U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

User’s Guide to the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird 

Database 2.0

Open-File Report 2015–1123
Cover: A large flock of short-tailed shearwaters is joined by a humpback whale at 

feeding grounds in the eastern Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Typical of large vessels used 

to collect data on seabirds and marine mammals in the North Pacific, the NOAA ship 

Oscar Dyson is passing in the background. Photograph by Phil Clapham, National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), September 7, 2005. 
User’s Guide to the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird 

Database 2.0 

By Gary S. Drew, John F. Piatt, and Martin Renner

Open-File Report 2015–1123

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

SALLY JEWELL, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2015 

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Suggested citation:

Drew, G.S., Piatt, J.F., and Renner, M., 2015, User’s guide to the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database 2.0: 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2015-1123, 52 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20151123. 

ISSN 2331-1258 (online)
iii

Contents

Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................... 1

Introduction.............................................................................................................................................................. 1

Database Overview ................................................................................................................................................. 4

Data Sources and Geographic Coverage ............................................................................................................ 4

Database Structure.............................................................................................................................................. 7

Taxonomic Codes ................................................................................................................................................ 9

Location Table ...................................................................................................................................................10

Observation Table..............................................................................................................................................13

Metadata for Contributed Surveys .....................................................................................................................14

Metadata for the NPPSD 2.0..............................................................................................................................14

Database Contents................................................................................................................................................15

Biological Observations......................................................................................................................................15

Sampling Effort ..................................................................................................................................................15

Summary ...............................................................................................................................................................26

Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................................................26

References Cited...................................................................................................................................................27

Appendix A. List of Contributors to the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database as Individuals, 

Program Managers, or Institutions.........................................................................................................................30

Appendix B. Map Showing Geographic Regions Used for Table 1........................................................................32

Appendix C. Bird Species from the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) Taxonomic 

Code List 2.1 .........................................................................................................................................................33

Appendix D. Marine Mammal Species from the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) Taxonomic 

Code List 2.1 .........................................................................................................................................................42

Appendix E. North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database, Version 2 Query Tool ........................................................44

Figures

Figure 1. Global map showing scale of the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD).............................. 5

Figure 2. Geographic coverage of the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) ..................................... 6

Figure 3. Conceptual model of North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database processing and structure ........................ 8

Figure 4. Density of Tufted Puffin across the North Pacific, 1973–2012 ............................................................... 18

Figure 5. Distribution of samples (number of km2 surveyed) in the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database 

(NPPSD) version 2.0, 1973–2012.......................................................................................................................... 19

Figure 6. Sum of area sampled (number of km2 surveyed) during four time periods (A) 1973–1982, (B) 1983–

1992, (C) 1993–2002, and (D) 2003–2012............................................................................................................ 20

Figure 7. North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) version 2.0 sample representation across four 

decades—1973–1982, 1983–1992, 1993–2002, and 2003–2012 ......................................................................... 24

Figure 8. Numbers of monthly samples and sampled area for the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database 

(NPPSD), 1973–2012............................................................................................................................................ 25

Figure 9. Graph showing numbers of monthly samples and sampled area for the North Pacific Pelagic 

Seabird Database (NPPSD), 1973–2012 .............................................................................................................. 25
iv

Tables

Table 1. Spatial distribution of pelagic seabird survey data (effort and observations) in the North Pacific 

Pelagic Seabird Database 2.0 ................................................................................................................................. 7

Table 2. Fields and data descriptions of the location table (“tbl_Location”) of the North Pacific Pelagic 

Seabird Database.................................................................................................................................................. 12

Table 3. Fields and descriptions of the observation table (“tbl_Data_Obs”) of the North Pacific Pelagic 

Seabird Database.................................................................................................................................................. 14

Table 4. A listing of the 20 most abundant bird taxa in the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database 2.0 .............. 16

Table 5. A listing of the 20 most abundant marine mammal species in the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird 

Database 2.0 ......................................................................................................................................................... 17

Conversion Factors, Datum, and Abbreviations and Acronyms

Conversion Factors

SI to Inch/Pound 

Multiply By To obtain

Length

meter (m) 3.281 foot (ft) 

kilometer (km) 0.6214 mile (mi)

meter (m) 1.094 yard (yd) 

Area

square kilometer (km2) 247.1 acre

square kilometer (km2) 0.3861 square mile (mi2)

Vessel speed

kilometer per hour (km/h) 0.6214 mile per hour (mi/h)

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F=(1.8×°C)+32

Datum

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) datum. 

Abbreviations and Acronyms

FGDC Federal Geographic Data Committee 

GIS geographic information system

GPS Global Positioning System

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NODC National Oceanographic Data Center

NPPSD North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database

OCSEAP Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment Program

PICES North Pacific Marine Science Organization

USGS U.S. Geological Survey
1

User’s Guide to the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird 

Database 2.0 

By Gary S. Drew, John F. Piatt, and Martin Renner

Abstract

The North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) was created in 2005 to consolidate data 

on the oceanic distribution of marine bird species in the North Pacific. Most of these data were 

collected on surveys by counting species within defined areas and at known locations (that is, on strip 

transects). The NPPSD also contains observations of other bird species and marine mammals. The 

original NPPSD combined data from 465 surveys conducted between 1973 and 2002, primarily in 

waters adjacent to Alaska. These surveys included 61,195 sample transects with location, environment, 

and metadata information, and the data were organized in a flat-file format. In developing NPPSD 2.0, 

our goals were to add new datasets, to make significant improvements to database functionality and to 

provide the database online. NPPSD 2.0 includes data from a broader geographic range within the 

North Pacific, including new observations made offshore of the Russian Federation, Japan, Korea, 

British Columbia (Canada), Oregon, and California. These data were imported into a relational 

database, proofed, and structured in a common format. NPPSD 2.0 contains 351,674 samples 

(transects) collected between 1973 and 2012, representing a total sampled area of 270,259 square 

kilometers, and extends the time series of samples in some areas—notably the Bering Sea—to four 

decades. It contains observations of 16,988,138 birds and 235,545 marine mammals and is available on 

the NPPSD Web site. Supplementary materials include an updated set of standardized taxonomic 

codes, reference maps that show the spatial and temporal distribution of the survey efforts and a 

downloadable query tool. 

Introduction

The North Pacific is a vast region with complex topography and numerous oceanographic ecoregions that support a large number of highly productive marine communities, including globally 

significant fisheries and populations of seabirds and marine mammals. Seabirds are ubiquitous 

members of these communities and as higher trophic level consumers, they integrate processes that 

reflect primary and secondary production in marine ecosystems (Diamond and Devlin, 2003). 

Additionally, seabirds are relatively easy to observe and monitor, and all these qualities make seabirds 

useful indicators of marine ecosystem status (Veit and others, 1996; Piatt and others, 2007; Bond and 

others, 2011). 
2

Data on the pelagic distribution and abundance of seabirds are critical for understanding the 

basic ecology of marine birds, monitoring population trends, assessing the effects of human activities, 

identifying critical marine habitats, and educating the public about seabird conservation. Specifically, 

at-sea surveys in the North Pacific have been used to: 

• Assess the impacts of oil spills on marine bird populations (Ford and others, 1987; Piatt and 

others, 1990; Burger, 1992; Klosiewski and Laing, 1994); 

• Assess long-term changes in marine ecosystems in response to climate or geological changes 

(Ainley and others, 1995; Veit and others, 1996; Agler and others, 1999; Drew and others, 

2010; Renner and others, 2013); 

• Identify scaled features of marine ecosystems (Piatt and others, 1991; Elphick and Hunt, 1993; 

Piatt and Springer, 2004, 2007); 

• Measure association of seabirds with biophysical features and identify structure in marine 

communities (Gould and Piatt, 1993; Springer and others, 1999; Piatt and others, 2006; Drew 

and others, 2012; Renner and others, 2012); 

• Estimate population sizes of rare or threatened species that are impossible to census using 

traditional methods (Piatt and Ford, 1993; Agler and others, 1998; Piatt and others, 2007, 

2011); 

• Examine seasonal movements and winter habitat use by seabirds (Piatt and Naslund, 1995; 

Agler and others, 1998, Renner and others, 2008); 

• Assess conflicts between commercial fisheries and marine birds (Karpouzi and others, 2007; 

Renner and others, 2013); and 

• Plan marine reserves and bird protected areas (Hyrenbach and others, 2006; Smith and others, 

2014). 

Most of these projects have focused on addressing fine- to meso-scale ecological questions, and 

few have been conducted over a sufficiently large spatial area or long enough timeframe to draw 

conclusions about broad-scale processes—for example, decadal-scale changes in large marine 

ecosystems (Renner and others, 2013). This limitation largely has been a logistical one. With few 

exceptions, the cost (in terms of money and the time required to conduct at-sea surveys) has restricted 

the scope of marine bird studies to relatively small (<10,000 km2

) marine areas, and has limited the 

ability to investigate processes that operate at large spatial scales. 

The solution to high logistical costs is to combine the various directed and opportunistic 

surveys for marine birds at sea conducted during recent decades by different organizations and 

researchers. The need for a comprehensive geographic database on the pelagic distribution of seabirds 

in the North Pacific has long been recognized. During the Outer Continental Shelf Environmental 

Assessment Program (OCSEAP), administered by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA), millions of dollars were provided from 1973 through 1982 to conduct at-sea 

surveys of biological resources in advance of oil development on the Alaska Outer Continental shelf. 

This work culminated in an atlas on the "Pelagic Distribution and Abundance of Seabirds in the Gulf 

of Alaska and Eastern Bering Sea" (Gould and others, 1982), which documented the at-sea distribution 

and abundance of 16 common seabird species in Alaska. The end of OCSEAP funding signaled the 

end of at-sea survey data consolidation in the North Pacific until the U.S. Geological Survey initiated 

efforts to compile the pelagic seabird data again during the 1990s (Piatt, 1992; Piatt and Ford, 2001). 
3

With support from the North Pacific Research Board in 2002, we constructed the NPPSD 1.0, 

assembling datasets collected since 1982 and then integrating the datasets with the OCSEAP data. 

NPPSD 1.0 included data from 465 individual surveys conducted between 1974 and 2002 consisting of

61,195 transects (samples) with counts of 6,995,932 birds and 29,739 marine mammals. Most at-sea

seabird surveys usually have included collection of data on marine mammals because they are often 

observed foraging in the same areas as marine birds (Croll and others, 1998). A large number of 

marine mammals were observed outside the boundaries of strip transects for birds, so the data cannot 

be used to calculate densities, but all observations were included in the database because of their use in 

determining general distributions or ranges. NPPSD 1.0 has been used frequently for analyses of 

seabird and marine mammal distribution in the North Pacific (for example, Piatt and Springer, 2004, 

2007; Hunt and others, 2005; Drew and Piatt, 2008; Piatt and others, 2006, 2007; Melvin and others, 

2006; Renner and others, 2008). 

In developing NPPSD 2.0, we expanded the geographic scope of the database to include the 

important marine areas adjacent to the large marine ecosystems of Alaska (Gulf of Alaska, eastern 

Bering Sea, and Chukchi and Beaufort Seas) and that share common avifauna, including areas such as 

the California Current (from Canada to southern California), the western Bering Sea, and the Sea of 

Okhotsk. We also included more associated environmental data. The overarching goal of the NPPSD 

project continues to be the compilation of North Pacific seabird surveys to provide a tool for

addressing broad-scale ecological questions. The proliferation of large spatial-scale environmental 

datasets derived from satellite imagery (for example, sea-surface temperature, chlorophyll-a) now 

provides an opportunity to measure habitat associations over expanded spatial and temporal scales.

Additionally, making the NPPSD 2.0 accessible from the USGS Alaska Science Center Website 

(alaska.usgs.gov) expands public access to results of federally funded research.

The specific objectives for the NPPSD 2.0 were to: 

• Compile, document, and archive new incoming datasets.

• Develop and maintain a current taxonomic code list. 

• Standardize formats and reorganize individual raw datasets into two tables: locations and 

observations. 

• Merge all individual datasets into the NPPSD 2.0 database using the two-table structure.

• Release database on USGS Alaska Science Center Website. 

• Create and collaborate on products developed from the data. 

• Promote the development of a “community of practice” for users of the NPPSD 2.0 to facilitate 

broad-scale spatial and long-term temporal analyses. 

In this report, we provide details regarding how we designed the database, the database sources, 

spatial and temporal coverage, structure, and data use. In addition to the database itself, two additional 

tools have been developed—(1) an updated taxonomic code list, and (2) a data extraction interface. 

Both of these tools can be accessed through the USGS Alaska Science Center Website. 
4

Database Overview

Data Sources and Geographic Coverage 

The NPPSD 2.0 contains marine bird survey data that span the North Pacific, bounded by the 

United States and Canada on the east, and the Russian Federation, Japan and Korea on the west (fig. 

1). Sampling longitudes range from 129° E to 117° W. Sampling latitudes range from 88.5° N to the 

equator, but samples south of latitude 30° N are very limited. The largest survey efforts occurred on 

the continental shelves of Alaska, British Columbia and California. The NPPSD 1.0 included all 

OCSEAP at-sea seabird surveys as well as additional survey data from Southeast Alaska, Prince 

William Sound, Cook Inlet, Aleutian Islands, and eastern Bering Sea (Drew and Piatt 2005). New 

datasets were acquired for the coasts and shelves of California, Oregon, Washington, British 

Columbia, western Bering Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk (fig. 2). NPPSD 2.0 extends not just the spatial 

coverage, but also the temporal range of observations to 1973–2012. In some areas, these new data 

provided the first repeated sampling in 30 years. The effects of the additional data went beyond 

extending the temporal range. For example, the first version of the database had no data from the Sea 

of Okhotsk, but in the NPPSD 2.0, data were added from that region for a period spanning 22 years 

(1984–2005). 

The new survey datasets were collected by numerous Federal, State, and foreign agencies

working on various projects. The list of contributors is provided in appendix A. The diversity of 

contributors introduced various raw dataset formats, and datasets often lacked metadata 

documentation. We archived all incoming datasets and associated metadata, if provided. Most of the 

surveys included in the NPPSD 2.0 collected data on multiple species; however, there are a small 

number of taxa specific surveys where only one or two species were recorded. Users should note this 

distinction when selecting data. The geographic distribution of sampling effort is detailed in table 1. 

These areas are based on a modified version of the North Pacific Marine Science Organization 

(PICES) subregion map (appendix B).
5

Figure 1. Global map showing scale of the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD). Red dots are 

individual transects (samples; total of 351,674). 

Alaska

USA

Russian

Federation

Canada

USA

Japan

Korea
6

Figure 2. Geographic coverage of the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD). Sample points include 

the NPPSD version 1.0 and new samples added in the NPPSD version 2.0. Note that some new samples may be 

obscured by the samples from NPPSD 1.0 in some areas. 

 
7

Table 1. Spatial distribution of pelagic seabird survey data (effort and observations) in the North Pacific Pelagic 

Seabird Database 2.0. 

General area Surveyed area

(square kilometers) Sample transects

Arctic Ocean 9,861 8,572

Aleutian Islands 9,882 13,521

Beaufort Sea 11,570 7,180

Bering Sea 74,661 87,452

California Current 31,349 66,717

Chukchi Sea 15,468 14,879

Eastern North Pacific 51,438 57,880

Western North Pacific 47,164 81,459

Coastal Gulf of Alaska 12,104 12,481

Sea of Japan 1,743 405

Sea of Okhotsk 5,019 1,128

Total 270,259 351,674

Database Structure 

The most notable change in NPPSD 2.0 was the change from flat-file to relational-database 

format. The NPPSD 1.0 used a flat-file format that was simple and made it easy for users without 

database experience to select data. The volume of new data—a nearly five-fold increase in samples—

made the previous flat-file format inefficient. The NPPSD 2.0 also was designed to minimize the 

redundancy found in version 1.0 of the database. This approach reduced storage requirements while 

giving the end-user more control over sample selection based on fields (for example, observer 

platform). The database was constructed with two tables: “tbl_LOCATION,” hereafter referred to as 

the “location table,” and “tbl_DATA_OBS,” hereafter referred to as the “observation table.” The 

location table provides a unique identifier, the spatial location and information on survey methods and 

conditions. The observation table contains information on the species, behavior, and number of marine 

birds and marine mammals. The two tables are linked by the Master Key field in both tables. Once in 

the new table structure, another round of proofing was conducted on both tables enabling us to identify 

and address numerous errors that had been missed in the initial examination as well as those that may 

have been a product of the conversion and reformatting process. 

Production of the NPPSD 2.0 involved three developmental steps—(1) data acquisition (that is, 

gathering, documenting and archiving of datasets); (2) formatting and proofing (that is, correcting and 

standardizing data in location and observation tables); and (3) consolidation (that is, merging all 

surveys in a single relational database) (fig. 3). Treatment of data evolved between versions 1.0 and 

2.0, with the greatest accommodation needed for the basic differences in the way data were collected in 

early decades compared to later decades. For example, much of the NPPSD 1.0 data were in the form 

of discrete samples (for example, in 10-minute counts) and in the OCSEAP multiple three-table 

format; whereas much of the NPPSD 2.0 data were in the form of a single table of continuously 

recorded data, which had to be binned into discrete samples. Both data types yielded similar final 

tables, but the steps in developing those tables differed. 
8

Figure 3. Conceptual model of North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database processing and structure. Three 

rectangular boxes at the top of the model signify raw datasets, ellipses signify specific processes, and rectangular 

boxes inside ellipses signify data tables in the database. 
9

Each dataset was imported into a relational database table for review. The data then were

proofed using the highest standards possible given the metadata available for each survey. Simple 

queries were applied to identify values that were out of range. Corrections often could be made for 

obvious typographical errors. When no information was available for an out-of-range value, the 

contributor was queried (when possible). Where a value was outside the possible range (for example, a 

vessel speed of 300 km/h), and it was not possible to identify correct values through the contributor, 

the field was left blank. Datasets generally had little documentation, so contributors were contacted to 

address questionable or missing data values. Because data structure varied between surveys (for 

example, summarized by transect or continuous counts), contributed datasets were reorganized and 

queries were applied to standardize data into uniform fields, formats, and units. The results of these 

efforts were standardized tables that could be combined into a new relational database (fig. 3). 

Taxonomic Codes

During creation of the NPPSD, numerous inconsistencies in use of species codes were 

identified. These inconsistencies could be traced back to two factors—(1) user-specific species codes, 

and (2) taxonomic changes. Different researchers often used different codes for the same taxa. This led 

to unnecessary confusion and increased the chances that errors would be introduced into the database.

Additionally, the taxonomic status of some species has changed since the data were collected, leading 

to issues with legacy. For example, when taxonomy has split a species into two taxa, the “new” 

taxonomy will only be reflected for data collected after the change. It is essential that researchers 

understand that observations for one of these newly recognized species cannot be separated for 

previously collected data. These issues made the development of a current comprehensive code list for 

North Pacific at-sea surveys essential (appendix C). 

We used the current American Ornithological Union bird species list (Pyle and DeSante, 2009) 

as a starting point for NPPSD 4-letter codes, and added unique codes for missing marine bird and

marine mammal species. The NPPSD taxonomic code list 2.1 (appendixes C and D) includes the 

Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) (2013) Taxonomic Serial Number, scientific name, 

common name, NPPSD 4-letter code, and the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) (1996) 

Taxonomic Code Version 8. The NODC Taxonomic Code list is not current; it has not been updated 

since 1996, but it was taxonomically ordered. As such, the list remains a useful tool for sorting. In 

cases where species taxonomy has changed, additions were made to the NODC codes to reflect the 

new order. These added codes end in “99”. This range of crosswalked standards maximized accuracy 

while ensuring compatibility with incoming data. 

The NPPSD taxonomic code list for marine birds and mammals in the North Pacific is 

available on the NPPSD Web site. Because bird names will continue to change as new data strengthens 

our understanding of taxonomy, we view the code list as a dynamic document and expect both new 

additions and future revisions. All data in the NPPSD 2.0 have been reconciled with the current 

NPPSD taxonomic code list. We recommend that researchers adopt the NPPSD taxonomic code list, as 

it will facilitate the future integration of new datasets into the NPPSD. Updates to the code list will be 

posted on the NPPSD products page. 
10

Location Table

In the location table, each record was unique, providing spatial and temporal information as 

well as details relevant to the sample transect (table 2). If a record failed to provide a latitude and 

longitude, the record was excluded. Latitude and longitude positions for each transect represent either 

the starting point (primarily before 1991) or transect centroid. Starting points were used when end of 

transect locations were not provided. These surveys were assumed to have been collected using the 

North American Datum of 1927 (NAD 27) and were converted to the World Geodetic System of 1984 

(WGS 84). Data collected after 1990 were assumed to have been collected using a Global Positioning 

System (GPS) receiver set to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) or WGS 84 datums. The 

differences between NAD 83 and WGS 84 datums are well below the accuracy range of most GPS

receivers (on the order of a few meters,) so they were treated as identical. For most datasets collected

after 1990, contributors either provided the centroids or we were able to use a geographic information 

system (GIS) to extract the middle point of the transect from the provided track data. Some latitudelongitude locations were typographical errors (for example, over land), and were approximated using 

prior and following transect locations. If there were insufficient data to correct the point, then the 

record was excluded. The position type (start or centroid) is provided in the database. A sample area 

was calculated from the data that were provided. If a sample area could not be calculated for a record 

because of missing data (for example, transect length), this field was left blank. In these cases, the lack 

of sampled area also precludes the calculation of densities in the observation table (n=3260; <1 percent

of transects). Environmental information (for example, sea-surface temperature) collected on surveys 

was included when provided; however, most transects lacked this information. If any data fields were 

missing, these fields were left blank, with the exception of the Contributor field, where blank fields 

were replaced with “Unknown.” 

Most fields in the location table are self-explanatory; however, there are several exceptions.

Some fields were the result of calculations or classifications and required further description. 

Additionally, although numerous environmental fields are in the location table, such data were not 

available for most surveys. Surveys with environmental data tend to be those collected under the 

OCSEAP. Detailed explanations for a subset of the location table fields are as follows:

Master Key—The Master Key field provides the link between the location and observation tables. For

the NPPSD 2.0, we used the Master Keys from the NPPSD 1.0, and those provided by contributors of 

new datasets. By using these “legacy” values, we retained the link to original datasets. The only 

requirement was that the Master Key be a unique identifier of each sample location. The location and 

observation tables were joined using the Master Key field with a one-to-many relationship. Thus, each 

record in the location table was unique but could be associated with multiple or no observation records 

in the observation table. 

Survey ID—Additional survey identifier associated with incoming data. This field often is not unique 

and primarily is useful for linking back to raw datasets. 

Station Number—Optional field included in some surveys that identifies a specific location. This 

field was provided in some surveys by researchers collecting repeated samples over time and is 

included for their benefit. 
11

Modified Platform Type—We recognized five different platform types, adopted from OCSEAP-U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife (FWS) protocols (Gould and Forsell, 1989): (1) Aircraft, (2) Land, (3) Large Boat, 

(4) Small Boat, and (5) Station. Most samples were from Large Boats (> 20 m) and Small Boats (< 20 

m). Land and station samples do not have a sample area and, therefore, do not have a density 

associated with a sample area. This field can be used to filter out samples that may be inappropriate for 

certain species or analyses. For example, aircraft-based surveys might be excluded for assessments of 

small species that are difficult to see or identify. Stations are a unique category indicating a fixed site; 

for example, an anchored ship or drilling platform. There are relatively few station data, all from 

OCSEAP years of study.

Modified Survey Type—Most of the data were classified as “Pelagic Survey.” Some survey types 

were not specified, but they were assumed to be pelagic surveys when they included transect duration, 

width, and distance. During the OCSEAP data collection there also were station surveys, where species 

were counted in a fixed area (from a non-moving platform) over a fixed time period. These stations do 

not have a sample area, so they are automatically excluded from density calculations. The survey type 

“Off Transect Observation” is used only on a few samples from the OCSEAP data. No sample area is 

associated with these samples, and they are automatically excluded from density calculations. These

observations will be included in exports of counts unless filtered out. 

Survey Target—Identifies surveys as "All" (all species recorded) or taxa-specific. In the NPPSD 2.0, 

the only taxa-specific surveys in the NPPSD are for Brachyramphus spp. and Kittlitz’s murrelets.

Fly-Bird Method—This field distinguishes between surveys that use the “snapshot” method (Tasker 

and others, 1984) of counting flying birds passing through the sample area from surveys that use 

alternate methods. In most surveys, flying birds were counted at regular intervals (snapshots), not 

continuously, to minimize overestimation of bird densities owing to the flux of rapidly moving birds 

across the transect (Tasker and others, 1984; Gould and Forsell, 1989). However, in some surveys, 

flying birds were counted continuously. Although it is accepted that counting all flying birds will lead 

to overestimates of density, the amount of bias will vary by species, behavior, and flight direction 

(Spear and others, 2004). Given the generally high variability of at-sea survey densities, and the high 

proportion of observed birds sighted while sitting on the water, this bias should not preclude 

comparisons of these data in most cases. The exception may be in the counts of birds rarely seen sitting 

on the water (for example, storm petrels). The methodology used for counting flying birds 

(“continuous” or “snapshot”) was included in the NPPSD data table so users could decide how to treat 

and interpret the resulting counts. If the counting methodology was not specified, it was recorded as 

“Unknown.” The user is cautioned that combining continuous and snapshot samples without further 

correction may not be appropriate for all analyses and results will vary by species. Users may use only 

birds not flying, both methods combined, or they may export flying birds separately for each 

methodology (continuous or snapshot) and apply their own correction factors. The user is responsible 

for handling such corrections. 

Loc Method—This field provides details on the method used to determine the latitude-longitude 

location of the sample. Much of the OCSEAP data forming the core of the NPPSD 1.0 data contain 

only the latitude and longitude recorded at the beginning of the transect. For most of the post-OCSEAP 

data, the latitude and longitude locations are based on the centroid of the sample transect. 

Lat—Latitude of the sample location in decimal degrees using the WGS 84 datum. 

Lon—Longitude of the sample location in decimal degrees using the WGS 84 datum. These longitudes 

are based on a -180 to 180 degree coordinate system. The 180th meridian runs through the middle of 

the NPPSD study area; thus, the dataset includes both positive and negative longitudes. 
12

Sample Area—A critical element of the location table was the calculation of the area sampled. This 

element was required to determine bird densities at sea (number of birds per km2). Sample areas were 

calculated in one of four ways, in descending order of accuracy—(1) the contributors provided an 

accurate sample area based on their own calculations from GPS data; (2) we calculated area as a 

product of transect length (or bin length) measured from a GPS source times transect width; (3) we 

calculated area as a product of transect length (calculated from vessel speed and elapsed time) times 

transect width; and (4) if none of the previous data sources were available and we had a beginning and 

an end location (lat-lon), we calculated the minimum distance between start and stop, and multiplied it 

by transect width to calculate area. Records where no sample areas could be calculated cannot be used 

for density calculations. 

Table 2. Fields and data descriptions of the location table (“tbl_Location”) of the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird 

Database. 

Field name Description

Master Key Up to 25-digit unique identifier linking locations to observations

Survey ID Identifier for survey; for example, “Semidi Islands 2006"

Station Number Number for each transect or station within a Survey ID

Modified Platform Type Small Boat, Large Boat, Land, Station, or Aircraft

Modified Survey Type Pelagic Survey, Station, or Unk (Unknown)

Survey Target Either "All" or a specific species or taxa

Fly-Bird-Method All or Snapshot

Loc Method Start (start of transect), Centroid (midpoint of transect)

Lat Lat - Decimal Degrees

Lon Lon - Decimal Degrees

Year Year YYYY

Month Month 1–12

Day Day of month 1–31

Julian Day Julian Day 1–366

Hour Local Time Hour 0–23

Minute Minute 0-59

Elapsed Time Minutes sampled

Transect Width Strip (bin) width in meters

Speed Average boat speed over bin in kilometers per hour

Source Dataset provider

3,&UHGLW Contributing Scientist or Agency

Depth Depth in meters

Surface Temperature Temperature in °C

Surface Salinity Surface salinity, to nearest tenth of a part per thousand (psu)

Barometric Pressure Barometric pressure to nearest tenths of a millibar (haPa)

Barometric Trend 0-steady, + rising, or – falling

Wind Speed In meters per second

Sea State Beaufort Scale assumed

Weather subjective not standardized

Sample Area Area of bin in square kilometers
13

Observation Table

The observation table contains records with information regarding species, number observed, 

behavior, etc. (table 3). There may be multiple observations at a given location, so multiple records 

may share the same “Master Key.” Although every effort was made to double-check data with the data 

contributor on species that were rare, difficult to identify, or seemingly beyond normal distribution 

range, we were often unable to verify unusual records. Nor did we presume to second-guess the species 

identifications made by individual observers. Therefore, observations of very rare, difficult to identify, 

or vagrant species should be used with caution. In addition to raw counts, density calculations (sample 

count/sample area) for each transect were stored in the observation table to increase the speed of 

queries; however, when binning data, density should be recalculated (total count in bin/total sampled

area in bin). Common name and the NPPSD 4-letter code were included for each record. 

As with the location table, most fields in the observation tables are self-explanatory. An 

exception is the treatment of “off-transect” observations. Although these observations could not be 

used to calculate densities, they were retained in the data tables to preserve rare sightings or to

determine the spatial distribution (range) of species. Additional descriptions for several fields are as 

follows: 

Master Key—This field links “Observations” to the location table using a many (observations)–to-one 

(location) relationship. Thus, in the observation tables, this field is not necessarily unique. Each Master 

Key may have many or no observations, so it may be repeated or absent in the Data table. If there are 

no observations, the cross-tabulation will return a zero for “SumOfNumber” and “Density.” 

Density—This field is calculated from taking the SumOfNumber value in this table and dividing it by 

the Sample Area from the associated location table record. If there are no observation records for a 

location record, a cross-tabulation with the location table will return a zero density for all species for 

that sample. Only “on transect” counts are included in the density calculation. See “Modified 

Behavior” below for how behaviors were treated as on or off transect. 

NPPSD 4-Letter Code—Although somewhat redundant with common names, the 4-letter codes are 

used commonly by bird researchers for convenience, brevity, and compatibility (dbf format truncates 

field names to 10 characters, and that can result in duplicate field names). Note that both common 

name and 4-letter codes are filtered through the NPPSD taxonomic code list to standardize them 

among surveys.

Modified Behavior—A large number of behaviors were reported in raw datasets by various 

investigators. We selected a small number of broad categories and converted codes used by others to 

the closest equivalent. The categories are: 

Feeding —exhibiting foraging behavior indicative of active feeding

Fish—on the water holding fish in bill 

Flying —all flying birds not exhibiting active feeding behavior 

Water—sitting on water

Unk—no behavior recorded, assumed to be on water in most cases 

Boat—sitting on boat (these are treated as off-transect and not used for densities) 

Dead— (these are treated as off-transect and not used for densities) 

Land—on land (these are treated as off-transect and not used for densities) 

OT-OBS—This field was added in this version of the NPPSD to ensure that rare “off-transect 

observations” (that is, out of the sampling area) were retained. In addition to rare sightings, Modified 

Behavior of “Boat”, “Dead”, and “Land” also were classified as OT-OBS. 
14

Table 3. Fields and descriptions of the observation table (“tbl_Data_Obs”) of the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird 

Database.

[Note The Master Key is not unique in this table. A given Master Key (sample location) may have multiple or no associated 

records in the observation table depending on the species observed.] 

Field name Description

Master Key Up to 25-digit identifier used to link location table to observations

Common Name Common name of species observed

Density Number per square kilometer for a given species, behavior, OT-OBS combination. 

SumOfNumber Sum of a given species with similar behavior at this location

NPPSD 4-Letter Code NPPSD version 2.1 4-letter code

Modified Behavior General behavior (see detailed description in text).

Source Person transferring data 

PI Credit Contributing Scientist or Agency

OT-OBS Off Transect Observation – Yes or No 

Comments Explanatory text–254-character limit

Metadata for Contributed Surveys

The amount of content information, or metadata, available for each survey was highly variable.

Surveys collected prior to the adoption of a Federal metadata standard (before 1995) lacked any formal 

metadata documentation. We were able to gain access to many of the hardcopy data forms prior to 

1995, making the extraction of metadata possible. Because future researchers may not have access to 

these originals or the researchers that collected the data, a considerable effort was made to extract

metadata for these surveys. These original data sheets also were invaluable for proofing early datasets 

and identifying errors. 

When metadata were provided for a contributed dataset, they were archived with the raw 

incoming data. Contributors now are required to include basic Federal Geographic Data Committee 

(FGDC) compliant metadata with contributed datasets.

Metadata for the NPPSD 2.0

For general reference purposes, metadata for the entire NPPSD 2.0 dataset are provided with 

the NPPSD dataset (https://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7WQ01T3).
15

Database Contents

Biological Observations

The NPPSD 2.0 was the result of combining many individual survey programs for marine birds 

in the North Pacific. These surveys contained 351,674 sample transects covering an area of 270,259 

km2 and include the observations of 16,988,138 birds and 235,545 marine mammals. The 20 most 

abundant bird taxa are shown in table 4; a complete listing of all bird taxa counted and included in the 

NPPSD is shown in appendix C. Note that several of the taxa on the list are identified to a broader 

taxonomic class than species because of identification difficulties. The 20 most abundant marine 

mammals are shown in table 5. A complete summary listing of marine mammal observations in the 

NPPSD 2.0 is shown in appendix D. 

Maps to identify species distributions can be created by selecting data from the database and 

binning it to the appropriate scale given the questions being addressed. Bins of NPPSD data can be 

created at any scale using a GIS, but at the scale of the North Pacific, 100 × 100 km “cells” are most 

appropriate. As an example, a summary of Tufted Puffin counts per bin divided by the total sampled 

area within each cell provides an index of density illustrating the distribution of this species across its 

entire range (fig. 4).

Sampling Effort

Survey efforts varied greatly over time and space, and were concentrated in a few productive 

continental shelf areas and thinly distributed over a much larger area of the northern seas. The spatialtemporal variability in sampling reveals which areas are most useful for assessing long-term changes in 

bird communities, and which areas need more attention in the future. A map that includes all surveys 

binned into 50 × 50 km cells reveals that effort was highly variable among areas, with the greatest 

sampling offshore of southern California, coastal British Columbia, southeastern and south-central 

coastal Alaska, and the eastern Bering Sea (fig. 5). 

To examine the distribution of sampling efforts through time, the dataset was divided into four 

decadal periods: 1973–1982, 1983–1992, 1993–2002, and 2003–2012 (figs. 6A-6D). Each decadal

period then was converted to a raster with a cell size of 50 × 50 km. The value (color) of the cell was 

equal to area sampled (in square kilometers) within each cell for these four time periods. Sampling 

intensity and extent varied widely across time periods (fig. 6). These map layers can be used as a guide 

for future research by identifying the sample availability for time periods of interest and (or) time 

spans. We overlaid the four periods and summed the number represented. When viewed this way, areas 

with extended temporal data are highlighted (fig. 7). The Bering Sea is the region with the most longterm data. Long-term data also are available for the Alaska Peninsula, southern British Columbia, and 

parts of the Aleutian Islands.

Temporal sampling efforts across years and seasons also were highly variable. At-sea sampling 

was relatively rare prior to the OCSEAP. The effect of that program can be seen in the rapid increase 

in sampling in 1975 (fig. 8). Since that time, sampling has varied in association with various programs 

and projects—for example, Exxon Valdez oil spill assessments after the 1989 spill and a large increase 

in sampling associated with the Bering Ecosystem Study and Bering Sea Integrated Ecosystem 

Research Program (2008–2014). Within-year sampling shows a seasonal bias, with the northern 

hemisphere summer breeding season (May–September) dominating the data records (fig. 9). 
16

Table 4. A listing of the 20 most abundant bird taxa in the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database 2.0.

Common name Scientific name Number of birds

Unidentified Shearwater Procellariidae spp. 3,337,645

Short-tailed Shearwater Puffinus tenuirostris 2,093,018

Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 1,295,024

Unidentified Murre Uria spp. 1,138,267

Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 967,698

Least Auklet Aethia pusilla 867,946

Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis 763,392

Crested Auklet Aethia cristatella 550,097

Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 565,974

Spectacled Eider Somateria fischeri 523,456

Common Murre Uria aalge 509,546

Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata 337,745

Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens 324,568

Fork-tailed Storm-petrel Oceanodroma furcata 315,615

Thick-billed Murre Uria lomvia 148,581

Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria 134,727

Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus 122,575

Unidentified Alcid Alcidae spp. 110,653

Unidentified Phalarope Phalaropus spp. 107,746

Unidentified Eider Somateria or Polysticta spp. 104,871

Total 14,319,144
17

Table 5. A listing of the 20 most abundant marine mammal species in the North Pacific Pelagic 

Seabird Database 2.0

Common name Scientific name

Number of marine 

mammals

Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 64,017

Sea Otter Enhydra lutris 29,885

Steller Sea Lion Eumetopias jubatus 27,808

Dall's Porpoise Phocoenoides dalli 20,086

Pacific Walrus Odobenus rosmarus divergens 16,859

Unidentified Dolphin Unidentified Delphinidae 13,495

Harbor Seal Phoca vitulina 12,599

Pacific White-sided Dolphin Lagenorhynchus obliquidens 9,832

California Sea Lion Zalophus californianus 5,963

Northern Fur Seal Callorhinus ursinus 5,774

Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus 3,607

Unidentified Seal Phocidae (Family) 2,924

Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae 2,921

Northern Right Whale Dolphin Lissodelphis borealis 2,853

Harbor Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 2,302

Gray Whale Eschrichtius robustus 1,752

Killer Whale Orcinus orca 1,663

Unidentified Whale Cetacea (Order) 1,658

Spotted Seal Phoca largha 1,624

Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 1,277

Total 228,899
18

Figure 4. Density of Tufted Puffin across the North Pacific, 1973–2012. Data from the North Pacific Pelagic 

Seabird Database (NPPSD) were binned into 100× 100 kilometer cells; total numbers were divided by total 

sampled area. Gray dots represent sampled cells with zero counts. 
19

Figure 5. Distribution of samples (number of km2 surveyed) in the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database 

(NPPSD) version 2.0, 1973–2012. The area sampled within 50 × 50 kilometer cells was summed for all years. 
20

Figure 6. Sum of area sampled (number of km2 surveyed) during four time periods (A) 1973–1982, (B) 1983–

1992, (C) 1993–2002, and (D) 2003–2012. Cells are 50 × 50 km. 

A
21

Figure 6. Continued.

B
22

Figure 6. Continued.

C
23

Figure 6. Continued.

D
24

Figure 7. North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) version 2.0 sample representation across four 

decades—1973–1982, 1983–1992, 1993–2002, and 2003–2012. Cells are 50 × 50 km. Warmer colors indicate a 

longer sampling history.
25

Figure 8. Numbers of monthly samples and sampled area for the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database 

(NPPSD), 1973–2012.

Figure 9. Graph showing numbers of monthly samples and sampled area for the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird 

Database (NPPSD), 1973–2012.
26

Summary 

This report provides documentation of the structure, scope, and limitations of the North Pacific 

Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) 2.0. The NPPSD 2.0 is the largest database on marine birds and 

marine mammals at sea in the North Pacific, and is among the largest compilations of seabird 

distribution data in the world. This second version of the database represents a nearly five-fold increase 

in samples, while also substantially increasing the spatial and temporal range of the data. NPPSD 2.0 

has expanded into previously underrepresented areas (for example, the Sea of Okhotsk and California), 

and has extended the time series of samples in some areas—notably the Bering Sea—to four decades.

Spatial and temporal distributions, as shown in effort maps and temporal graphs, can assist researchers 

in determining the adequacy of the NPPSD to address specific questions. In conjunction with the 

current availability of broad-scale environmental datasets, the NPPSD 2.0 is a powerful tool to address 

broad-scale questions critical to the understanding of how climate change, regime shifts, and 

biogeography are associated with the distribution and habitat use of top marine predators. The database 

is available at https://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7WQ01T3. To assist in the extraction of data from the 

NPPSD a query tool (appendix E) also is available on the NPPSD Web page on the USGS Alaska 

Science Center site (http://alaska.usgs.gov/). 

Data from the NPPSD 2.0 already have been used in several publications since 2012. A 

complete list of products using the NPPSD (including version 1.0) is available on the NPPSD Web 

page on the USGS Alaska Science Center site. In addition to the database itself, the NPPSD taxonomic 

code list, available as a stand-alone product, provides a useful tool for standardizing data codes and 

crosswalking between various taxonomic conventions. Use of the NPPSD code list will assist in 

integrating new data quickly and accurately. This code list is a dynamic document that is periodically

updated to represent current taxonomy. The most current version of this code list is available on the 

NPPSD Web page on the USGS Alaska Science Center site (http://alaska.usgs.gov/). 

Acknowledgments

Development of NPPSD 2.0 was made possible by long-term support from the Wildlife 

Program of the U.S. Geological Survey Ecosystems Mission Area. The list of data collectors and 

contributors is long, and a full accounting is available from the metadata for the NPPSD. We thank all 

those observers for their long hours spent counting birds at sea, quite often during inhospitable 

conditions. A short list of major contributors to the NPPSD database (in addition to being major data 

collectors) includes: Vernon Byrd (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), Robert Day (ABR Inc.), Don 

Dragoo (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), R. Glenn Ford (Ecological Consulting, Inc., Portland, 

Oregon), George Hunt, Jr. (University of California-Irvine / University of Washington), David Irons

(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), Kathy Kuletz (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), Kathleen Moore 

(Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada), Ken Morgan (Canadian Wildlife Service, 

Environment Canada), Vjatcheslav Shuntov (Pacific Research Institute of Fisheries and 

Oceanography), Bill Sydeman (Farallon Institute), and Denny Zwiefelhofer (U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service). A complete list of contributors is available in appendix A. We are grateful to Anthony 

DeGange, Kathleen Moore, and Ken Morgan for reviewing this document and providing helpful 

comments to improve this manuscript. The North Pacific Research Board, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey, provided financial support to the NPPSD project. 
27

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Veit, R.R., Pyle, P., and McGowan, J.A., 1996, Ocean warming and long-term change in pelagic bird 

abundance within the California current system: Marine Ecology Progress Series, v. 139, p. 11–18. 
30

Appendix A. List of Contributors to the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database

as Individuals, Program Managers, or Institutions

[Note for the few contributions for which credit for data was not clear we used observer’s name, which may not reflect the 

actual principal investigator. Contributors of more than 1,000 transects are indicated by an asterisk*; of more than 5,000 

transects are indicated by two asterisks**. Additionally, affiliations refer to time of data collection and may not reflect 

current status] 

Contributor Agency and affiliation

Beverly Agler* U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7, Migratory Bird Management

Vernon Byrd ** U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7, Alaska Maritime NWR

Jeffrey Allen U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Patricia Baird U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

James Bartonek U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Judith Benson Unknown

John Blackenship Unknown

Mike Bonnell* Ecological Consulting, Inc., Portland, Oregon

Ken T. Briggs* Ecological Consulting, Inc., Portland, Oregon

David Kline U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Robert Day** ABR Incorporated

Anthony DeGange* U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Matthew Dick U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

George Divoky* Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska–Fairbanks

Don Dragoo* U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7, Alaska Maritime NWR

Gary Drew U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center

William Drury College of the Atlantic, Maine

Thomas Early U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

R. Glenn Ford* Ecological Consulting, Inc., Portland, Oregon

Doug Forsell* U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

David Frazer U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Robert Gill, Jr. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Patrick Gould* U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

G.A. Green* G. A. Green, Ebasco Environmental

Juan Guzman University of Calgary, Canada

Colleen Handel U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Craig Harrison* U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Scott Hatch* U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center

David Hardy Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Karen Henderson Unknown

Eric Hoberg Epidemiology and Systematics Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

George L. Hunt ** University of California-Irvine / University of Washington

David Irons ** U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7, Migratory Bird Management
31

Contributor Agency and affiliation

Malcolm Isleib Independent, Cordova, Alaska

Robert Jones U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Matthew Kirchhoff Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Michelle L. Kissling U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Lynne Krasnow U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Kathy Kuletz ** U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7, Migratory Bird Management

Richard MacIntosh National Marine Fisheries Service

Keith Metzner U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Alan Moe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Kathleen Moore** Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada

Ken Morgan** Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada

Jay Nelson U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

David Nysewander U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Mark Phillips U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

John F. Piatt ** U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center

Point Blue ** Private NGO - Previously Point Reyes Bird Observatory

Mark Rauzon U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Jerry Ruehle Alaska Department of Natural Resources

Gerald Sanger U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Theodore Schad U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

V. P. Shuntov* Pacific Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography

Arthur Sowls U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Maritime NWR

Suzann Speckman U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center

Michael Spindler U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Alaska Maritime NWR ** U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Migratory Bird Management** U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7

Alaska Science Center** U.S. Geological Survey

Irving Warner Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Ed Wickersham U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reg. 7, Kodiak NWR

John Wells Memorial University of Newfoundland

John Wiens University of Arizona

Kent Wohl U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reg. 7

Denny Zwiefelhofer ** U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reg. 7, Kodiak NWR
32

Appendix B. Map Showing Geographic Regions Used for Table 1 

The map is based in the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) map of North 

Pacific subregions, but includes several modifications to include areas outside current PICES 

subregions (Arctic Ocean, Chukchi Sea, and Beaufort Sea). 

1

1

1

NPAC = North Pacific.
33

Appendix C. Bird Species from the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) Taxonomic Code List 2.1 

The following table includes the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) Taxonomic Code list useful for sorting, as well as the 

more current Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN). 

ITIS TSN Scientific name Common name

NPPSD 4- 

Letter Code NODC Taxonomic Code

174371 Aves (Class) Unidentified Bird UNBI 91

174468 Gavia spp. Unidentified Loon UNLO 91070101

174469 Gavia immer Common Loon COLO 9107010101

174470 Gavia adamsii Yellow-billed Loon YBLO 9107010102

174471 Gavia arctica Arctic Loon ARLO 9107010103

174474 Gavia stellata Red-throated Loon RTLO 9107010104

174475 Gavia pacifica Pacific Loon PALO 9107010105

174478 Podicipedidae spp. Unidentified Grebe UNGR 91080101

174479 Podiceps grisegena Red-necked Grebe RNGR 9108010101

174482 Podiceps auritus Horned Grebe HOGR 9108010102

174485 Podiceps nigricollis Eared Grebe EAGR 9108010103

554027 Aechmophorus clarkii Clark's Grebe CLGR 91080102

174503 Aechmophorus occidentalis Western Grebe WEGR 9108010201

174513 Diomedeidae (Family) Unidentified Albatross UALB 910901

174515 Diomedea albatrus Short-tailed Albatross STAL 9109010101

174516 Diomedea nigripes Black-footed Albatross BFAL 9109010102

554378 Phoebastria immutabilis Laysan Albatross LAAL 9109010103

174512 Procellariiformes (Order) Unidentified Procellariiformes UNPR 910902

174536 Fulmarus glacialis Northern Fulmar NOFU 9109020201

174532 Puffinus spp. Unidentified Shearwater UNSH 91090204

174547 Puffinus creatopus Pink-Footed Shearwater PFSH 9109020402

174548 Puffinus carneipes Flesh-footed Shearwater FFSH 9109020403

174550 Puffinus pacificus Wedge-tailed Shearwater WTSH 9109020405

174552 Puffinus bulleri Buller's Shearwater BUSH 9109020406

174553 Puffinus griseus Sooty Shearwater SOSH 9109020407

174554 Puffinus tenuirostris Short-tailed Shearwater STSH 9109020408

174555 Puffinus puffinus Manx Shearwater MASH 9109020409

174557 Puffinus opisthomelas Black-vented Shearwater BVSH 910902040902

174558 Puffinus auricularis Newell's Shearwater NESH 9109020410

174561 Puffinus lheminieri Audubon's Shearwater AUSH 9109020412
34

Appendix C. Continued.

ITIS TSN Scientific name Common name

NPPSD 4- 

Letter Code NODC Taxonomic Code

174565 Puffinus nativitatis Christmas Shearwater CHSH 9109020414

N.A. Pterodroma or Bulweria or Procellaria spp. Unidentified Petrel UNPE 91090204991 

174566 Pterodroma spp. Unidentified Pterodroma UNPT 91090205

174569 Pterodroma inexpectata Mottled Petrel MOPE 9109020503

174570 Pterodroma arminjoniana Herald Petrel HEPE 9109020504

554395 Pterodroma cookii Cook's Petrel COPE 9109020505

174573 Pterodroma neglecta Kermadec Petrel KEPE 9109020506

174574 Pterodroma externa Juan Fernandez Petrel JFPE 9109020507

554394 Pterodroma cervicalis White-necked Petrel WNPE 9.10902050702

174577 Pterodroma alba Phoenix Petrel PHPE 9109020508

562561 Pterodroma sandwichensis Hawaiian Petrel HAPE 9109020509

174579 Pterodroma hypoleuca Bonin Petrel BOPE 9109020510

174580 Pterodroma nigripennis Black-winged Petrel BWPE 9109020511

174581 Pterodroma solandri Solander's Petrel SOPE 9109020512

562560 Pterodroma pycrofti Pycroft's Petrel PYPE 9109020513

174582 Pterodroma longirostris Stejneger's Petrel STPE 9109020513

174588 Pterodroma leucoptera Gould's Petrel GOPE 9109020519

174592 Pterodroma ultima Murphy's Petrel MUPE 9109020523

174611 Procellaria parkinsoni Parkinson's Petrel PAPE 9109021002

554144 Bulweria bulwerii Bulwer's Petrel BUPE 9109021201

203449 Calonectris leucomelas Streaked Shearwater STRS 9109021302

174619 Hydrobatidae (Family) Unidentified Storm-petrel UNSP 910903

174625 Oceanodroma furcata Fork-tailed Storm-petrel FTSP 9109030201

174628 Oceanodroma leucorhoa Leach's Storm-petrel LESP 9109030202

174634 Oceanodroma homochroa Ashy Storm-petrel ASSP 9109030203

174636 Oceanodroma castro Band-rumped Storm-petrel BRSP 9109030205

174638 Oceanodroma tethys Wedge-rumped Storm-petrel WRSP 9109030206

174640 Oceanodroma melania Black Storm-petrel BLSP 9109030207

174641 Oceanodroma tristrami Tristram's Storm-petrel TRSP 9109030208

174642 Oceanodroma monorhis Swinhoe's Storm-petrel SSTP 9109030209

174646 Oceanodroma microsoma Least Storm-petrel LTSP 9109030301
35

Appendix C. Continued.

ITIS TSN Scientific Name Common name NPPSD 4- NODC Taxonomic Code

174650 Oceanites oceanicus Wilson's Storm-petrel WISP 9109030401

174672 Phaethon spp. Unidentified Tropicbird UNTR 91100101

174673 Phaethon aethereus Red-Billed Tropicbird RBTR 9110010101

174676 Phaethon lepturus White-tailed Tropicbird WTTR 9110010102

174679 Phaethon rubricauda Red-tailed Tropicbird RTTR 9110010103

174684 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos American White Pelican AWPE 9110020101

174685 Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican BRPE 9110020102

174697 Sula spp. Unidentified Booby UNBO 91100301

174699 Sula dactylatra Masked Booby MABO 9110030101

174704 Sula leucogaster Brown Booby BRBO 9110030103

174707 Sula sula Red-Footed Booby RFBO 9110030104

174712 Morus bassanus Northern Gannet NOGA 9110030107

174714 Phalacrocorax spp Unidentified Cormorant UNCO 91100401

174715 Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant GRCO 9110040101

174717 Phalacrocorax auritus Double-crested Cormorant DCCO 9110040102

174724 Phalacrocorax penicillatus Brandt's Cormorant BRCO 9110040104

174725 Phalacrocorax pelagicus Pelagic Cormorant PECO 9110040105

174728 Phalacrocorax urile Red-faced Cormorant RFCO 9110040106

174762 Fregata spp. Unidentified Frigatebird UNFB 91100601

174766 Fregata minor Great Frigatebird GRFB 9110060102

174769 Fregata ariel Lesser Frigatebird LEFB 9110060105

174773 Ardea herodias Great Blue Heron GTBH 9111010101

174793 Butorides virescens Green Heron GRHE 9111010201

554135 Ardea alba Great Egret GREG 9111010601

174813 Egretta thula Snowy Egret SNEG 9111010701

174923 Plegadis spp. Unidentified Ibis UNIB 91110601

174983 Anatidae (Family) Unidentified Duck, Goose, or Swan UNWF 911201

174984 Cygnus spp. Unidentified Swan SWAN 91120101

174985 Cygnus Olor Mute Swan MUSW 9112010101

174987 Cygnus columbianus Tundra Swan TUSW 9112010202

174992 Cygnus buccinator Trumpeter Swan TRSW 9112010203

174999 Branta canadensis Canada Goose CAGO 9112010301
36

Appendix C. Continued.

ITIS TSN Scientific name Common name

NPPSD 4- 

Letter Code NODC Taxonomic Code

714068 Branta hutchinsii Cackling Goose CACG 911201030109

175011 Branta bernicla Brant BRAN 9112010302

175042 Chen canagica Emperor Goose EMGO 9112010401

175020 Anser albifrons Greater White-fronted Goose GWFG 9112010501

175038 Chen caerulescens Snow Goose SNGO 9112010601

175063 Anas platyrhynchos Mallard MALL 9112010901

175068 Anas rubripes American Black Duck AMBD 9112010903

175073 Anas strepera Gadwall GADW 9112010906

175074 Anas acuta Northern Pintail NOPI 9112010907

175081 Anas crecca Green-winged Teal GWTE 9112010910

175086 Anas discors Blue-winged Teal BWTE 9112010912

175093 Anas querquedula Garganey GARG 9112010915

175094 Anas americana American Wigeon AMWI 9112010916

175096 Anas clypeata Northern Shoveler NOSH 9112010917

175122 Aix sponsa Wood Duck WODU 9112011001

175124 Aythya spp. Unidentified Scaup USCA 91120111

714011 Anatinae (Subfamily) Unidentified Duck UNDU 91120111

175125 Aythya americana Redhead REDH 9112011101

175129 Aythya valisineria Canvasback CANV 9112011105

175130 Aythya marila Greater Scaup GRSC 9112011106

175134 Aythya affinis Lesser Scaup LESC 9112011107

175140 Bucephala spp. Unidentified Goldeneye UNGO 91120112

175141 Bucephala clangula Common Goldeneye COGO 9112011201

175144 Bucephala islandica Barrow's Goldeneye BAGO 9112011202

175145 Bucephala albeola Bufflehead BUFF 9112011203

175147 Clangula hyemalis Long-tailed Duck LTDU 9112011301

175149 Histrionicus histrionicus Harlequin Duck HADU 9112011401

N/A Somateria or Polysticta spp. Unidentified Eider UNEI 91120116

175153 Polysticta stelleri Steller's Eider STEI 9112011601

175155 Somateria mollissima Common Eider COEI 9112011701

175160 Somateria spectabilis King Eider KIEI 9112011702

175161 Somateria fischeri Spectacled Eider SPEI 9112011703
37

Appendix C. Continued.

ITIS TSN Scientific name Common name

NPPSD 4- 

Letter Code NODC Taxonomic Code

175162 Melanitta spp. Unidentified Scoter UNSC 91120118

175163 Melanitta fusca White-winged Scoter WWSC 9112011802

175170 Melanitta perspicillata Surf Scoter SUSC 9112011803

175171 Melanitta nigra Black Scoter BLSC 9112011804

175175 Oxyura jamaicensis Ruddy Duck RUDU 9112011901

175183 Lophodytes cucullatus Hooded Merganser HOME 9112012001

175184 Mergus spp. Unidentified Merganser UNME 91120121

175185 Mergus merganser Common Merganser COME 9112012101

175187 Mergus serrator Red-breasted Merganser RBME 9112012102

175300 Accipiter gentilis Northern Goshawk NOGO 9113020501

175304 Accipiter striatus Sharp-shinned Hawk SSHA 9113020502

175350 Buteo jamaicensis Red-tailed Hawk RTHA 9113020601

175407 Aquila chrysaetos Golden Eagle GOEA 9113020901

175280 Accipitridae spp. Unidentified Eagle UNEA 91130210

175420 Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald Eagle BAEA 9113021002

175423 Haliaeetus pelagicus Steller's Sea Eagle STSE 9113021003

175430 Circus cyaneus Northern Harrier NOHA 9113021101

175590 Pandion haliaetus Osprey OSPR 9113030101

175598 Falco spp. Unidentified Falcon UNFA 91130402

175599 Falco rusticolus Gyrfalcon GYRF 9113040201

175604 Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon PEFA 9113040203

175613 Falco columbarius Merlin MERL 9113040205

176177 Grus canadensis Sandhill Crane SACR 9120010102

176292 Fulica americana American Coot AMCO 9120040802

176446 Charadii (Suborder) Unidentified Shorebird UNSB 9127

176475 Haematopus bachmani Black Oystercatcher BLOY 9127030103

176479 Pluvialus or Charadrius spp. Unidentified Plover UNPL 912704

176506 Charadrius semipalmatus Semipalmated Plover SEPL 9127040202

176510 Charadrius alexandrinus Snowy Plover SNPL 9127040204

176514 Charadrius mongolus Mongolian Plover MOPL 9127040205

176564 Pluvialis dominica American Golden Plover AGPL 912704110201

554381 Pluvialis fulva Pacific Golden Plover PAGP 912704110202
38

Appendix C. Continued. 

ITIS TSN Scientific name Common name

NPPSD 4- 

Letter Code NODC Taxonomic Code

176567 Pluvialis squatarola Black-bellied Plover BBPL 9127041103

553481 Scolopacinae spp. Unidentified Sandpiper UNSA 912705

176569 Arenaria spp. Unidentified Turnstone UNTU 91270501

176571 Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone RUTU 9127050101

176574 Arenaria melanocephala Black Turnstone BLTU 9127050102

176586 Capella gallinago Common Snipe COSN 9127050401

726048 Gallinago delicata Wilson's Snipe WISN 912705040103

176593 Numenius americanus Long-billed Curlew LBCU 9127050601

176599 Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel WHIM 9127050604

176610 Bartramia longicauda Upland Sandpiper UPSA 9127050701

176612 Actitis macularia Spotted Sandpiper SPSA 9127050801

176614 Tringa spp. Unidentified Yellowlegs YELL 91270509

176615 Tringa solitaria Solitary Sandpiper SOSA 9127050901

176618 Tringa glareola Wood Sandpiper WOSP 9127050902

176619 Tringa melanoleuca Greater Yellowlegs GRYE 9127050903

176620 Tringa flavipes Lesser Yellowlegs LEYE 9127050904

176635 Heteroscelus incanus Wandering Tattler WATA 9127051001

176638 Catoptrophorus semipalmatus Willet WILL 9127051101

176641 Calidris spp. Unidentified Stint USTI 91270512

176642 Calidris canutus Red Knot REKN 9127051201

176647 Calidris ptilocnemis Rock Sandpiper ROSA 9127051204

176652 Calidris acuminata Sharp-tailed Sandpiper STSA 9127051205

176653 Calidris melanotos Pectoral Sandpiper PESA 9127051206

176654 Calidris fuscicollis White-rumped Sandpiper WRSA 9127051207

176655 Calidris bairdii Baird's Sandpiper BASP 9127051208

176656 Calidris minutilla Least Sandpiper LESA 9127051209

176661 Calidris alpina Dunlin DUNL 9127051214

176667 Calidris pusilla Semipalmated Sandpiper SESA 9127051216

176668 Calidris mauri Western Sandpiper WESA 9127051217

176669 Calidris alba Sanderling SAND 9127051218

176673 Aphriza virgata Surfbird SURF 9127051301

176674 Limnodromus spp. Unidentified Dowitcher DOWI 91270514
39

Appendix C. Continued.

ITIS TSN Scientific name Common name

NPPSD 4- 

Letter Code NODC Taxonomic Code

176675 Limnodromus griseus Short-billed Dowitcher SBDO 9127051401

176679 Limnodromus scolopaceus Long-billed Dowitcher LBDO 9127051402

554145 Calidris himantopus Stilt Sandpiper STIL 9127051501

176684 Tryngites subruficollis Buff-breasted Sandpiper BBSP 9127051601

176685 Limosa spp. Unidentified Godwit GODW 91270517

176686 Limosa fedoa Marbled Godwit MAGO 9127051701

176687 Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit BTGP 9127051702

176733 Phalaropus spp. Unidentified Phalarope UNPH 91270701

554376 Phalaropus fulicaria Red Phalarope REPH 9127070101

176735 Phalaropus lobatus Red-necked Phalarope RNPH 9127070301

176791 Stercorariidae (Family) Unidentified Skua UNSK 91280101

176792 Stercorarius pomarinus Pomarine Jaeger POJA 9128010101

176793 Stercorarius parasiticus Parasitic Jaeger PAJA 9128010102

176794 Stercorarius longicaudus Long-tailed Jaeger LTJA 9128010103

176801 Catharacta maccormicki South Polar Skua SPSK 9128010202

553473 Larinae spp. Unidentified Gull UNGU 91280201

176808 Larus hyperboreus Glaucous Gull GLGU 9128020101

176811 Larus glaucoides Iceland Gull ICGU 9128020102

176814 Larus glaucescens Glaucous-winged Gull GWGU 9128020103

N.A. N.A. Glaucous-winged x Herring Gull GHGU 9128020103991

176815 Larus marinus Great Black-backed Gull GBGU 9128020104

176816 Larus schistisagus Slaty-backed Gull SBGU 9128020105

176817 Larus occidentalis Western Gull WEGU 9128020106

N.A. N.A. Western x Glaucous-winged Gull WGWG 9128020106991

176824 Larus argentatus Herring gull HEGU 9128020108

176828 Larus thayeri Thayer's Gull THGU 9128020109

176829 Larus californicus California Gull CAGU 9128020110

176830 Larus delawarensis Ring-billed Gull RBGU 9128020111

176831 Larus crassirostris Black-tailed Gull BTGU 9128020112

176832 Larus canus Mew Gull MEGU 9128020113

176835 Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull BHGU 9128020114

176837 Larus atricilla Linnaeus Laughing Gull LAGU 9128020115
40

Appendix C. Continued.

ITIS TSN Scientific name Common name

NPPSD 4- 

Letter Code NODC Taxonomic Code

176838 Larus pipixcan Franklin's Gull FRGU 9128020116

176839 Larus philadelphia Bonaparte's Gull BOGU 9128020117

176841 Larus heermanni Heermann's Gull HEEG 9128020119

176849 Larus dominicanus Kelp Gull KEGU 9128020128

176851 Pagophila eburnea Ivory Gull IVGU 9128020201

176806 Rissa spp. Unidentified Kittiwake UNKI 91280203

176875 Rissa tridactyla Black-legged Kittiwake BLKI 9128020301

176845 Rissa brevirostris Red-legged Kittiwake RLKI 9128020302

176864 Rhodostethia rosea Ross's Gull ROGU 9128020401

176866 Xema sabini Sabine's Gull SAGU 9128020501

553483 Sterninae spp. Unidentified Tern UNTE 91280207

176886 Sterna trudeaui Trudeau's Tern TRTE 9128020701

176887 Sterna forsteri Forster's Tern FOTE 9128020702

176888 Sterna hirundo Common Tern COTE 9128020703

176890 Sterna paradisaea Arctic Tern ARTE 9128020704

176893 Sterna aleutica Aleutian Tern ALTE 9128020706

176894 Sterna fuscata Sooty Tern SOTE 9128020707

176912 Sterna lunata Gray-backed Tern GBTE 9128020710

176922 Sterna maxima Royal Tern ROTE 9128020728

176923 Sterna antillarum Least Tern LETE 9128020729

176924 Sterna caspia Caspian Tern CATE 9128020730

176925 Sterna elegans Elegant Tern ELTE 9128020731

N/A Anous or Procelsterna spp. Unidentified Noddy UNNO 91280211

176941 Anous stolidus Brown Noddy BRNO 9128021101

176944 Anous minutus Black Noddy BLNO 9128021102

554390 Procelsterna cerulea Blue-gray Noddy BGNO 9128021501

176954 Gygis alba White Tern WHTE 9128021601

176959 Chlidonias niger Black Tern BLTE 9128021802

176961 Rynchops spp. Unidentified Skimmer SKIM 91280301

176967 Alcidae (Family) Unidentified Alcid UNAL 912901

176973 Uria spp. Unidentified Murre UNMU 91290103

176974 Uria aalge Common Murre COMU 9129010301
41

Appendix C. Continued.

ITIS TSN Scientific name Common name NPPSD 4- 

Letter Code NODC Taxonomic Code

176978 Uria lomvia Thick-billed Murre TBMU 9129010302

176982 Alle alle Dovekie DOVE 9129010401

176984 Cepphus spp. Unidentified Guillemot UNGI 91290105

176985 Cepphus grylle Black Guillemot BLGU 9129010501

176991 Cepphus columba Pigeon Guillemot PIGU 9129010502

176994 Cepphus carbo Spectacled Guillemot SPGU 9129010503

N.A. Brachyramphus or Synthliboramphus spp. Unidentified Murrelet UNML 91290105991 

176995 Brachyramphus spp. Brachyramphus Murrelet BRMU 91290106

176996 Brachyramphus marmoratus Marbled Murrelet MAMU 9129010601

176998 Brachyramphus brevirostris Kittlitz's Murrelet KIMU 9129010602

554143 Brachyramphus perdix Long-billed Murrelet LBMU 91290106991 

177006 Synthliboramphus spp. Synthliboramphus Murrelet SYMU 91290108

177008 Synthliboramphus antiquus Ancient Murrelet ANMU 9129010801

177009 Synthliboramphus wumizusume Japanese Murrelet JAMU 9129010802

177010 Synthliboramphus craveri Craveri's Murrelet CRMU 9129010803

177011 Synthliboramphus hypoleucus Xantus's Murrelet XAMU 9129010804

N/A Aethia or Ptychoramphus spp. Unidentified Auklet UNAU 91290108991 

177013 Ptychoramphus aleuticus Cassin's Auklet CAAU 9129010901

554029 Aethia psittacula Parakeet Auklet PAAU 9129011001

177019 Aethia cristatella Crested Auklet CRAU 9129011101

177020 Aethia pusilla Least Auklet LEAU 9129011102

177021 Aethia pygmaea Whiskered Auklet WHAU 9129011103

177023 Cerorhinca monocerata Rhinoceros Auklet RHAU 9129011201

177024 Fratercula spp. Unidentified Puffin UNPU 91290113

177029 Fratercula corniculata Horned Puffin HOPU 9129011302

177032 Fratercula cirrhata Tufted Puffin TUPU 9129011401

177935 Asio flammeus Short-eared Owl SEOW 9137020902

178106 Megaceryle alcyon Belted Kingfisher BEKI 9147010101

178536 Cinclus mexicanus American Dipper AMDI 9158110101

179665 Corvidae (Family) Crow, Raven, Magpie CORV 915845

1 NODC Taxonomic Codes for previously unrecognized taxa were generated to ensure correct phylogenetic order.
42

Appendix D. Marine Mammal Species from the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) 

Taxonomic Code List 2.1 

The following table includes the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) Taxonomic Code list useful for sorting, as well 

as the more current Integrated Taxonomic Information (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN). 

ITIS TSN Scientific name Common name

NPPSD 4- 

Letter Code NODC Taxonomic Code

179913 Mammalia (Class) Unidentified Marine Mammal UNMM 92

180403 Cetacea (Order) Unidentified Whale UNWH 9217

180415 Unidentified Delphinidae Unidentified Dolphin UNDO 921802

180426 Tursiops truncatus Bottlenose Dolphin BNDO 9218020401

180429 Stenella longirostris Spinner Dolphin SPDO 9218020501

180434 Stenella coeruleoalba Striped Dolphin STDO 9218020504

180438 Delphinus delphis Common Dolphin CODO 9218020601

555654 Delphinus capensis Long-beaked Common Dolphin LBCD 9218020601991

180444 Lagenorhynchus obliquidens Pacific White-sided Dolphin PWSD 9218020803

180454 Lissodelphis borealis Northern Right Whale Dolphin NRWD 9218021001

180457 Grampus griseus Risso's Dolphin RIDO 9218021101

180463 Pseudorca crassidens False Killer Whale FKWH 9218021401

180466 Globicephala macrorhynchus Short-finned Pilot Whale SFPW 9218021502

180469 Orcinus orca Killer Whale KIWH 9218021601

552307 Phocoenidae spp. Unidentified Porpoise UNPO 921802180

180473 Phocoena phocoena Harbor Porpoise HAPO 9218021801

180480 Phocoenoides dalli Dall's Porpoise DAPO 9218022001

180483 Delphinapterus leucas Beluga Whale BEWH 9218030101

180489 Physeter macrocephalus Sperm Whale SPWH 9218040102

180491 Kogia breviceps Pygmy Sperm Whale PSWH 9218040201

180506 Mesoplodon spp. Unidentified Beaked Whale UBKW 921805

180496 Berardius bairdii Baird's Beaked Whale BKWH 9218050102

180498 Ziphius cavirostris Cuvier's Beaked Whale GBWH 9218050201

552298 Mysticeti (Suborder) Unidentified Baleen Whale UNBW 9219

180521 Eschrichtius robustus Gray Whale GRWH 9219010101

180524 Balaenoptera acutorostrata Minke Whale MIWH 9219020101
43

Appendix D. Continued.

ITIS TSN Scientific name Common name NPPSD 4-Letter Code NODC Taxonomic Code

180526 Balaenoptera borealis Sei Whale SEWH 9219020103

180527 Balaenoptera physalus Fin Whale FIWH 9219020104

180528 Balaenoptera musculus Blue Whale BLWH 9219020105

180530 Megaptera novaeangliae Humpback Whale HBWH 9219020201

180533 Balaena mysticetus Bowhead Whale BOWH 9219030102

180537 Eubalaena japonica Right Whale RIWH 9219030301

180542 Ursus maritimus Polar Bear POBE 9220010101

180547 Enhydra lutris Sea Otter SEOT 9220020101

552326 Lutrinae (Subfamily) Unidentified Otter UNOT 92200201991

180549 Lontra canadensis River Otter RIOT 9220020201

552303 Caniformia (Suborder) Unidentified Pinniped UNPI 9221

180621 Zalophus californianus California Sea Lion CASL 9221010301

180625 Eumetopias jubatus Steller Sea Lion STSL 9221010501

180627 Callorhinus ursinus Northern Fur Seal NOFS 9221010601

180636 Arctocephalus townsendi Guadalupe Fur Seal GUFS 9221010708

180639 Odobenus rosmarus Walrus WALR 9221020101

180640 Phocidae (Family) Unidentified Seal UNSE 922103

180642 Phoca largha Spotted Seal SPSE 9221030101

622018 Pusa hispida Ringed Seal RISE 9221030102

622021 Histriophoca fasciata Ribbon Seal RBSE 9221030106

180649 Phoca vitulina Harbor Seal HASE 9221030107

180655 Erignathus barbatus Bearded Seal BESE 9221030301

180672 Mirounga angustirostris Northern Elephant Seal NESE 9221031002

1 NODC Taxonomic Codes for previously unrecognized taxa were generated to ensure correct phylogenetic order.
44

Appendix E. North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database, Version 2 Query Tool

Purpose of Query Form

Although the data in the NPPSD v. 2.0 may be accessed directly by opening the 

NPPSD_Back.mdb file, we created a graphical filter and export tool hereafter referred to as the “Query 

Form”, for the database in an effort to make the extraction of data as accurate and uniform as possible 

(fig. E1). This form provides an intuitive interface to assist users in selecting specific data from the 

larger NPPSD v. 2.0 dataset and exporting cross-tabulated summaries of these data. This tool is 

available with the NPPSD database on the NPPSD web site. We successfully tested the Query Form for 

accuracy on numerous filter combinations; however, we could not test all possible combinations. If 

users encounter any problems with the tool, please report using contact information available on the 

NPPSD web page at the USGS Alaska Science Center Website http://alaska.usgs.gov/. 

Setup

The Query Form requires Microsoft Access 2003 or later. Note, for Access 2007 or later when 

the Query Form is first started, a yellow dialog box will appear beneath the “Ribbon” at the top of the 

page. You must click on “enable” to run the script that looks for the database. There is no installation; 

however the first time the Query Form is used, a dialog box indicate that it cannot locate the “back-end” 

(NPPSD database), and will ask for its location, select OK and a dialog box will appear. Either type or 

browse to the location of the NPPSD database file. Once the location is entered in the dialog box select 

refresh links. A new dialog box will appear to indicate if the linking was successful. Select OK and the 

Query Form should appear. 

Query Form Menu

The Query Form menu has six panels: (1) Records, (2) Filter Records, (3) Sort Records, (4) 

Hide/Show Columns, (5) Other Options, and (6) Export (fig. E1). When the Query Form opens it loads 

a subset of the data to the Records panel. This subset of records provides users with series of populated 

fields from the linked location and observation tables to assist with the selection of filters. The text 

boxes and check boxes throughout the form will be blank. Unless an entry is made no filter or action, 

e.g. sorting, will occur. Descriptions of the individual query form panels are given below. 

Records Panel

The Records panel will look familiar to most users. Fields are listed across the top of the panel. 

Each record is displayed as a row. Users can scroll through this panel as they would any database table 

or spreadsheet. As previously mentioned above, when first loaded, the Query Form selects a subset of 

the data, i.e. Aleutian Tern (ALTE) for the Species. This panel can be very helpful in understanding the 

dataset in general as well as specific selections. 
45

Figure E1. The NPPSD v2.0 “Front End” query form for selecting variable filters and export type and location for 

marine birds and mammals.

Filter Records Panel

The Filter Selection panel allows users to select the specific subsets for most fields. Boxes 

following field names are by default blank (fig. E1). Users may enter field values in these boxes or 

select values with pull-down menus. These menus are associated with lookup tables providing users 

with the available values in the database (fig. E2). Fields capable of multiple selections will have a 

check-box following the text box (fig. E3). To make multiple selections from a field, e.g., both “Flying” 

and “Water” in the Behavior field, check the box and a window will open allowing users to make 

multiple selections. Once checked, a pop-up window will be displayed. Users select the variables 

desired and then select the close button. The pop-up window for species includes information on the 

total count for each species. This may help end-users identify species that are so rare that the NPPSD 

may not provide the data necessary for numeric analysis (fig. E4). Once all filters are selected the filter 

button should be selected and the records meeting the selected criteria will be displayed in the Records 

panel. In addition to the filter button at the top of the Filter Records panel there are three additional 

buttons “View All”, “Clear”, and “Wildcards”. The View All button removes current filters and displays 

all observations and associated location data. The Clear button must be used to remove current filters 

prior to making a new selection. The Wildcard button opens up a pop-up window listing wildcard 

characters and their use.
46

Figure E2. Filter selection panel of the NPPSD v2.0 “Front End.” The red ovals indicate drop down controls. 

Clicking on any drop down control will open an associated lookup table. Once open, a single selection can be made 

by clicking on any item in the drop down menu.

Figure E3. Some variables in the Filter selection panel of the NPPSD v2.0 have check-boxes next to them (red 

ovals). Selecting on one of the boxes will open a multiple selection window. This window allows users to select 

multiple items. 
47

Figure E4. Once selections are made the Filter button (red oval) is clicked and the selected records will be 

displayed. The number of records matching the filtered fields is found in the bottom left of the record display 

window (blue oval). 

Sort Records Panel

The Sort Records panel lists 20 of the fields from the location and observations tables. To sort 

on a field, users must select the check-box next to the field and then use the associated drop down menu 

to select the sort order (fig. E5). For a single field select one, for multiple fields assign the sort order 

accordingly. All sorts are from low to high. 

Hide/Show Columns Panel

The Records Panel contains much more information than can be displayed in the available space. 

To assist users in displaying only the necessary fields we included the “Hide/Show Columns.” This 

panel provides a set of check-boxes that will hide all checked fields (fig. E5). Clicking on a check-box 

selects a field and it will not be displayed in the Records Panel. Clicking on the box a second time will 

remove the check and the field will be displayed again. Changes are only made to the Records Panel 

display; hidden fields will not affect output. 
48

Figure E5. Location of the “Sort Records” pane (red square) and “Hide/Show Columns” pane (blue square)

Hide/Show Columns Panel

Other Options Panel

The Other Options panel will open a pair of pop-up windows. The first informs users that 

selected fields will be added to the output. The second is a check-box with the available fields (fig. E6). 

For all but the “Behavior” field these variables are not typically included in cross-tabulated output 

because of the large number (> 50%) of missing values. The Behavior field is unique in that it affects 

the cross-tabulation by summarizing observations by behavior. If this field is not selected, behaviors 

selected using the Filter Records panels are summarized together; the behavior field is filtered but not 

included as a group. 

Export Panel

The Export Panel provides users with a combination of text-boxes and buttons to select the 

location and type of table exported (fig. E7). The left portion of the panel is dedicated to a textbox/browse button used to determine the destination for the export, the C:\ drive is the default. Next to 

the storage location text-box there is a text box for the file name and beneath it the data type drop-down 

box. Users can select either “Count” or “Density”. Note, if Density is selected only records that have an 

associated sample area will be output. In effect selecting density acts as a de facto filter. Once location, 

file name and data type are selected users should select either the “Export DBF” or “Export Text”. 

Selecting the Export DBF button will run a cross-tabulation query using the entire user selected criteria 

and make a dBase (.dbf) file. Selecting the Export Text button will run a cross-tabulation query using all 

of the user selected criteria and make a comma delimited ASCII text (.csv) file. 
49

 

Figure E6. Selecting the “Additional Covariates” button (blue circle) will open a multiple selection window (red 

circle). Checking a box adds that variable to the cross-tabulation output. 

Figure E7. The export panel consists of a text boxes/browse button for the location for the exported file (red circle), 

a text box and pull-down menu for file name and data type (light-blue circle), and buttons for selecting a database 

(dbf) or comma delimited (csv) file (dark-blue circle).
50

Data Output

Output from the Data Query Form can be written to either dbf or csv formats. Regardless of 

format the outputted field names are consistent with the NPPSD database fields (fig. E8). One product 

of the cross-tabulation is a null field (assigned as “X_” in the dbf output or “<>” in the csv output) 

immediately prior to filter selected species. This field is a result of the cross-tabulation and can be 

deleted or ignored. Species are presented as one or more columns depending on the selection filter. In 

the csv output the species are identified with the “Common Name”, in the dbf output they are identified 

with “4-letter NPPSD Code”. The 4-letter codes are necessary in the dbf output due to field name length 

restrictions of this format. Note the csv output currently includes quotes around field names and values. 

This is a product of the export query and cannot currently be changed. Users can either strip the text 

delimiters or change data types in their software. Users of spreadsheet software should be aware of the 

limitations of specific programs. A cross-tabulation of the entire NPPSD v.2 has more rows and more 

columns than many spreadsheets can load, e.g. Excel 2003. Care should be taken to assure no data is 

truncated.

Figure E8. Cross-tabulation density output from the NPPSD v2.0 Query Form. Note that the field names are limited 

to meet the restrictions of the dbf format (10 characters). 

The dbf format, in addition to compatible with various database and spreadsheet software can be 

read directly into ArcGIS (tested on versions > 9.3). To add a dbf file to an ArcGIS project, select “Add 

Data” from the file menu or standard tool bar. Navigate to the location of the dbf file and select “Add”. 

Once added the file will be displayed in the ‘Table of Contents” on the left side of the display (fig. E9). 

Highlight the table and select “Display XY Data” (fig. E9). Users need to identify Longitude as the “X 

Field” and Latitude as the “Y Field” (fig. E10). Beneath the X-Y fields the coordinate description in a 
51

new project should say “Unknown Coordinate System.” Regardless of what it says, select “Edit” and a 

new window will open. Navigate to “Geographic Coordinate Systems”, then World” and then select 

“WGS 1984”, then select “OK” and the window will close. ArcGIS will then warn you that the table 

does not have an ObjectID field so functionality may be limited, including selecting querying, or editing 

features. The table will need to be converted to a shape file or geodatabase file to implement the full 

functionality of ArcGIS. Right click on your new layer in the Table of Contents, click Data -> Export 

Data. Confirm that “this layer’s source data” is selected for the coordinate system and change the 

output feature class directory and file name as appropriate. You will be back in the coordinate system 

window, select “OK and it will close and the data in the dbf file should display. Note that users will 

need to change symbology from single symbol if the file contains multiple species or if the user wants 

to use graduated symbols based on the number or density. 

Figure E9. Cross-tabulation density output from the NPPSD v2.0 Query Form. Note that the field names are limited 

to meet the restrictions of the dbf format (10 characters). 
52

Figure E10. Cross-tabulation density output from the NPPSD v2.0 Query Form. Note that the field names are 

limited to meet the restrictions of the dbf format (10 characters). 
Publishing support provided by the U.S. Geological Survey

 Publishing Network, Tacoma Publishing Service Center

For more information concerning the research in this report, contact the

Director, Alaska Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey

4210 University Dr

Anchorage, Alaska 99508-4560

http://alaska.usgs.gov
Drew and others—User’s Guide to the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database 2.0—Open-File Report 2015–1123

ISSN 2331-1258 (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20151123