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

Dataset homepage

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 2022-05-16.

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

  1. NA

Additional info

marine, harvested by iOBIS

Taxonomic Coverages

Scientific names are based on the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
  1. Aechmophorus occidentalis
    common name: Western Grebe rank: species
  2. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  3. Ardea herodias
    common name: Great Blue Heron rank: species
  4. Laridae
    common name: Gulls rank: family
  5. Branta bernicla nigricans
    rank: subspecies
  6. Cepphus columba
    common name: Pigeon Guillemot rank: species
  7. Cerorhinca monocerata
    common name: Rhinoceros Auklet rank: species
  8. Sterna
    rank: genus
  9. Phoebastria nigripes
    common name: Black-footed Albatross rank: species
  10. Synthliboramphus hypoleucus
    common name: Xantus's Murrelet rank: species
  11. Fulmarus glacialis
    common name: Northern Fulmar rank: species
  12. Fulmarus
    rank: genus
  13. Gavia
    common name: Loons rank: genus
  14. Gavia immer
    common name: Common Loon rank: species
  15. Gavia
    common name: Loons rank: genus
  16. Gavia stellata
    common name: Red-throated Loon rank: species
  17. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  18. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  19. Procellariidae
    common name: Fulmars rank: family
  20. Larus
    rank: genus
  21. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  22. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  23. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  24. Larus argentatus
    common name: Herring Gull rank: species
  25. Larus californicus
    common name: California Gull rank: species
  26. Larus canus
    common name: Mew Gull rank: species
  27. Larus delawarensis
    common name: Ring-billed Gull rank: species
  28. Larus glaucescens
    common name: Glaucous-winged Gull rank: species
  29. Larus
    rank: genus
  30. Larus heermanni
    common name: Heermann's Gull rank: species
  31. Larus occidentalis
    common name: Western Gull rank: species
  32. Chroicocephalus philadelphia
    common name: Bonaparte's Gull rank: species
  33. Xema sabini
    common name: Sabine's Gull rank: species
  34. Rissa tridactyla
    common name: Black-legged Kittiwake rank: species
  35. Fratercula cirrhata
    common name: Tufted Puffin rank: species
  36. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  37. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  38. Melanitta perspicillata
    common name: Surf Scoter rank: species
  39. Melanitta
    common name: Scoters rank: genus
  40. Laridae
    common name: Gulls rank: family
  41. Laridae
    common name: Gulls rank: family
  42. Oceanodroma furcata
    common name: Fork-tailed Storm Petrel rank: species
  43. Oceanodroma homochroa
    common name: Ashy Storm Petrel rank: species
  44. Oceanodroma leucorhoa
    common name: Leach's Storm Petrel rank: species
  45. Oceanodroma melania
    common name: Black Storm Petrel rank: species
  46. Pelecanus occidentalis
    common name: Brown Pelican rank: species
  47. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  48. Phaethon aethereus
    common name: Red-billed Tropicbird rank: species
  49. Phalacrocorax brasilianus brasilianus
    rank: subspecies
  50. Phalacrocorax pelagicus
    common name: Pelagic Cormorant rank: species
  51. Phalacrocorax penicillatus
    common name: Brandt's Cormorant rank: species
  52. Phalaropus fulicarius
    common name: Red Phalarope rank: species
  53. Phalaropus lobatus
    common name: Red-necked Phalarope rank: species
  54. Phalaropus
    rank: genus
  55. Phalacrocorax
    rank: genus
  56. Podiceps nigricollis
    common name: Black-necked Grebe rank: species
  57. Ptychoramphus aleuticus
    common name: Cassin's Auklet rank: species
  58. Laridae
    common name: Gulls rank: family
  59. Puffinus bulleri
    common name: Buller's Shearwater rank: species
  60. Puffinus carneipes
    common name: Flesh-footed Shearwater rank: species
  61. Puffinus creatopus
    common name: Pink-footed Shearwater rank: species
  62. Puffinus griseus
    common name: Sooty Shearwater rank: species
  63. Puffinus puffinus
    common name: Manx Shearwater rank: species
  64. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  65. Procellariidae
    common name: Fulmars rank: family
  66. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  67. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  68. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  69. Stercorarius maccormicki
    common name: South Polar Skua rank: species
  70. Stercorarius parasiticus
    common name: Parasitic Jaeger rank: species
  71. Stercorarius pomarinus
    common name: Pomarine Jaeger rank: species
  72. Stercorarius
    rank: genus
  73. Thalasseus maximus
    common name: Royal Tern rank: species
  74. Sterna paradisaea
    common name: Arctic Tern rank: species
  75. Procellariidae
    common name: Fulmars rank: family
  76. Laridae
    common name: Gulls rank: family
  77. Phaethon
    rank: genus
  78. 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
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