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MMS Low Altitude Survey 1980-1983

Dataset homepage

Citation

Ford, G., J. Casey and T. Dohl. 2013. MMS Low Altitude Survey 1980-1983. Data downloaded from OBIS-SEAMAP (http://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/41) on yyyy-mm-dd. https://doi.org/10.15468/n5z4sn accessed via GBIF.org on 2023-06-08.

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 - low aerial [birds and mammals] study code: CL, Contract number: 14-12-0001-29090, Principal investigator: Thomas P. Dohl, Center for Marine Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz Time period: February 1980 through June 1983 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. Supplemental information: [2020-09-30] The following invalid species names were corrected according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). Branta nigricans: Branta nigricans (175013) => Branta bernicla nigricans (714723) Bonaparte's Gull: Larus philadelphia (176839) => Chroicocephalus philadelphia (824040) Caspian Tern: Sterna caspia (176924) => Hydroprogne caspia (176935) Sterna elegans: Sterna elegans (176925) => Thalasseus elegans (176931) Great Egret: Casmerodius albus (174810) => Ardea alba (554135) 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) Larus tridactyla (176874) => Rissa tridactyla (176875) Brachyramphus hypoleuca (176999) => Synthliboramphus hypoleucus (177011) Larus sabini (176865) => Xema sabini (176866) Phalacrocorax olivaceus (174722) => Phalacrocorax brasilianus brasilianus (824220)

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

  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. Balaenoptera acutorostrata
    common name: Minke Whale rank: species
  6. Balaenoptera musculus
    common name: Blue Whale rank: species
  7. Balaenoptera physalus
    common name: Fin Whale rank: species
  8. Balaenoptera
    common name: baleen whales rank: genus
  9. Mesoplodon
    common name: beaked whales rank: genus
  10. Berardius bairdii
    common name: Baird's Beaked Whale rank: species
  11. Aves
    common name: Birds rank: class
  12. Brachyramphus marmoratus
    common name: Marbled Murrelet rank: species
  13. Branta bernicla nigricans
    rank: subspecies
  14. Branta canadensis interior
    rank: subspecies
  15. Callorhinus ursinus
    common name: Northern Fur Seal rank: species
  16. Ardea alba
    common name: Great Egret rank: species
  17. Cepphus columba
    common name: Pigeon Guillemot rank: species
  18. Cerorhinca monocerata
    common name: Rhinoceros Auklet rank: species
  19. Sterna
    rank: genus
  20. Delphinus delphis
    common name: Short-beaked Common Dolphin rank: species
  21. Dermochelys coriacea
    common name: Leatherback Sea Turtle rank: species
  22. Phoebastria immutabilis
    common name: Laysan Albatross rank: species
  23. Phoebastria nigripes
    common name: Black-footed Albatross rank: species
  24. Anatidae
    common name: Ducks rank: family
  25. Synthliboramphus hypoleucus
    common name: Xantus's Murrelet rank: species
  26. Enhydra lutris
    common name: Sea Otter rank: species
  27. Eschrichtius robustus
    common name: Gray Whale rank: species
  28. Eumetopias jubatus
    common name: Steller Sea Lion rank: species
  29. Fratercula corniculata
    common name: Horned Puffin rank: species
  30. Fulmarus glacialis
    common name: Northern Fulmar rank: species
  31. Fulmarus
    rank: genus
  32. Gavia
    common name: Loons rank: genus
  33. Gavia immer
    common name: Common Loon rank: species
  34. Gavia
    common name: Loons rank: genus
  35. Gavia stellata
    common name: Red-throated Loon rank: species
  36. Globicephala melas
    common name: Long-finned Pilot Whale rank: species
  37. Grampus griseus
    common name: Risso's Dolphin rank: species
  38. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  39. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  40. Procellariidae
    common name: Fulmars rank: family
  41. Procellariidae
    common name: Fulmars rank: family
  42. Lagenorhynchus obliquidens
    common name: Pacific White-sided Dolphin rank: species
  43. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  44. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  45. Cetacea
    common name: cetaceans rank: order
  46. Larus argentatus
    common name: Herring Gull rank: species
  47. Larus californicus
    common name: California Gull rank: species
  48. Larus canus
    common name: Mew Gull rank: species
  49. Larus delawarensis
    common name: Ring-billed Gull rank: species
  50. Larus glaucescens
    common name: Glaucous-winged Gull rank: species
  51. Larus
    rank: genus
  52. Larus heermanni
    common name: Heermann's Gull rank: species
  53. Larus occidentalis
    common name: Western Gull rank: species
  54. Chroicocephalus philadelphia
    common name: Bonaparte's Gull rank: species
  55. Xema sabini
    common name: Sabine's Gull rank: species
  56. Rissa tridactyla
    common name: Black-legged Kittiwake rank: species
  57. Limosa fedoa
    common name: Marbled Godwit rank: species
  58. Lissodelphis borealis
    common name: Northern Right Whale Dolphin rank: species
  59. Fratercula cirrhata
    common name: Tufted Puffin rank: species
  60. Cetacea
    common name: cetaceans rank: order
  61. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  62. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  63. Cetacea
    common name: cetaceans rank: order
  64. Megaptera novaeangliae
    common name: Humpback Whale rank: species
  65. Melanitta fusca
    common name: Velvet Scoter rank: species
  66. Melanitta nigra
    common name: Black Scoter rank: species
  67. Melanitta perspicillata
    common name: Surf Scoter rank: species
  68. Melanitta
    common name: Scoters rank: genus
  69. Mergus serrator
    common name: Red-breasted Merganser rank: species
  70. Mirounga angustirostris
    common name: Northern Elephant Seal rank: species
  71. Laridae
    common name: Gulls rank: family
  72. Oceanodroma furcata
    common name: Fork-tailed Storm Petrel rank: species
  73. Oceanodroma homochroa
    common name: Ashy Storm Petrel rank: species
  74. Oceanodroma leucorhoa
    common name: Leach's Storm Petrel rank: species
  75. Oceanodroma melania
    common name: Black Storm Petrel rank: species
  76. Orcinus orca
    common name: Killer Whale rank: species
  77. Pandion haliaetus
    common name: Osprey rank: species
  78. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
    common name: American White Pelican rank: species
  79. Pelecanus occidentalis
    common name: Brown Pelican rank: species
  80. Phalacrocorax brasilianus brasilianus
    rank: subspecies
  81. Phalacrocorax pelagicus
    common name: Pelagic Cormorant rank: species
  82. Phalacrocorax penicillatus
    common name: Brandt's Cormorant rank: species
  83. Phalaropus fulicarius
    common name: Red Phalarope rank: species
  84. Phalaropus lobatus
    common name: Red-necked Phalarope rank: species
  85. Phalaropus
    rank: genus
  86. Phalacrocorax
    rank: genus
  87. Phoca vitulina
    common name: Harbor Seal rank: species
  88. Phocoena phocoena
    common name: Harbor Porpoise rank: species
  89. Phocoenoides dalli
    common name: Dall's Porpoise rank: species
  90. Physeter macrocephalus
    common name: Sperm Whale rank: species
  91. Caniformia
    common name: pinnipeds rank: suborder
  92. Podiceps nigricollis
    common name: Black-necked Grebe rank: species
  93. Pterodroma
    rank: genus
  94. Ptychoramphus aleuticus
    common name: Cassin's Auklet rank: species
  95. Laridae
    common name: Gulls rank: family
  96. Puffinus bulleri
    common name: Buller's Shearwater rank: species
  97. Puffinus carneipes
    common name: Flesh-footed Shearwater rank: species
  98. Puffinus creatopus
    common name: Pink-footed Shearwater rank: species
  99. Puffinus griseus
    common name: Sooty Shearwater rank: species
  100. Puffinus puffinus
    common name: Manx Shearwater rank: species
  101. Puffinus tenuirostris
    common name: Short-tailed Shearwater rank: species
  102. Aythya
    common name: Diving Ducks rank: genus
  103. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  104. Cheloniidae
    common name: Sea Turtles rank: family
  105. Procellariidae
    common name: Fulmars rank: family
  106. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  107. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  108. Ciconiiformes
    common name: Auks rank: order
  109. Cetacea
    common name: cetaceans rank: order
  110. Stercorarius longicaudus
    common name: Long-tailed Jaeger rank: species
  111. Stercorarius maccormicki
    common name: South Polar Skua rank: species
  112. Stercorarius parasiticus
    common name: Parasitic Jaeger rank: species
  113. Stercorarius pomarinus
    common name: Pomarine Jaeger rank: species
  114. Stercorarius
    rank: genus
  115. Hydroprogne caspia
    common name: Caspian Tern rank: species
  116. Thalasseus elegans
    common name: Elegant Tern rank: species
  117. Sterna forsteri
    common name: Forster's Tern rank: species
  118. Sterna hirundo
    common name: Common Tern rank: species
  119. Thalasseus maximus
    common name: Royal Tern rank: species
  120. Sterna paradisaea
    common name: Arctic Tern rank: species
  121. Procellariidae
    common name: Fulmars rank: family
  122. Synthliboramphus antiquus
    common name: Ancient Murrelet rank: species
  123. Laridae
    common name: Gulls rank: family
  124. Phaethon
    rank: genus
  125. Uria aalge
    common name: Common Murre rank: species
  126. Zalophus californianus
    common name: California Sea Lion rank: species
  127. Ziphius cavirostris
    common name: Cuvier's Beaked Whale rank: species

Geographic Coverages

Northeastern Pacific Ocean

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Thomas P. Dohl
originator
position: Primary contact
University of California, Santa Cruz
email: None
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
Thomas P. Dohl
owner
position: Primary contact
University of California, Santa Cruz
email: None
Thomas P. Dohl
administrative point of contact
position: Primary contact
University of California, Santa Cruz
email: None
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