Multi-species marine sighting survey in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica, Jan-Feb 2010

Brooke Bessesen

doi:10.15468/9jk67z

Multi-species marine sighting survey in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica, Jan-Feb 2010

Citation

Bessesen, B. 2011. Multi-species marine sighting survey in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica, Jan-Feb 2010. Data downloaded from OBIS-SEAMAP (http://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/708) on yyyy-mm-dd. https://doi.org/10.15468/9jk67z accessed via GBIF.org on 2025-07-08.

Description

Original provider: Brooke Bessesen Dataset credits: Brooke Bessesen Abstract: During the months of January and February 2010, 30 daily marine fauna sighting surveys were systematically conducted across the waters of Golfo Dulce, a tropical fiord-like embayment in the South Pacific region of Costa Rica. Special focus was placed on cetaceans, chelonids, whale sharks and pelagic sea snakes. Within the 233 logged observation hours, 234 first-hand sightings were recorded from a small panga; photo-identification was collected for 76% of those sightings. Dozens of marine species were documented during the survey period, but those that played most prominently in the survey were Humpback whales (Megaptera novaengiae), bottlenose dolphins (Turciops truncatus), pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata), green/black sea turtles (Chelonia mydas agassizii), olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), and pelagic sea snakes (Pelamis platurus). The study was marked by a lack of sightings for whale sharks (Rhinocodon typus), a species expected inside Golfo Dulce at the time of study. Purpose: This pilot project was designed to collect baseline data regarding the marine species that enter or reside in Golfo Dulce during the dry season months of January and February, and to determine spatialdistribution for species seen during the study period. Sighting coordinates are based on the display of a handheld Garmin handheld GPS III. Measure accuracy is untested. Several other data attributes were also collected during our survey, including: Geographical area, distinctive markings, initial distance from boat, closest approach distance, swim direction, behavior, associated fauna, and environmental conditions (bi-daily). Supplemental information: The best estimate recorded was used as the obs_count; when it was blank, the minimum estimated number of animals was used; when it was blank, too, the sum of the number of adults and young was used.

Purpose

This pilot project was designed to collect baseline data regarding the marine species that enter or reside in Golfo Dulce during the dry season months of January and February, and to determine spatialdistribution for species seen during the study period. Sighting coordinates are based on the display of a handheld Garmin handheld GPS III. Measure accuracy is untested. Several other data attributes were also collected during our survey, including: Geographical area, distinctive markings, initial distance from boat, closest approach distance, swim direction, behavior, associated fauna, and environmental conditions (bi-daily).

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).

Tursiops truncatus
common name: Common Bottlenose Dolphin rank: species
Chelonia mydas
common name: Green Sea Turtle rank: species
Cheloniidae
common name: Sea Turtles rank: family
Megaptera novaeangliae
common name: Humpback Whale rank: species
Eretmochelys imbricata
common name: Hawksbill Sea Turtle rank: species
Lepidochelys olivacea
common name: Olive Ridley rank: species
Stenella attenuata
common name: Pantropical Spotted Dolphin rank: species
Delphinidae
common name: dolphins rank: family

Geographic Coverages

Golfo Dulce,Costa Rica,Eastern Pacific,Central America

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Brooke Bessesen
originator
position: Primary contact
Phoenix Zoo
email: brooke@brookebessesen.com
homepage: http://www.brookebessesen.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

Brooke Bessesen
owner
position: Primary contact
Phoenix Zoo
email: brooke@brookebessesen.com
homepage: http://www.brookebessesen.com/

Brooke Bessesen
administrative point of contact
position: Primary contact
Phoenix Zoo
email: brooke@brookebessesen.com
homepage: http://www.brookebessesen.com/