oih/oih-wis2 huggingface dataset:
SMRU sperm whale distribution around the Balearic Islands 2003-2008

Keywords: Occurrence,Vessels,Sightings, Occurrence, Observation
Temporal coverage: 2003/2008

Original provider:
Enrico Pirotta, Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU)

Dataset credits:
Luke Rendell and Enrico Pirotta, Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) 

Abstract:
Sperm whale <i>Physeter macrocephalus</i> habitat preferences are still poorly understood in the Mediterranean, despite the population being classified as ‘Endangered’ by the IUCN. Techniques to make the best use of multiple data sources are important in improving this situation. This work provides
a detailed evaluation of sperm whale distribution and habitat use around the Balearic Islands using a novel analytical framework that combines transect and follow data while accounting for any autocorrelation present. During dedicated research cruises (2003 to 2008), sperm whales were
located by listening at regular intervals along a search track and subsequently followed acoustically. Sperm whales were encountered 56 times and followed for periods ranging from a few hours to 3 d. Logistic Generalized Additive Models were used to model the probability of whale presence across
the study area as a function of environmental variables, and Generalized Estimating Equations were used to account for autocorrelation. The results suggest that sperm whales do not use the region uniformly and that topography plays a key role in shaping their distribution. Moreover, solitary individuals
were found to use the habitat differently from groups. This segregation appeared to be driven by water temperature and might reflect different needs or intraspecific competition. By shedding light on sperm whale habitat preference in such a critical area, this study represents an important step
towards the implementation of conservation measures for this population.

Purpose:
In this study we develop a novel analytical framework that can make use of combined acoustic and tracking data and account for autocorrelation in such data. We use a multi-scale approach to investigate the pattern of sperm whale distribution around the Balearic archipelago, and the potential differences in habitat selection by single individuals versus groups.

Supplemental information:
Exact numbers for the presence of groups were not available, so an abundance of "2" was used as a conservative estimate. The sequences of consecutive presence points do not represent new animals being encountered, but follows of the same animals.
HRC CRC Small Vessel-Based Monitoring Surveys December 2010

Keywords: Occurrence,Hawaii Range Complex,Marine Animal Survey,Marine Biology,Marine mammals,Visual Sighting,Vessel, Occurrence, Observation
Temporal coverage: 2010/2010

Original provider:
HDR Environmental, Operations and Construction, Inc.

Dataset credits:
The U.S. Navy Marine Species Monitoring Program

Supplemental information:
Presence only. No group size estimated.
Effort data is not available.
Biodiversity of benthic assemblages on the Arctic continental shelf: historical data from Canada (1955 to 1977)

Keywords: Occurrence, Observation
Temporal coverage: 1955/1977

This dataset contains the species distribution information related to the following publication: Cusson, M., Archambault, P., and Aitken, A. 2007. Biodiversity of benthic assemblages on the Arctic continental shelf: historical data from Canada. Marine Ecology Progress Series 331:291-304

WARNING: this historical perspective contains information associated with a number of reports including Wacasey JW, Atkinson EG, Glasspoole L (1979). A version of the data associated with this publication is already accessible through OBIS (iobis.org/explore/#/dataset/2669). A decision was made to retain these data records in this resource as the objective of this resource is to serve as a data repository for the Cusson et al 2007 publication.
Habitat associations of cetaceans and seabirds in the tropical eastern Indian Ocean, Browse Basin, Australia (2008)

Keywords: Occurrence, Observation
Temporal coverage: 2008/2008

There is an increasing demand for integrated pelagic surveys to support ecosystem-based management of marine environments and their associated marine life. The Browse Basin in the tropical eastern Indian Ocean was surveyed using ship line transects to determine habitat associations of cetaceans and seabirds with submarine topography and local oceanographic conditions during winter and spring 2008. Fourteen species of cetaceans, including the data deficient pygmy blue whale, and 23 species of seabirds were encountered throughout the basin. Aggregations of both cetaceans and seabirds were observed at two significant submarine topographic features, Scott Reef and Browse Cliffs, particularly during spring when encounters and abundances of odontocetes were far greater. The attraction of cetaceans and seabirds to Scott Reef and Browse Cliffs was likely foraging-related given these features were associated with upwelling and elevated biomass of krill and fish. Submesoscale sea surface temperature and chlorophyll a fronts also occurred in vicinity to Browse Cliffs and the shelf environment. The Browse Basin is an important, and potentially predictable, foraging ground for a variety of top predators, and their occurrence would have implications for the current and future management practices of oil and gas industries operating in the region
Taxa have been matched to the World Register of Marine Species. The observation data is the mid-period of each of the 4 surveys. The cited paper lists the details of the surveys and the methodology used.
De Beers Marine Benthic Monitoring Programme

Keywords: Occurrence, Observation
Temporal coverage: 2003/2011

De Beers Marine undertake offshore marine diamond mining to depths of 130 m on the South African west coast using remote mining tools.  A baseline and impact monitoring programme was developed for operations in their ML3 licence area, with the view to quantitatively assessing the direct and indirect effects of deep-water marine mining on benthic macrofaunal  communities, and to monitor post-mining recovery.

Benthic grab samples were collected from two mined and three unmined sites in 2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, using a Van Veen grab. Macrofauna was identified, and abundance and biomass determined.  

The data were made available to SADCO  as a series of Excel sheets. At SADCO, the data were quality-controlled and transformed to comply with the Darwin Core/OBIS Schema. Funds for data operations were kindly provided by the Census of Marine Life International Cosmos Prize Fund, through a grant to Rutgers University.
Catches or strandings of Balaenoptera omurai

Keywords: Occurrence,Marine Animal Survey,Marine Biology,Marine mammals,Stranding,Catch,Vessel, Occurrence, Observation
Temporal coverage: 1976/1998

Original provider:
National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries

Dataset credits:
Shiro Wada, National Research Institute of Fisheries Science
Masayuki Oishi, Iwate Prefectural Museum
Tadasu K. Yamada, National Science Museum

Abstract:
In the late 1970s eight Balaenoptera specimens of unknown
identity were caught in the lower latitudinal Indo-Pacific waters by Japanese research whaling vessels. The combination of the allozyme patterns and physical maturity of the eight specimens separated them from all acknowledged Balaenoptera species. In September 1998 we collected a medium-sized baleen whale carcass on a coastal island in the Sea of Japan. This specimen and the previously collected eight specimens resembled Balaenoptera physalus (fin whale) in external appearance but were much smaller. Comparison of external morphology, osteology and mitochondrial DNA data grouped the nine specimens as a
single species but separated them from all known baleen whale species. Therefore, here we describe a new species of Balaenoptera, which is characterized by its unique cranial morphology, its small number of baleen plates, and by its distant molecular relationships with all of its congeners. Our analyses also separated Balaenoptera brydei (Bryde's whale) and Balaenoptera edeni (Eden's whale) into two distinct species, raising the number of known living Balaenoptera species to eight.

Purpose:
The eight specimens were caught as "Bryde's whales" for the biological investigation under a special permit. Fresh appearance of whole ventral side was provided from a whale on deck of the research vessel.

Supplemental information:
Data are digitized from the Nature paper.
The holotype belongs to the Japanese National Science Museum.
PIFSC, Cetacean Survey, MACS 2018, Cruise 1803, NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Keywords: Observation, Occurrence,Marine Animal Survey,Marine Biology,Marine mammals,Visual Sighting,Vessel, Occurrence
Temporal coverage: 2018/2018

Original provider:
NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC)

Dataset credits:
NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Abstract:
The 2018 Mariana Archipelago Cetacean Survey (MACS) was a shipboard line transect survey aboard the Oscar Elton Sette that operated in the island waters from Guam to Pagan and west out to the West Mariana Ridge (9 July - 1 August). During 22 days of surveys there were 66 cetacean sightings including 12 identified species.

Supplemental information:
Data were collected under NMFS permit 20311.
The data included here are the sightings and on-effort tracks recorded within WinCruz survey software and extracted from the QA/QC'd DAS file using the R package swfscDAS (https://smwoodman.github.io/swfscDAS).

Attributes for fields within the trackline files:
Cruise - see description in attribute table below
segnum - segment number for continuous on-effort line
Date - Local date m/dd/yyyy
TimeStart - Local time at start of on-effort segment
LatStart - Latitude in decimal degrees at starting point of on-effort segment
LongStart - Longitude in decimal degrees at starting point of on-effort segment
TimeEnd - Local time at end of on-effort segment
LatEnd - Latitude in decimal degrees at end point of on-effort segment
LongEnd - Longitude in decimal degrees at end point of on-effort segment
Mode - see description in attribute table below
EffType - see description in attribute table below
avgSpdKt - average speed (knots) of the ship over the on-effort segment traveled
avgBft - average Beaufort Sea State over the on-effort segment

Other data not included here:
Photos and biopsy samples were collected during some sightings. Acoustic detections were recorded from a towed hydrophone array. Sonobuoys were deployed opportunistically. 
High-frequency Acoustic Recording Packages (HARP) were recovered and redeployed off Saipan, Tinian, and Pagan. Drifting Acoustic Spar Buoy Recorders (DASBRs) were deployed and recovered opportunistically (McCullough et al. 2021). Oceanographic data were collected (CTD).
Tracking of Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis) along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) (2017-2021)

Keywords: Observation, Occurrence
Temporal coverage: 2017/2021

GPS tracking devices were deployed  on far eastern curlews  (Numenius madagascariensis)  at two sites in northwest Australia (Broome n = 8 [−17.7513°N, 122.5528°E], Darwin n = 3 [−12.4867°N, 130.8927°E]) and two sites in southeast Australia (Moreton Bay n = 8 [−27.0335°N, 153.0925°E], Western Port n = 3 [−38.2321°N, 145.4820°E])  over the course of two nonbreeding seasons, November–March 2017/2018 and November–March 2018/2019. A total of 22 individuals were fitted with either a solar-powered GPS-GSM transmitter (15 or 20 g Ornitrack, Ornitela, Lithuania) or an Argos solar-powered platform transmitter terminal. See cited paper for additional information
Tracking data accessed from Movebank Data Repository (https://www.datarepository.movebank.org/handle/10255/move.1314) on 2022-12-01.
Elasmobranquios de la Isla Cayo Serranilla durante la Expedición Seaflower 2017 - Proyecto Colombia BIO

Keywords: Occurrence, SEAFLOWER, COLOMBIA BIO, Observation
Temporal coverage: 2017/2017

In response to population declines noted for many sharks and other elasmobranch species around the world, protecting them from overexploitation has become a global priority. However, the necessary data to assess the diversity and abundance of elasmobranchs has often hindered efforts to effectively restore and protect such species. Many reef surveys around the world have been conducted by scuba divers, although many studies have exposed the flaws and biases of this type of surveys for species such as elasmobranchs. Sampling of these species has traditionally been  resource and time intensive due to the need to capture sharks or rays on lines. Recently, advances in video technology have allowed the deployment BRUVs. This technique involves positioning a bait source in front of an underwater video camera and quantifying the fish that are observed in the field of view over a standard sampling period and are an ideal way to quickly, and inexpensively, sample populations of relatively low-density predators like sharks and rays. Due to the remote location of Isla Cayo Serranilla, in the northernmost region of the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, there is a lack of knowledge of elasmobranch species and their abundance in the area. In order to estimate reef elasmobranch diversity and relative abundance in the Colombian Caribbean at Isla Cayo Serranilla and detect possible bright spots in the region, 52 BRUVs were deployed on the fore-reef and the inner lagoon. Depth was standardized between 8 and 30 m and deployments were performed using standardized pre-weighted bait. Videos will be watched, and species and the maximum number of reef species observed in a single frame (Nmax) will be recorded. This estimate (Nmax) is similar to the Catch per Unit of Effort (CPUE) and will be used to assess the relative abundance of reef shark at Isla Cayo Serranilla.
Conduct a 2-week Baited Remote Underwater Video Survey (BRUV) of reef elasmobranch diversity and relative abundance in the Colombian Caribbean at Isla Cayo Serranilla (San Andrés Archipelago) and detect possible bright spots in the region. These key baseline data will support future studies on elasmobranchs in other areas of the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve and fill in gaps on the status of elasmobranch populations in the region. This will be combined with large existing BRUV datasets collected in other key locations around the world for a global analysis through the Global FinPrint project (www.globalfinprint.org).
St. Mary's River Salmon Tracking, OTN St. Mary's River Salmon Tracking - Tag Release Metadata

Keywords: Occurrence, Observation, EARTH SCIENCE &gt; BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION &gt; ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES &gt; FISH, ACOUSTIC TAGS, Samplingevent
Temporal coverage: 2010/2010, 2010/2011

This is the OBIS extraction of the OTN St. Mary's River Salmon Tracking project, consisting only of the release tagging metadata. i.e. the locations  and dates of tagged animal release. If readers are  interested in the full source  dataset they should refer to the OTN web site  (members.oceantrack.org). Abstract: This project examines the within-river migrations of wild adult Atlantic salmon prior, during and post-spawning. Additionally, the project simultaneously tracks supportive-reared adult salmon (collected as wild parr and grown to maturity) released back to their natal water to spawn.
NMML Harbor Porpoise Aerial Survey, Alaska Peninsula, Replicate 2, 1992

Keywords: Occurrence,Aircraft,Sightings,harbor porpoise,Phocoena phocoena,abundance,aerial survey,marine mammal survey,survey,marine mammal,cetacean, Occurrence, Observation
Temporal coverage: 1992/1992

Original provider:
National Marine Mammal Laboratory

Dataset credits:
National Marine Mammal Laboratory

Abstract:
On 6 July to 9 August 1992, as part of a larger study, Alaska harbor porpoise (<i>Phocoena phocoena</i>) abundance was investigated during an aerial survey off the south side of the Alaska Peninsula. Employing a Twin Otter as the survey platform, the second of two identical sawtooth tracklines was flown at an altitude of 152.2 m (500 ft) and at an airspeed of 185 km/h. Line-transect methodology was used, and only those observations made during optimal conditions were analyzed.  Density of harbor porpoises was calculated using line transect estimates based on perpendicular distances of sightings to the cruise track of the airplane. On average, porpoise group size and density off the south side of the Alaska Peninsula was 1.1 (SE = 0.10) and 2.03 groups/100 km2 (SE = 1.65).

Purpose:
Although harbor porpoises, <i>Phocoena phocoena</i>, are known to occur throughout Alaska waters, few estimates of abundance exist. In 1991, the National Marine Mammal Laboratory initiated a 3 year study on Alaska harbor porpoises.  The objectives of this program were to: 
1) Obtain minimum population estimates in coastal waters using line transect methodology with a coefficient of variation for density estimates of less than 30% for each survey area, and
2) Establish a baseline for detecting changes in abundance through time, for analysis of trends. 
During the present study, it was not fiscally possible to survey all areas of the state in any one year. Accordingly, we selected sections of the state to survey in consecutive years to maximize the likelihood of including all of the animals for a particular area surveyed while minimizing the likelihood of significant movement between areas among survey years.

Supplemental information:
This dataset and associated effort data were updated on September 8, 2005. Those who downloaded them before that date should renew them.
Distribution of deep-sea sponges in the North Atlantic - Data from the SponGES project

Keywords: Samplingevent
Temporal coverage: 1871/2019

This database has been designed to hold data pertaining or related to the distribution of deep-sea sponges from the North Atlantic. All data was collected as part of the SponGES project, an EU funded (Horizon 2020, 2016-2021) project. The data here in largely comprises previously unpublished distribution records and records not digitized or available in other online databases.
WADFW PSAMP S1992

Keywords: Observation, Occurrence, Occurrence,Marine Animal Survey,Marine Biology,Marine mammals,Seabirds,Aircraft,Visual Sighting
Temporal coverage: 1992/1992

Original provider:
Washington Department of Fish &amp; Wildlife

Abstract:
The metadata edits are in progress. Please contact the contact person for detail.

Aerial surveys of marine birds have been conducted annually since 1992 by the Puget Sound Ambient Monitoring Program (PSAMP) staff during both a summer (July) and a winter (December to early February) survey window, sampling some part of every portion of the marine shoreline of the inner marine waters of Washington state by two strata:  nearshore (&lt; 20 meters in depth) and offshore (&gt; 20 meters in depth).  

The datasets are split by season (summer or winter) and year.

Purpose:
The purpose of this program is to monitor population trends of either summer or winter resident species rather than migrations around Puget Sound.

Supplemental information:
[2020-09-30] The following invalid species names were corrected according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Bonaparte's Gull: Larus philadelphia (176839) =&gt; Chroicocephalus philadelphia (824040)
Caspian Tern: Sterna caspia (176924) =&gt; Hydroprogne caspia (176935)
Anas oustaleti (202228) =&gt; Anas platyrhynchos (175063)

Data correction Mar 14, 2006:
Wrong ITIS number for Unidentified [Large|Small] Gulls
180297 -&gt; 176802

The nearshore strata were sampled in two fashions: 
1)in nearshore habitat that was relatively narrow, the plane flew parallel to the shoreline generally 100 meters from the high tide line; 
2)in nearshore habitat with broad extensive shallow areas such as river estuaries, the plane flew in an S-pattern to sample a larger proportion of the habitat available in that locality.  The offshore strata were sampled in a crisscross pattern that zigzagged back and forth across depth contours, with an attempt made to cut across most all banks and similar major underwater bathymetric features.  There was no attempt made to survey during the same tidal stage in these areas.

The survey always began in the southernmost study areas and proceeded to the northern portions; therefore the same areas were usually sampled during the same time of month each year, give or take a week.  The last two summer surveys (1997-98) did not include the southern and central portions of Puget Sound, due to budget cuts.  These areas were chosen to be continued on a less frequent basis because low and consistent numbers of birds were seen there during the July survey window in the previous five summer surveys.

Effort data is provided in separate files.
Happywhale - Sperm Whale in South Atlantic Ocean

Keywords: Observation, Occurrence,PhotoID;Visual sighting, Occurrence
Temporal coverage: null/null, 2012/2022

Original provider:
Happywhale

Dataset credits:
Happywhale and contributors

Abstract:
Happywhale.com is a resource to help you know whales as individuals, and to benefit conservation science with rich data about individual whales.

Supplemental information:
Sightings and images were submitted to Happywhale by contributors. A portion of the Happywhale data were transferred to OBIS-SEAMAP upon the agreement between Happywhale and OBIS-SEAMAP.

There may be duplicate records among Happywhale datasets and other OBIS-SEAMAP datasets. The precision of date/time vary per record. Some records have date accuracy up to year only.

This dataset includes sightings and photos from the following 8 contributors in alphabetic order:

Andy Wolff; Darrin Allen; Ella Potts; Hans Verdaat; Kirsten; Marian Herz; Marilia Olio; Nancy A. Hoffman
PIFSC, Cetacean Survey, PACES 2013, Cruise 1303, NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Keywords: Occurrence, Observation, Occurrence,Marine Animal Survey,Marine Biology,Marine mammals,Visual Sighting,Vessel
Temporal coverage: 2013/2013

Original provider:
NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC)

Dataset credits:
NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Abstract:
The Papahānaumokuākea Associated Cetacean Ecology Survey (PACES) was a line transect survey for cetaceans within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) inside the Hawaii exclusive economic zone (7 May - 5 June 2013). The set of standard tracklines surveyed was established prior to the cruise and was intended to representatively sample cetacean habitat from the eastern boundary of the PMNM to Midway Atoll. Twenty-eight days of on-effort surveys were completed, resulting in 92 cetacean sightings including 14 identified species and unidentified dolphins and whales.

Supplemental information:
Data were collected under NMFS permit 15240.
The data included here are the sightings and on-effort tracks recorded within WinCruz survey software and extracted from the QA/QC'd DAS file using the R package swfscDAS (https://smwoodman.github.io/swfscDAS).

Attributes for fields within the trackline files:
Cruise - see description in attribute table below
segnum - segment number for continuous on-effort line
Date - Local date m/dd/yyyy
TimeStart - Local time at start of on-effort segment
LatStart - Latitude in decimal degrees at starting point of on-effort segment
LongStart - Longitude in decimal degrees at starting point of on-effort segment
TimeEnd - Local time at end of on-effort segment
LatEnd - Latitude in decimal degrees at end point of on-effort segment
LongEnd - Longitude in decimal degrees at end point of on-effort segment
Mode - see description in attribute table below
EffType - see description in attribute table below
avgSpdKt - average speed (knots) of the ship over the on-effort segment traveled
avgBft - average Beaufort Sea State over the on-effort segment

Other data not included here:
Photos and biopsy samples were collected and satellite tags were deployed during some sightings. Acoustic detections were recorded from a towed hydrophone array. Sonobuoys were deployed opportunistically. A High-frequency Acoustic Recording Package (HARP) was recovered and redeployed off Pearl and Hermes Reef. Oceanographic data were collected (CTD, XBT).