MMS Low Altitude Survey for Seabirds, Southern California Bight 1975-1978

Glenn Ford

doi:10.15468/c2qga4

MMS Low Altitude Survey for Seabirds, Southern California Bight 1975-1978

Citation

Ford, G. 2014. MMS Low Altitude Survey for Seabirds, Southern California Bight 1975-1978. Data downloaded from OBIS-SEAMAP (http://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/48) on yyyy-mm-dd. https://doi.org/10.15468/c2qga4 accessed via GBIF.org on 2023-10-02.

Description

Original provider: Minerals Management Service Dataset credits: Minerals Management Service Abstract: This dataset is from the marine mammal and seabird surveys of the southern California Bight studies: Southern California Bight low aerial [birds] study code: SB, Contract Number: AA550-CT7-36, Principal investigators: K. S. Norris and B. J. Le Boeuf, University of California, Santa Cruz, and G. L. Hunt, University of California, Irvine. Time period: May 1975 through March 1978 Study area: The Southern California Bight, from Point Conception to the United States-Mexico boundary and offshore to the 2,000 m isobath. Methodology: Aerial and ship surveys were conducted along pre-established transects designed to systematically sample marine mammal and seabird abundance in all waters of the study area. Aerial surveys were conducted at two altitudes (200 ft and about 750-1,000 ft ASL) alternating at 2-3 week intervals. Seabirds and pinnipeds were recorded only on the low-altitude surveys which predominantly sampled along eight lines of latitude, separated by 25 nm, and connecting lines of longitude. High-altitude surveys sampled cetacean abundance along 15 Loran lines oriented northeast-southwest and separated by 12-15 nm. On low-altitude surveys, seabirds were counted only within a 50 m corridor on the shaded side of the aircraft. Marine mammals were counted in an unbounded corridor on one side of the aircraft on low-altitude surveys and both sides of the aircraft on high-altitude surveys. A clinometer or marks on the wing-strut were used to estimate the declination, and the measurement or estimate later used to calculate probability density functions of frequency with right-angle distance. Ships were used for surveys of inshore waters along standard (i.e., predetermined and replicate) transects and for search, catch, and tagging/tracking of small cetaceans. The standard ship transect cruises sampled abundance of seabirds and marine mammals over banks, basins, and ridges in waters inshore of the Patton Escarpment (the shelf break). Seabirds and marine mammals were counted on both sides of the cruise track and distance estimated or measured with a range-finder. Catch cruises attempted to find and remain with schools of common dolphin and other small cetaceans; therefore, data on sightings from these cruises cannot be used as samples of animal abundance. The Southern California Bight Study also included ground and aerial censuses of pinniped and seabird colonies, and special studies of productivity, mortality rates, and foraging range. Databases produced: 1) sightings of seabirds and marine mammals on 24 low-altitude aerial surveys, 2) sightings of cetaceans on 35 high-altitude aerial surveys, 3) sightings of seabirds and marine mammals on 29 ship transect surveys, and 4) sightings of cetaceans on 34 catch cruises. Included in this database are the following: High Altitude Mammal Observations: 75,489 km of effort, 695 sightings of 68,557 individual animals Low Altitude Mammal Observations: 37,843 km of effort, 1,320 sightings of 15,070 individual animals Low Altitude Bird Observations: 35,445 km of effort, 7,950 sightings of 63,359 individual animals Ship Observations: 17,903 km of effort, 23,519 sightings of 181,287 individual animals Purpose: Objectives of the study were to characterize the marine mammal and seabird fauna of the Southern California Bight, estimate abundance of species, describe the distribution, determine the timing and routes of migrations and movements, and document seasonal changes in numbers or patterns of habitat-use. In addition, studies were conducted to determine the size and status of breeding colonies of seabirds and pinnipeds, their productivity, and trends in growth. Supplemental information: [2020-09-30] The following invalid species names were corrected according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). Branta nigricans (175013) => Branta bernicla nigricans (714723) Bonaparte's Gull: Larus philadelphia (176839) => Chroicocephalus philadelphia (824040) Manx Shearwater: Puffinus puffinus puffinus (174556) => Puffinus puffinus (174555) Red Phalarope: Phalaropus fulicaria (554376) => Phalaropus fulicarius (176734) Royal Tern: Sterna maxima (176922) => Thalasseus maximus (824142) Phalacrocorax olivaceus (174722) => Phalacrocorax brasilianus brasilianus (824220) Larus sabini (176865) => Xema sabini (176866) Endomychura hypoleuca (824180) => Synthliboramphus hypoleucus (177011) Larus tridactyla (176874) => Rissa tridactyla (176875) This dataset includes Low Altitude Bird Observations (35,445 km of effort, 7,950 sightings of 63,359 individual animals) from the database described in the abstract. Low Altitude Mammal Observations are available in MMS Low Altitude Survey for Marine Mammals, Southern California Bight 1975-1978

Purpose

Objectives of the study were to characterize the marine mammal and seabird fauna of the Southern California Bight, estimate abundance of species, describe the distribution, determine the timing and routes of migrations and movements, and document seasonal changes in numbers or patterns of habitat-use. In addition, studies were conducted to determine the size and status of breeding colonies of seabirds and pinnipeds, their productivity, and trends in growth.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

NA

Sampling

NA

Method steps

NA

Additional info

marine, harvested by iOBIS

Taxonomic Coverages

Scientific names are based on the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

Aechmophorus occidentalis
common name: Western Grebe rank: species
Ciconiiformes
common name: Auks rank: order
Ardea herodias
common name: Great Blue Heron rank: species
Laridae
common name: Gulls rank: family
Branta bernicla nigricans
rank: subspecies
Cepphus columba
common name: Pigeon Guillemot rank: species
Cerorhinca monocerata
common name: Rhinoceros Auklet rank: species
Sterna
rank: genus
Phoebastria nigripes
common name: Black-footed Albatross rank: species
Synthliboramphus hypoleucus
common name: Xantus's Murrelet rank: species
Fulmarus glacialis
common name: Northern Fulmar rank: species
Fulmarus
rank: genus
Gavia
common name: Loons rank: genus
Gavia immer
common name: Common Loon rank: species
Gavia
common name: Loons rank: genus
Gavia stellata
common name: Red-throated Loon rank: species
Ciconiiformes
common name: Auks rank: order
Ciconiiformes
common name: Auks rank: order
Procellariidae
common name: Fulmars rank: family
Larus
rank: genus
Ciconiiformes
common name: Auks rank: order
Ciconiiformes
common name: Auks rank: order
Ciconiiformes
common name: Auks rank: order
Larus argentatus
common name: Herring Gull rank: species
Larus californicus
common name: California Gull rank: species
Larus canus
common name: Mew Gull rank: species
Larus delawarensis
common name: Ring-billed Gull rank: species
Larus glaucescens
common name: Glaucous-winged Gull rank: species
Larus
rank: genus
Larus heermanni
common name: Heermann's Gull rank: species
Larus occidentalis
common name: Western Gull rank: species
Chroicocephalus philadelphia
common name: Bonaparte's Gull rank: species
Xema sabini
common name: Sabine's Gull rank: species
Rissa tridactyla
common name: Black-legged Kittiwake rank: species
Fratercula cirrhata
common name: Tufted Puffin rank: species
Ciconiiformes
common name: Auks rank: order
Ciconiiformes
common name: Auks rank: order
Melanitta perspicillata
common name: Surf Scoter rank: species
Melanitta
common name: Scoters rank: genus
Laridae
common name: Gulls rank: family
Laridae
common name: Gulls rank: family
Oceanodroma furcata
common name: Fork-tailed Storm Petrel rank: species
Oceanodroma homochroa
common name: Ashy Storm Petrel rank: species
Oceanodroma leucorhoa
common name: Leach's Storm Petrel rank: species
Oceanodroma melania
common name: Black Storm Petrel rank: species
Pelecanus occidentalis
common name: Brown Pelican rank: species
Ciconiiformes
common name: Auks rank: order
Phaethon aethereus
common name: Red-billed Tropicbird rank: species
Phalacrocorax brasilianus brasilianus
rank: subspecies
Phalacrocorax pelagicus
common name: Pelagic Cormorant rank: species
Phalacrocorax penicillatus
common name: Brandt's Cormorant rank: species
Phalaropus fulicarius
common name: Red Phalarope rank: species
Phalaropus lobatus
common name: Red-necked Phalarope rank: species
Phalaropus
rank: genus
Phalacrocorax
rank: genus
Podiceps nigricollis
common name: Black-necked Grebe rank: species
Ptychoramphus aleuticus
common name: Cassin's Auklet rank: species
Laridae
common name: Gulls rank: family
Puffinus bulleri
common name: Buller's Shearwater rank: species
Puffinus carneipes
common name: Flesh-footed Shearwater rank: species
Puffinus creatopus
common name: Pink-footed Shearwater rank: species
Puffinus griseus
common name: Sooty Shearwater rank: species
Puffinus puffinus
common name: Manx Shearwater rank: species
Ciconiiformes
common name: Auks rank: order
Procellariidae
common name: Fulmars rank: family
Ciconiiformes
common name: Auks rank: order
Ciconiiformes
common name: Auks rank: order
Ciconiiformes
common name: Auks rank: order
Stercorarius maccormicki
common name: South Polar Skua rank: species
Stercorarius parasiticus
common name: Parasitic Jaeger rank: species
Stercorarius pomarinus
common name: Pomarine Jaeger rank: species
Stercorarius
rank: genus
Thalasseus maximus
common name: Royal Tern rank: species
Sterna paradisaea
common name: Arctic Tern rank: species
Procellariidae
common name: Fulmars rank: family
Laridae
common name: Gulls rank: family
Phaethon
rank: genus
Uria aalge
common name: Common Murre rank: species

Geographic Coverages

Northeastern Pacific Ocean

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Glenn Ford
originator
position: Primary contact
Glenn Ford
email: eci@teleport.com

OBIS-SEAMAP
metadata author
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: http://seamap.env.duke.edu

OBIS-SEAMAP
distributor
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: http://seamap.env.duke.edu

Glenn Ford
owner
position: Primary contact
Glenn Ford
email: eci@teleport.com

Glenn Ford
administrative point of contact
position: Primary contact
Glenn Ford
email: eci@teleport.com