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Burkhardt, Elke (2020): Whale sightings during POLARSTERN cruise PS100 (ARK-XXX/2) [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.924701

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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 PS100 (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:
Kanzow, Torsten (2017): The Expedition PS100 of the Research Vessel POLARSTERN to the Fram Strait in 2016. Berichte zur Polar- und Meeresforschung = Reports on Polar and Marine Research, 705, 175 pp, https://doi.org/10.2312/BzPM_0705_2017
Further details:
Information for MAPS-Arctic whale sighting data (2018-12-19)
Project(s):
Marine Mammal Perimeter Surveillance from RV Polarstern (MAPS)
Coverage:
Median Latitude: 78.683357 * Median Longitude: 4.893151 * South-bound Latitude: 75.960980 * West-bound Longitude: -18.673380 * North-bound Latitude: 79.918900 * East-bound Longitude: 9.832700
Date/Time Start: 2016-07-20T19:31:47 * Date/Time End: 2016-08-27T22:50:13
Event(s):
PS100-track * Latitude Start: 69.678000 * Longitude Start: 18.989800 * Latitude End: 69.678000 * Longitude End: 18.989800 * Date/Time Start: 2016-07-18T00:00:00 * Date/Time End: 2016-09-06T00:00:00 * Campaign: PS100 (ARK-XXX/2, GN05) * 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
License:
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0)
Size:
81 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 [#]
2016-07-20T19:3175.960987.64192Balaenoptera physalusprobable3
2016-07-20T19:5076.016057.60945Balaenoptera physalusprobable2
2016-07-21T17:4877.580659.83270Dolphins, unidentifieddefinite2
2016-07-22T14:0978.621879.30853Megaptera novaeangliaedefinite2
2016-07-22T14:1378.633559.27100Dolphins, unidentifieddefinite3
2016-07-22T19:1779.001078.32830Balaenoptera physalusprobable2
2016-07-22T21:1279.000088.32710Balaenoptera physalusprobable3
2016-07-23T00:4178.999558.32937Large whale, unidentifieddefinite>10
2016-07-23T02:1179.000738.33108Lagenorhynchus albirostrisdefinite1
2016-07-23T02:1379.000928.33092Baleen whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2016-07-23T02:2079.001878.32995Baleen whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2016-07-23T04:4579.000688.00150Whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2016-07-23T05:2379.000128.44987Baleen whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2016-07-23T05:2778.999928.49560Whale, unidentifieddefinite2
2016-07-23T10:3378.999586.99992Physeter macrocephalusprobable1
2016-07-23T10:4078.999437.00170Megaptera novaeangliaedefinite1
2016-07-23T11:1178.999837.00098Megaptera novaeangliaedefinite2
2016-07-23T12:0878.999557.00058Megaptera novaeangliaedefinite1
2016-07-23T14:3378.999956.33650Dolphins, unidentifieddefinite2
2016-07-24T03:3778.999787.96840Whale, unidentifieddefinite2
2016-07-24T06:2779.076708.17592Balaenoptera physalusprobable2
2016-07-25T11:1778.747635.52378Balaenoptera physalusdefinite1
2016-07-27T08:2078.83395-0.00355Balaenoptera physalusprobable2
2016-07-29T12:0379.91890-0.00982Balaenoptera acutorostratadefinite1
2016-08-10T02:5976.84360-5.67820Balaenoptera physalusprobable3
2016-08-22T03:5479.64918-18.67338Whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2016-08-27T22:5079.56452-18.11505Balaena mysticetusprobable1