BOEM Sperm Whale Seismic Study (SWSS) PhotoID 2002-2005

Deborah Epperson

doi:10.82144/1ff88c37

BOEM Sperm Whale Seismic Study (SWSS) PhotoID 2002-2005

Citation

Epperson, D. 2025. BOEM Sperm Whale Seismic Study (SWSS) PhotoID 2002-2005. Version 1.0.0. Dataset published in OBIS-SEAMAP. https://doi.org/10.82144/1ff88c37. accessed via GBIF.org on 2026-06-04.

Description

Original provider: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Dataset credits: Texas A&M University Oregon State University Scripps Institution of Oceanography Texas A&M University-Galveston University of Colorado University of Durham University of Saint Andrews University of South Florida Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Abstract: Sperm Whale Seismic Study (SWSS) was a multi-institutional, interdisciplinary research project supported by the then Minerals Management Service (MMS; now Bureau of Ocean Energy Management - BOEM) under Cooperative Agreement 1435-01-02-CA-85186 for Cooperative Research on Sperm Whales and their Response to Seismic Exploration in the Gulf of Mexico through the Texas A&M Research Foundation. The objectives of SWSS were to (1) establish baseline information on the biology and behavior of sperm whales in the northern Gulf of Mexico, (2) characterize sperm whale habitat use in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and (3) determine possible changes in behavior of sperm whales when subjected to manmade noise, particularly from seismic airgun arrays used for offshore oil and gas exploration and geological monitoring.

Purpose

Sampling Description

Study Extent

NA

Sampling

NA

Method steps

NA

Additional info

marine, harvested by iOBIS. This dataset includes PhotoID data in SWSS surveys from 2002-2005. Sperm whale visual trackings and sightings of other cetaceans are avainable in several SWSS datasets.

Taxonomic Coverages

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

Physeter macrocephalus
common name: Sperm whale rank: species

Geographic Coverages

Oceans

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Deborah Epperson
originator
position: Primary contact
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
email: Deborah.Epperson@bsee.gov

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

Deborah Epperson
owner
position: Primary contact
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
email: Deborah.Epperson@bsee.gov

Deborah Epperson
administrative point of contact
position: Primary contact
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
email: Deborah.Epperson@bsee.gov