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Burkhardt, Elke (2020): Whale sightings during POLARSTERN cruise PS107 (ARK-XXXI/2) [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.924587

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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 PS107 (Tromsø - Tromsø) 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:
Schewe, Ingo (2018): The Expedition PS107 of the Research Vessel POLARSTERN to the Fram Strait and the AWI-HAUSGARTEN in 2017. Berichte zur Polar- und Meeresforschung = Reports on Polar and Marine Research, 717, 120 pp, https://doi.org/10.2312/BzPM_0717_2018
Coverage:
Median Latitude: 78.470419 * Median Longitude: 7.743337 * South-bound Latitude: 74.218070 * West-bound Longitude: 4.263050 * North-bound Latitude: 79.033620 * East-bound Longitude: 17.392400
Date/Time Start: 2017-07-24T18:17:14 * Date/Time End: 2017-08-17T17:24:39
Event(s):
PS107-track * Latitude Start: 69.650900 * Longitude Start: 18.963800 * Latitude End: 69.650900 * Longitude End: 18.963800 * Date/Time Start: 2017-07-23T00:00:00 * Date/Time End: 2017-08-19T00:00:00 * Campaign: PS107 (ARK-XXXI/2) * 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
DATE/TIMEDate/TimeBurkhardt, ElkeGeocode
LATITUDELatitudeBurkhardt, ElkeGeocode
LONGITUDELongitudeBurkhardt, ElkeGeocode
Whale speciesWhaleBurkhardt, ElkeVisual observation
Certainty of identificationCertaintyBurkhardt, Elke
IndividualsInd#Burkhardt, ElkeVisual observation
Size:
78 data points

Data

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


Date/Time

Latitude

Longitude

Whale

Certainty

Ind [#]
2017-07-24T18:1774.2180715.18017Balaenoptera acutorostratapossible2
2017-07-26T07:5978.609185.05665Balaenoptera acutorostratapossible4
2017-07-26T08:3178.609075.05388Balaenoptera physaluspossible1
2017-07-27T07:5578.989784.36935Balaenoptera musculusprobable1
2017-08-11T03:2379.017154.37435Balaenoptera physalusprobable1
2017-08-11T03:2979.005984.34710Balaenoptera physalusprobable1
2017-08-11T04:3279.000234.33413Balaenoptera physalusprobable5
2017-08-11T04:4679.000124.33360Balaenoptera physalusprobable>10
2017-08-11T07:4579.022834.26305Balaenoptera physalusdefinite5
2017-08-11T09:5479.023174.40422Balaenoptera physalusdefinite4
2017-08-13T11:2079.033627.00322Balaenoptera physalusdefinite2
2017-08-13T11:2579.033507.00253Balaenoptera physalusdefinite2
2017-08-13T18:3579.033537.00387Balaenoptera physalusprobable4
2017-08-13T23:4179.005328.31190Dolphins, unidentifieddefinite>10
2017-08-14T12:3479.023606.91813Balaenoptera physalusprobable2
2017-08-14T13:2779.015707.53893Balaenoptera physalusdefinite1
2017-08-14T15:0878.997878.67757Large whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2017-08-14T17:3778.981959.51040Large whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2017-08-14T20:0978.981029.49688Megaptera novaeangliaedefinite2
2017-08-15T10:1079.011776.96503Balaenoptera musculusdefinite2
2017-08-15T11:5078.807858.03700Dolphins, unidentifieddefinite>10
2017-08-15T12:0878.760128.28283Balaenoptera physalusdefinite1
2017-08-15T13:2878.543329.39503Balaenoptera musculusdefinite1
2017-08-15T14:5878.2932510.65820Balaenoptera acutorostrataprobable1
2017-08-17T01:0576.9947213.41635Dolphins, unidentifieddefinite>5
2017-08-17T17:2474.2181717.39240Dolphins, unidentifieddefinite>5