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Burkhardt, Elke (2020): Whale sightings during POLARSTERN cruise ARK XXII/1a [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.924717

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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 ARK XXII/1a (Bremerhaven - 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:
Klages, Michael; Thiede, Jörn (2011): The Expedition of the Research Vessel Polarstern to the Arctic in 2007 (ARK-XXII/1a-c). Berichte zur Polar- und Meeresforschung = Reports on Polar and Marine Research, 627, 243 pp, https://doi.org/10.2312/BzPM_0627_2011
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: 69.322836 * Median Longitude: 14.383162 * South-bound Latitude: 67.504950 * West-bound Longitude: 8.585330 * North-bound Latitude: 70.832450 * East-bound Longitude: 18.815200
Date/Time Start: 2007-06-04T05:20:00 * Date/Time End: 2007-06-20T22:15:00
Event(s):
PS70/1a-track * Latitude Start: 53.563960 * Longitude Start: 8.548130 * Latitude End: 69.679530 * Longitude End: 18.996550 * Date/Time Start: 2007-05-25T00:00:00 * Date/Time End: 2007-06-21T00:00:00 * Location: Norwegian Sea * Campaign: ARK-XXII/1a (PS70) * 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:
69 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 [#]
2007-06-04T05:2067.504959.35595Balaenoptera acutorostratadefinite1
2007-06-04T15:2567.505609.42200Balaenoptera acutorostratadefinite1
2007-06-05T08:1569.2024213.04078Physeter macrocephaluspossible1
2007-06-05T20:5069.3968313.23727Physeter macrocephaluspossible1
2007-06-07T07:2568.9895013.98240Orcinus orcadefinite3
2007-06-08T01:4569.0827813.95012Orcinus orcadefinite6
2007-06-08T20:2867.556709.57492Orcinus orcadefinite6
2007-06-11T05:3067.559929.54488Physeter macrocephalusdefinite1
2007-06-15T17:0067.521239.47410Globicephala melasdefinite12
2007-06-16T00:1167.861028.58533Orcinus orcadefinite2
2007-06-16T05:3067.608029.27895Orcinus orcadefinite6
2007-06-16T09:0067.535689.50832Globicephala melasdefinite12
2007-06-17T19:2569.4512514.52235Large whale, unidentifieddefinite1
2007-06-19T05:1570.7442318.73178Balaenoptera acutorostratadefinite2
2007-06-19T13:5570.7064718.62968Physeter macrocephalusdefinite1
2007-06-19T14:3070.7570818.67518Physeter macrocephalusdefinite1
2007-06-19T14:3070.7570818.67518Balaenoptera acutorostratadefinite1
2007-06-19T21:1070.7610018.66907Balaenoptera physalusprobable7
2007-06-20T03:0070.8324518.73865Balaenoptera physalusdefinite2
2007-06-20T13:4570.7882818.77022Megaptera novaeangliaedefinite2
2007-06-20T22:1570.7675818.81520Balaenoptera physaluspossible2
2007-06-20T22:1570.7675818.81520Dolphins, unidentifieddefinite20
2007-06-20T22:1570.7675818.81520Megaptera novaeangliaedefinite5