MMS High Altitude Survey 1980-1983

Janet Casey; Glenn Ford

doi:10.15468/9szr5g

MMS High Altitude Survey 1980-1983

Citation

Ford, G. and J. Casey. 2013. MMS High Altitude Survey 1980-1983. Data downloaded from OBIS-SEAMAP (http://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/40) on yyyy-mm-dd. https://doi.org/10.15468/9szr5g accessed via GBIF.org on 2025-05-18.

Description

Original provider: Minerals Management Service Dataset credits: Minerals Management Service Abstract: This dataset is from the marine mammal and seabird surveys of central and northern California studies: Central/northern California - high aerial [Cetaceans] study Code: CH, Contract number: 14-12-0001-29090, Principal investigator: Thomas P. Dohl, Center for Marine Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz Study area: Shelf, slope, and offshore waters to a distance of 100 nm off the California coast from Point Conception to the California-Oregon boundary. Methodology: Offshore transect surveys were flown twice-monthly at two different altitudes (200 ft and about 750-1,000 ft ASL) along approximately 40 east-west transect lines extending an average of 60 nm offshore. The transects sampled on a given survey were selected randomly from a set of 92 standard (predetermined) lines spaced at intervals of 5' of latitude. Standard transects provided systematic coverage of shelf, slope, and offshore waters in the study area. Sightings of seabirds, pinnipeds, and sea otters were recorded only on low-altitude surveys. Sightings of cetaceans and turtles were recorded on both low- and high-altitude surveys. Seabird sightings were recorded only on the shaded side of the aircraft within a strip transect of 50 m width. Marine mammal and turtle sightings were recorded within an unbounded corridor on both high- and low-altitude surveys, but only the shaded side of the aircraft was searched on the low-altitude surveys. Cross-legs connecting standard transects were searched only on high-altitude surveys. Offshore cross-legs were searched on both sides of the aircraft, while only the nearshore side was searched on cross-legs along the coast. Declination angle was measured and noted for each marine mammal/turtle sightings and later used to calculate a probability density function of frequency with right-angle sighting distance. Navigation was by Loran and VLF-Omega. Databases produced: Three databases of sightings at sea were produced by these studies (data on numbers of seabirds and pinnipeds on land were also collected but are not addressed in the present study). These include: 1) sightings of cetaceans and turtles recorded on 36 high-altitude aerial surveys, 2) sightings of cetaceans, pinnipeds, sea otters, and turtles recorded on 36 low-altitude aerial surveys, and 3) sightings of seabirds on 36 low-altitude aerial surveys. Each sighting database is accompanied by files providing the search effort on transect and environmental characteristics of the waters surveyed (e.g., sea surface temperature). Purpose: To determine species composition, distribution, abundance, and seasonal variation for marine mammal and seabird populations, provide a description of habitat use, and identify areas of special biological importance to these populations in the central and northern California study area.

Purpose

To determine species composition, distribution, abundance, and seasonal variation for marine mammal and seabird populations, provide a description of habitat use, and identify areas of special biological importance to these populations in the central and northern California study area.

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).

Balaenoptera acutorostrata
common name: Minke Whale rank: species
Balaenoptera borealis
common name: Sei Whale rank: species
Balaenoptera musculus
common name: Blue Whale rank: species
Balaenoptera physalus
common name: Fin Whale rank: species
Berardius bairdii
common name: Baird's Beaked Whale rank: species
Callorhinus ursinus
common name: Northern Fur Seal rank: species
Dermochelys coriacea
common name: Leatherback Sea Turtle rank: species
Enhydra lutris
common name: Sea Otter rank: species
Eschrichtius robustus
common name: Gray Whale rank: species
Globicephala melas
common name: Long-finned Pilot Whale rank: species
Grampus griseus
common name: Risso's Dolphin rank: species
Kogia
common name: pygmy sperm whales rank: genus
Lagenorhynchus obliquidens
common name: Pacific White-sided Dolphin rank: species
Cetacea
common name: cetaceans rank: order
Lissodelphis borealis
common name: Northern Right Whale Dolphin rank: species
Cetacea
common name: cetaceans rank: order
Megaptera novaeangliae
common name: Humpback Whale rank: species
Mesoplodon
common name: beaked whales rank: genus
Mirounga angustirostris
common name: Northern Elephant Seal rank: species
Orcinus orca
common name: Killer Whale rank: species
Otariidae
common name: eared seals rank: family
Phocoena phocoena
common name: Harbor Porpoise rank: species
Phocoenoides dalli
common name: Dall's Porpoise rank: species
Physeter macrocephalus
common name: Sperm Whale rank: species
Cetacea
common name: cetaceans rank: order
Ziphius cavirostris
common name: Cuvier's Beaked Whale rank: species

Geographic Coverages

Northeastern Pacific Ocean

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Janet Casey
originator
position: Primary contact
Janet Casey
email: None

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

Janet Casey
owner
position: Primary contact
Janet Casey
email: None

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

Janet Casey
administrative point of contact
position: Primary contact
Janet Casey
email: None

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