species including sea turtles, fish and shark observed during the ship survey.

Sighted species numbers 299 herds composed of 4,370 total individual animals, including

Atlantic spotted dolphin
Clymene dolphin
Cuvier’s beaked whale
Hardshell
Kemp's ridley
Leatherback
Loggerhead
Pantropical spotted dolphin
Risso's dolphin
Rough-toothed dolphin
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, which should meet the responsibility under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act.
Specific objectives of this survey are:

1. Collect data to estimate abundances and define the distributions of marine mammals in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

2. Collect associated environmental data at designated stations.

3. Obtain biopsy samples of skin and blubber from selected cetacean species.

4. Conduct a shallow water (10 to 20 fathoms) experiment on dolphin attraction to a vessel.

5. Collect data on the distribution and abundance of sea turtles, seabirds and other marine life.

6. Collect data on the distribution and type of marine debris encountered during the survey.

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)
Caspian Tern: Sterna caspia (176924) => Hydroprogne caspia (176935)
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. 1994. Summer Eastern Gulf of Mexico Marine Mammal Survey; Oregon II Cruise 212 (94-04).

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 sighting (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 ID35
Seabirds607
Marine mammals305
Sea turtles50
Rays and sharks2
Other species802
Non spatial0
Non species324
Total2,092
Date, Begin1994-08-16
Date, End1994-09-08
Temporal prec.111111
Latitude24.00 - 30.30
Longitude-89.28 - -82.02
Coord. prec.4 decimal digits
PlatformBoat
Data typeAnimal sighting
EffortYES (ID: 36)
Traveled (km)2,914
Effort hours167
Contr. through
Registered2004-06-03
Updated2020-12-10
StatusPublished
Sharing policy CC0 no rights reserved
Shared with OBIS
GBIF (via DOI)
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