Burkhardt, Elke (2026): Whale sightings during POLARSTERN cruise ANT-XXIX/4 (PS81) [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.989685 (DOI registration in progress)
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Published: 2026-02-23
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 ANT-XXIX/4 (Punta Arenas – Stanley, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)) 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.
Documentation:
Information for MAPS whale sighting data (2018-12-18). hdl:10013/epic.24d813e7-0158-4fc3-bc99-0f4ebb6beecc
Project(s):
Coverage:
Median Latitude: -55.584524 * Median Longitude: -32.077368 * South-bound Latitude: -59.723850 * West-bound Longitude: -49.005980 * North-bound Latitude: -53.279880 * East-bound Longitude: -24.617500
Date/Time Start: 2013-03-25T13:26:01 * Date/Time End: 2013-04-14T19:58:57
Event(s):
PS81/4-track * Latitude Start: -53.144700 * Longitude Start: -70.909100 * Latitude End: -51.690000 * Longitude End: -57.812000 * Date/Time Start: 2013-03-22T00:00:00 * Date/Time End: 2013-04-16T00:00:00 * Location: Scotia Sea * Campaign: ANT-XXIX/4 (PS81) * 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):
| # | Name | Short Name | Unit | Principal Investigator | Method/Device | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DATE/TIME | Date/Time | Burkhardt, Elke | Geocode | ||
| 2 | LATITUDE | Latitude | Burkhardt, Elke | Geocode | ||
| 3 | LONGITUDE | Longitude | Burkhardt, Elke | Geocode | ||
| 4 | Whale species | Whale | Burkhardt, Elke | Visual inspection | ||
| 5 | Certainty of identification | Certainty | Burkhardt, Elke | |||
| 6 | Individuals | Ind | # | Burkhardt, Elke | Visual inspection |
License:
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0)
Status:
Curation Level: Enhanced curation (CurationLevelC)
Size:
117 data points
Data
| 1 Date/Time | 2 Latitude | 3 Longitude | 4 Whale | 5 Certainty | 6 Ind [#] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-03-25T13:26:01 | -53.63775 | -49.00598 | Orcinus orca | definite | 2 |
| 2013-03-25T18:43:53 | -53.69635 | -47.27300 | Dolphins, unidentified | definite | 5 |
| 2013-03-25T19:05:41 | -53.69828 | -47.15997 | Dolphins, unidentified | definite | >5 |
| 2013-03-29T16:38:02 | -54.72838 | -35.35350 | Large whale, unidentified | definite | 1 |
| 2013-03-29T16:46:25 | -54.74247 | -35.31820 | Balaenoptera physalus | probable | 2 |
| 2013-03-29T18:14:47 | -54.78170 | -34.90343 | Balaenoptera physalus | probable | 1 |
| 2013-03-29T19:06:17 | -54.79153 | -34.64370 | Megaptera novaeangliae | possible | 2 |
| 2013-03-29T19:23:30 | -54.79858 | -34.55540 | Balaenoptera physalus | probable | 3 |
| 2013-03-29T19:24:53 | -54.79922 | -34.54838 | Balaenoptera physalus | probable | 2 |
| 2013-03-29T19:43:39 | -54.80718 | -34.45133 | Balaenoptera physalus | probable | 3 |
| 2013-03-29T19:43:59 | -54.80732 | -34.44970 | Megaptera novaeangliae | definite | >20 |
| 2013-03-30T08:42:54 | -55.09223 | -30.88918 | Megaptera novaeangliae | definite | 1 |
| 2013-03-30T08:44:42 | -55.09302 | -30.87957 | Megaptera novaeangliae | definite | 1 |
| 2013-03-30T10:01:11 | -55.12595 | -30.46503 | Balaenoptera physalus | probable | 2 |
| 2013-03-30T11:25:38 | -55.15907 | -30.01112 | Megaptera novaeangliae | definite | 2 |
| 2013-03-30T12:53:15 | -55.17550 | -29.95712 | Megaptera novaeangliae | definite | 2 |
| 2013-03-30T15:23:05 | -55.30995 | -29.41665 | Balaenoptera physalus | probable | 1 |
| 2013-03-30T15:24:43 | -55.31240 | -29.41287 | Megaptera novaeangliae | definite | 1 |
| 2013-03-30T15:25:01 | -55.31283 | -29.41222 | Dolphins, unidentified | definite | >10 |
| 2013-03-30T15:52:21 | -55.35493 | -29.34888 | Balaenoptera physalus | probable | 3 |
| 2013-03-30T16:29:50 | -55.42142 | -29.24783 | Balaenoptera physalus | definite | 3 |
| 2013-03-30T17:37:33 | -55.53552 | -29.06725 | Megaptera novaeangliae | definite | 3 |
| 2013-03-30T17:57:15 | -55.58138 | -28.99902 | Megaptera novaeangliae | definite | 1 |
| 2013-03-30T17:57:33 | -55.58210 | -28.99800 | Megaptera novaeangliae | definite | 1 |
| 2013-04-01T09:42:09 | -57.51750 | -24.80477 | Large whale, unidentified | definite | 2 |
| 2013-04-02T11:32:31 | -57.46807 | -24.88487 | Eubalaena australis | definite | 1 |
| 2013-04-02T15:20:39 | -57.47225 | -24.90228 | Eubalaena australis | definite | 1 |
| 2013-04-02T17:43:17 | -57.36952 | -25.12963 | Megaptera novaeangliae | probable | 2 |
| 2013-04-02T18:51:42 | -57.26732 | -25.41447 | Eubalaena australis | definite | 1 |
| 2013-04-02T18:52:58 | -57.26557 | -25.41993 | Dolphins, unidentified | definite | >5 |
| 2013-04-02T19:07:00 | -57.24563 | -25.48243 | Dolphins, unidentified | definite | >5 |
| 2013-04-06T08:50:49 | -59.72385 | -24.61750 | Lagenorhynchus cruciger | definite | >5 |
| 2013-04-06T10:31:08 | -59.70392 | -25.20525 | Megaptera novaeangliae | definite | 2 |
| 2013-04-07T18:25:44 | -57.32462 | -25.48277 | Megaptera novaeangliae | definite | 2 |
| 2013-04-09T11:14:47 | -55.76655 | -28.32128 | Eubalaena australis | definite | 1 |
| 2013-04-10T08:56:16 | -54.81447 | -33.95932 | Dolphins, unidentified | definite | 3 |
| 2013-04-13T16:29:50 | -53.61800 | -40.26278 | Dolphins, unidentified | definite | >5 |
| 2013-04-13T16:48:20 | -53.61423 | -40.36162 | Dolphins, unidentified | definite | >5 |
| 2013-04-14T19:58:57 | -53.27988 | -49.00112 | Globicephala melas | definite | >20 |