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Burkhardt, Elke (2020): Whale sightings during POLARSTERN cruise PS113 (ANT-XXXIII/4) [dataset]. Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.924057

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Abstract:
Data on whale distribution and abundance in the polar oceans is rather sparse, as implementing the standard surveying method, line-transect surveys, is challenging and costly. To overcome this problem, we initiated a program to electronically log all opportunistic cetacean sightings during all Polarstern expeditions through the nautical officer on watch. Opportunistic (visual) sightings by naked eye were logged during Polarstern Cruise PS113 (Punta Arenas - Bremerhaven) by the nautical officer on duty using a customized Software package (WALOG, WhAleLOGger) installed on a touch screen laptop located on the ship's bridge. Species were identified by naked eye or handheld binoculars (7x50) to the lowest possible taxonomical level and assigned a “certainty” level of identification. The number of animals were counted if possible or estimated for larger groups. Whenever identification to species level was not possible, the next identifiable taxonomical category was assigned. Information on sighting position, date and time are automatically transferred from the ship's DAVIS-Ship System (https://dship.awi.de/) to the WALOG software at the time of logging. Photographs were taken if possible for retrospective analysis. All data of acquired sightings were retrospectively validated by a marine biologist and converted to a standard format. To this end, plausibility of sighting time, location, standardization of species names, eventual comments added at the time of sighting, as well as additional information such as photographs (if available) were checked either to verify or improve species identification. Datasets are used in species distribution modelling and to inform interested parties about occurrences.
Keyword(s):
Cetacean sightings; WALOG
Related to:
Strass, Volker H (2018): The Expedition PS113 of the Research Vessel POLARSTERN to the Atlantic Ocean in 2018. Berichte zur Polar- und Meeresforschung = Reports on Polar and Marine Research, 724, 66 pp, https://doi.org/10.2312/BzPM_0724_2018
Further details:
Information for MAPS whale sighting data (2018-12-18). hdl:10013/epic.24d813e7-0158-4fc3-bc99-0f4ebb6beecc
Project(s):
Marine Mammal Perimeter Surveillance from RV Polarstern (MAPS)
Coverage:
Median Latitude: 16.001660 * Median Longitude: -23.372404 * South-bound Latitude: -51.068150 * West-bound Longitude: -65.379000 * North-bound Latitude: 50.334600 * East-bound Longitude: 0.226400
Date/Time Start: 2018-05-09T18:53:24 * Date/Time End: 2028-06-08T05:37:32
Event(s):
PS113-track * Latitude Start: -53.144700 * Longitude Start: -70.909100 * Latitude End: 53.567500 * Longitude End: 8.554800 * Date/Time Start: 2018-05-08T14:15:00 * Date/Time End: 2018-06-10T22:30:00 * Campaign: PS113 (ANT-XXXIII/4) * Basis: Polarstern * Method/Device: Underway cruise track measurements (CT)
Comment:
Date/Time is given in UTC. Certainty of identification: definite if observer clearly identified the species. The number of individuals is binned according to the options given in the data acquisition software: 1, 2, 3, less equal 5, less equal 10, greater than 10, greater than 20. More precise values may exist, due to observer comments.
Parameter(s):
#NameShort NameUnitPrincipal InvestigatorMethod/DeviceComment
1 DATE/TIMEDate/TimeBurkhardt, ElkeGeocode
2 LATITUDELatitudeBurkhardt, ElkeGeocode
3 LONGITUDELongitudeBurkhardt, ElkeGeocode
4 Whale speciesWhaleBurkhardt, ElkeVisual observation
5 Certainty of identificationCertaintyBurkhardt, Elke
6 IndividualsInd#Burkhardt, ElkeVisual observation#6 = 6-9
License:
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0)
Size:
72 data points

Data

Download dataset as tab-delimited text — use the following character encoding:

1 
Date/Time		2 
Latitude		3 
Longitude		4 
Whale		5 
Certainty		6 
Ind [#]
2018-05-09T18:53-51.06815000-65.37900Dolphins, unidentifieddefinte2
2018-05-10T15:07-48.01218000-61.18127Delphinus delphisprobable2
2018-05-10T15:08-48.00975000-61.17803Delphinus delphisdefinite>5
2018-05-10T16:07-47.85447000-60.98100Large whale, unidentifieddefinite5
2018-05-11T18:50-44.73217000-56.48480Large whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2018-05-16T16:35-30.51078000-38.96262Large whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2018-05-27T18:149.09202000-23.29625Large whale, unidentifieddefinite3
2018-05-28T12:4711.46142000-22.61407Delphinus delphispossible>20
2018-06-03T18:3628.74840000-15.17730Dolphins, unidentifieddefinite>10
2018-06-05T06:1035.43750000-13.27113Whale, unidentifieddefinite4
2018-06-05T09:1335.83015000-13.17510Whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2018-06-05T11:3235.95132000-13.12205Balaenoptera physalusdefinite2
2018-06-05T14:0836.35635000-12.99340Balaenoptera physalusdefinite4
2018-06-05T14:1036.36137000-12.99210Balaenoptera physalusprobable2
2018-06-05T15:4836.66682000-12.89662Large whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2018-06-05T18:3637.19573000-12.73140Whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2018-06-06T14:2240.08100000-11.42117Large whale, unidentifieddefinite2
2018-06-06T16:1940.16727000-11.56003Large whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2018-06-06T17:4940.01747000-11.77736Baleen whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2018-06-06T18:0640.04391000-11.76505Balaenoptera physalusprobable1
2018-06-07T11:0143.40045000-10.69377Dolphins, unidentifieddefinite>20
2028-06-08T05:3746.74770000-7.73325Dolphins, unidentifieddefinite>5
2018-06-09T12:0450.333870000.22268Dolphins, unidentifieddefinite1
2018-06-09T12:0550.334600000.22640Dolphins, unidentifieddefinite3