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Burkhardt, Elke (2020): Whale sightings during POLARSTERN cruise PS92 (ARK-XXIX/1) [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.924707

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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 PS92 (Bremerhaven - Longyearbyen) 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:
Peeken, Ilka (2016): The Expedition PS92 of the Research Vessel POLARSTERN to the Arctic Ocean in 2015. Berichte zur Polar- und Meeresforschung = Reports on Polar and Marine Research, 694, 153 pp, https://doi.org/10.2312/BzPM_0694_2016
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: 78.256861 * Median Longitude: 10.083842 * South-bound Latitude: 59.439120 * West-bound Longitude: 3.437120 * North-bound Latitude: 80.296280 * East-bound Longitude: 13.729620
Date/Time Start: 2015-05-21T02:51:28 * Date/Time End: 2015-06-27T23:49:53
Event(s):
PS92-track * Latitude Start: 53.563960 * Longitude Start: 8.548130 * Latitude End: 78.300000 * Longitude End: 15.650000 * Date/Time Start: 2015-05-19T00:00:00 * Date/Time End: 2015-06-28T00:00:00 * Campaign: PS92 (ARK-XXIX/1, TRANSSIZ) * 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:
144 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 [#]
2015-05-21T02:5159.439123.45038Balaenoptera acutorostratadefinite2
2015-05-21T03:1959.519623.43712Orcinus orcadefinite5
2015-05-24T02:4070.059437.32135Megaptera novaeangliaedefinite1
2015-05-24T15:1270.2437013.72962Orcinus orcadefinite5
2015-05-25T03:2872.2516012.88030Orcinus orcadefinite4
2015-05-25T23:0175.7096510.58835Balaenoptera physalusdefinite1
2015-05-26T00:2375.8885310.45792Balaenoptera physalusprobable1
2015-05-26T12:5177.899428.84423Balaenoptera physalusdefinite1
2015-05-27T00:5580.064579.23818Large whale, unidentifieddefinite2
2015-05-27T01:3180.114759.79403Balaenoptera physalusdefinite1
2015-06-24T11:2780.253179.65712Balaenoptera physalusprobable1
2015-06-24T11:3880.251789.81572Large whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2015-06-24T11:4180.251979.86510Large whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2015-06-24T23:2680.2376510.69173Balaenoptera physaluspossible1
2015-06-25T01:2980.145529.36302Large whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2015-06-25T02:5480.090728.50277Balaenoptera acutorostratadefinite1
2015-06-25T08:1980.111238.44412Balaenoptera musculuspossible1
2015-06-25T17:3180.290858.94368Whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2015-06-25T19:5980.2962810.49830Balaenoptera physaluspossible3
2015-06-25T22:3580.2711010.01102Large whale, unidentifieddefinite3
2015-06-25T22:5280.2691810.23950Balaenoptera musculusdefinite3
2015-06-25T23:0480.2679010.39063Balaena mysticetusprobable2
2015-06-25T23:0480.2678510.39592Large whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2015-06-25T23:1880.2558310.51807Balaenoptera physalusdefinite1
2015-06-26T00:4880.1243210.12745Balaenoptera physalusprobable1
2015-06-26T01:4680.065379.45687Balaenoptera physaluspossible2
2015-06-26T14:0180.0113810.36298Balaenoptera musculusprobable2
2015-06-26T14:2280.0337210.47068Balaenoptera musculusdefinite2
2015-06-26T14:4980.0354710.48657Balaenoptera musculusprobable1
2015-06-26T15:1280.0718010.69855Balaenoptera musculusprobable1
2015-06-26T15:3280.1015510.87413Large whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2015-06-26T16:3280.1323711.13243Large whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2015-06-26T16:5580.0952010.93555Large whale, unidentifieddefinite2
2015-06-26T17:3280.0342810.61500Large whale, unidentifieddefinite3
2015-06-26T17:4380.0154010.51600Balaenoptera acutorostratadefinite1
2015-06-26T20:3080.0754310.90607Balaenoptera physalusprobable2
2015-06-26T20:5380.1159211.10517Balaenoptera musculusdefinite1
2015-06-26T22:0380.0676510.94123Balaenoptera physalusprobable1
2015-06-26T22:3780.0084010.66192Balaenoptera physalusdefinite2
2015-06-27T01:2280.0463210.90620Large whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2015-06-27T01:4780.0899711.10358Large whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2015-06-27T01:5480.1036211.16583Balaenoptera physalusdefinite1
2015-06-27T02:4380.0912211.16687Balaenoptera physalusdefinite1
2015-06-27T18:4278.187059.62613Balaenoptera physalusdefinite1
2015-06-27T18:4778.177009.63057Balaenoptera musculusdefinite1
2015-06-27T18:5778.156529.63828Balaenoptera physalusprobable1
2015-06-27T23:1378.0107512.03687Balaenoptera acutorostratadefinite1
2015-06-27T23:4978.0272012.38130Balaenoptera musculusdefinite1