Opportunistic Behavior Scan Data for Spotted/Largha Seal (Phoca largha) Herds off Vostochny Reserve in the western Sea of Okhotsk, Russian Far East, collected during August 2006

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Metadata:


Contact_Information:
Contact_Address:
Address: MANDATORY IF APPLICABLE for Data Store

Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Falk Huettmann
Publication_Date: 6 December 2006
Title:
Opportunistic Behavior Scan Data for Spotted/Largha Seal (Phoca largha) Herds off Vostochny Reserve in the western Sea of Okhotsk, Russian Far East, collected during August 2006
Online_Linkage: <http://science.nature.nps.gov/nrdata>
Description:
Abstract:
This data set contains of behavior scan data collected from a coastal cliff (app. 20m high) at the Vostochnya Reserve, eastern Sakhalin Island. The study area is located in the western Sea of Okhotsk, Russian Far East, and represents one of the last wilderness areas and untouched watersheds in the Northern Pacific. Over 20h of data were collected during 9 sessions done during 4 days (28th August til 31st August 2006) by one investigator (Falk Huettmann). Between 8 and 24 animals were constantly seen in the viewshed (app. 2km radius maximum) off the Verengy River. It is assumed that seals feed on salmon migrating upstream. It is possible that some rare seals were overlooked, including sea lions from a nearby rookery. Predominately, behaviour data were collected describing spacing, clustering (similar to fission fusion), individual interactions, breaching, fluke display and fish eating over time. Observation of Age, Sex, BodySize Index and individuals was not possible. During the framework of this study two cases of Orca (Killer whale) approaches to the seal herd were also observed. These data complement a larger coastal ecosystem study in the Sea of Okhotsk, and contribute as well to a study dealing with individual perceptions of animals across mammal species. There are additional, smaller, data sets that were collected during August 2006 and which will be published elsewhere (topics: passerine movements, marine wildlife DISTANCE Sampling, bears and biodiversity).
Purpose:
The purpose of this dataset is to describe Largha Seals in the Sea of Okhotsk, and to investigate a method for determining recognition abilities of individuals tested across several animal species world-wide using marginal and opportunistic behavior datasets. Here the focus is on spacing and clustering (similar to fission fusion). Secondly, these data could be useful as baseline data for potential impacts along coastlines, e.g. oil spills or fisheries. Of interest could also be the (regular) occurrence of Killer whales near these herds of seals, and how seals respond to these potential predators. Lastly, these data could be valuable for more advanced behavior studies on seals and ecosystems.
Supplemental_Information:
Alcock J., 2005. Animal behavior. Sinauer Associates, Inc.. Sunderland, Massachusetts U.S.A. ; Huettmann, F. and Yu. N. Gerasimov. 2006. Conservation of Migratory Shorebirds and their Habitats in the Sea Of Okhotsk, Russian Far East, in the Year 2006: State-Of-The-Art and an Outlook. The Stilt. See as well ITIS website references
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 20060828
Ending_Date: 20060831
Currentness_Reference: Current
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency:
Currently no maintenance. Future publication planned and in progress.
Spatial_Domain:
Description_of_Geographic_Extent:
Viewshed off Vostochny Reserve, river, as seen from adjacent 20m coastal cliff
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: 144
East_Bounding_Coordinate: 144
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 49.90
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 49.90
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: none
Theme_Keyword: Largha Seals
Theme_Keyword: Spotted Seals
Theme_Keyword: Sakhalin Island
Theme_Keyword: Sea of Okhotsk
Theme_Keyword: Russia
Theme_Keyword: Russian Far East
Theme_Keyword: Interactions
Theme_Keyword: Dominance hierarchy
Theme_Keyword: Clustering
Theme_Keyword: Fission Fusion
Theme_Keyword: Coastal Ecology
Theme_Keyword: Vostochny Reserve
Theme_Keyword: Zakhaznik
Theme_Keyword: Zapovednik
Theme_Keyword: Protected Area
Theme_Keyword: Watershed
Theme_Keyword: Wilderness
Theme_Keyword: Animal activities
Theme_Keyword: Behaviour Study
Theme_Keyword: Research
Theme_Keyword: Killer whale (Orca) interactions
Theme_Keyword: Killer whale predation
Theme_Keyword: Basedata
Theme_Keyword: Salmon
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Park Service Theme Category Thesaurus
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: none
Place_Keyword: Vostochny Reserve
Place_Keyword: Russia
Place_Keyword: Russian Far East
Place_Keyword: Sea of Okhotsk
Place_Keyword: Sakhalin Island
Place_Keyword: Zakaznik
Place_Keyword: Zapovednik
Place_Keyword: Verengi River
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Park System Unit Name Thesaurus
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Park System Unit Code Thesaurus
Taxonomy:
Keywords/Taxon:
Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus: none
Taxonomic_Keywords: Spotted Seal
Taxonomic_Keywords: Largha Seal
Taxonomic_Keywords: Phoca largha
Taxonomic_Keywords: Killer Whale
Taxonomic_Keywords: Orca
Taxonomic_Keywords: Orcinus orca
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Animalia
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Phylum
Taxon_Rank_Value: Chordata
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subphylum
Taxon_Rank_Value: Vertebrata
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Class
Taxon_Rank_Value: Mammalia
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subclass
Taxon_Rank_Value: Theria
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Infraclass
Taxon_Rank_Value: Eutheria
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Order
Taxon_Rank_Value: Carnivora
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Suborder
Taxon_Rank_Value: Caniformia
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Family
Taxon_Rank_Value: Phocidae
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus
Taxon_Rank_Value: Phoca
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Species
Taxon_Rank_Value: Phoca largha
Applicable_Common_Name: spotted seal
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Order
Taxon_Rank_Value: Cetacea
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Suborder
Taxon_Rank_Value: Odontoceti
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Family
Taxon_Rank_Value: Delphinidae
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus
Taxon_Rank_Value: Orcinus
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Species
Taxon_Rank_Value: Orcinus orca
Applicable_Common_Name: killer whale
Applicable_Common_Name: orca
Applicable_Common_Name: Orca común
Applicable_Common_Name: paulard
Access_Constraints: Available by arrangement with data owner and data users.
Use_Constraints:
None but suggested to discuss interpretation with data owner and data users.
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Falk Huettmann
Contact_Organization:
EWHALE lab, Inst. of Arctic Biology, Biology & Wildlife Dept., University of Alaska-Fairbanks
Contact_Address:
Address: 419 IRVING 1
City: Fairbanks
State_or_Province: Alaska
Postal_Code: 99775
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: +1 907 474 7882
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: fffh@uaf.edu
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Kim Jochum, Falk Huettmann (co-supervisor)
Publication_Date:
2007, University of Hannover (Germany) and University of Alaska-Fairbanks
Title:
Diploma Thesis: Assessing marginal opportunistic data to infer individual animal perception in mammals
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Hannover, Germany
Publisher: University of Hannover
Data_Set_Credit: Falk Huettmann
Native_Data_Set_Environment: Field notes, Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet

Data_Quality_Information:
Logical_Consistency_Report:
Methodology is consistent throughout. One principle data collector Falk Huettmann.
Completeness_Report: Consistent methods.
Lineage:
Methodology:
Methodology Seals were observed from the 20m high cliff site adjacent to the camp. Number of all seals in view was noted at the beginning of each session. For a subset of seals (noted in the data sheet how many this involves), the occurrence of clustering and social behavior was noted, and the time when it occurred was also written down. The focus of this study was on behaviors like social interactions, fluke displays, breaching, eating fish, diving and others. Each time numbers of seals changed during the sessions it was noted in the data sheet, too. Data were collected in a field notebook, and then transfered after the fieldwork into Excel sheets, and Metadata were added.

The behavior protocol was chosen so that it can fit with ongoing data analysis for a German M.Sc. thesis, assessing the perception of individual animals. Secondly, these data could be useful as baseline data for potential impacts along coastlines, e.g. oil spills or fisheries. Of interest could also be the occurrence of Killer whales near these herds of seals, and how seals repsond to potential predators. Lastly, these data could be valuable for more advanced behavior studies on seals and ecosystems.

Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Field notes recorded in notebook and inserted into Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet.
Process_Date: Input into computer on September til December 2006
Process_Time: 4 months
Process_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Falk Huettmann
Contact_Organization: Falk Huettmann
Contact_Address:
Address: EWHALE lab, 419 Irving I, University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
City: Fairbanks
State_or_Province: Alaska
Postal_Code: 99775
Country: USA
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
Data on all individuals visible was collected, ranging from 8 to 24 individuals at a time.

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
Indirect_Spatial_Reference:
Vostochny Reserve, app. 100km eastwards of Smirnikh, central east Sakhalin Island, Russian Far East
Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Point

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Detailed_Description:
Entity_Type:
Entity_Type_Label: SealsVostochnyaBehaviorScans
Entity_Type_Definition:
Behavior scans of interactions, proximities and general behavior
Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Falk Huettmann
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Time hour
Attribute_Definition: Hour when observation was done
Attribute_Definition_Source: Defined by Falk Huettmann
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: 0-24hours
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Time minutes
Attribute_Definition: Minutes of hour when observation was done
Attribute_Definition_Source: Defined by Falk Huettmann
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: Minutes 0-60
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: StartTime
Attribute_Definition: Time when observation session starts
Attribute_Definition_Source: Falk Huettmann
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: hour and minutes, separated by a point
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: End Time
Attribute_Definition: Time when observation session ends
Attribute_Definition_Source: Falk Huettmann
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: hour and minutes, separated by a point
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: SessionNumber
Attribute_Definition: Unique number of session when behavior scans were carried out
Attribute_Definition_Source: Defined by Falk Huettmann
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: Number
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Day
Attribute_Definition: Juilan Day of Month when observation was carried out
Attribute_Definition_Source: Defined by Falk Huettmann
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: 0-31
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Month of the year when observation was carried out
Attribute_Definition: Defined by Falk Huettmann
Attribute_Definition_Source: x
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: August, text field
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: year
Attribute_Definition: year when observation was carried out
Attribute_Definition_Source: Defined by Falk Huettmann
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: year as four digit number, 2006
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: datestring
Attribute_Definition: Date when observation was carried out
Attribute_Definition_Source: Falk Huettmann
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: dayday, monthmonth, yearyearyearyear
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Observer
Attribute_Definition: Observername doing the field observations
Attribute_Definition_Source: Defined by Falk Huettmann
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: name (firstname and lastname) as text
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Species
Attribute_Definition: Common name of species observed
Attribute_Definition_Source: Falk Huettmann
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: common species name of animal observed
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Location
Attribute_Definition: Name of the location where study was carried out
Attribute_Definition_Source: Falk Huettmann
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: official site name
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Observationsite
Attribute_Definition: Name from where observation was exactly done
Attribute_Definition_Source: Falk Huettmann
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: Site description
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Overallnumber
Attribute_Definition:
Maximum number of seals that were in the viewshed and from which a subset of seal behaviors were described
Attribute_Definition_Source: Defined by Falk Huettmann
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: Numbers
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Animals
Attribute_Definition:
Number of animals for which the behavior was described; this is the subset from the overall animals in view
Attribute_Definition_Source: Defined by Falk Huettmann
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: Number, subset from overall numbers in view
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Distancembetweenanimals
Attribute_Definition:
Distance in Meters between animals described. Distance is estimated in meters. Other descriptors of animal distribution are given as text.
Attribute_Definition_Source: Falk Huettmann
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: Distances (meters) or descriptive
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Behavior
Attribute_Definition:
Description of the specific animal behavior; descriptions are classified but not standardized, yet
Attribute_Definition_Source: Defined by Falk Huettmann
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: categories, but not standardized, yet
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Notes
Attribute_Definition:
Additional information that helps to analyse and to understand the data and observed behaviors
Attribute_Definition_Source: Falk Huettmann
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: Text descriptions

Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Falk Huettmann
Contact_Organization:
EWHALE lab, University of Alaska, Institute of Arctic Biology, Biology and Wildlife Department
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address:
419 IRVING I - EWHALE lab, University of Alaska, Institute of Arctic Biology, Biology and Wildlife Department
City: Fairbanks
State_or_Province: Alaska
Postal_Code: 99775-7000
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 907 474-7882
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 907 474-6967
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: fffh@uaf.edu
Distribution_Liability:
Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the University of Alaska, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data. It is strongly recommended that these data are directly acquired from a server, and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. It is also strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data. The Universities of Alaska (U.S.) and others shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein.
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: Excel
Transfer_Size: <1MB
Fees: None

Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20061206
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Falk Huettmann
Contact_Organization:
EWHALE lab, University of Alaska, Institute of Arctic Biology, Biology and Wildlife Department
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 419 IRVING I - EWHALE lab
City: Fairbanks
State_or_Province: Alaska
Postal_Code: 99775-7000
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 907 474-7882
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 907 474-6967
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: fffh@uaf.edu
Metadata_Standard_Name:
FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001.1-1999
Metadata_Extensions:
Online_Linkage: <http://nrdata.nps.gov/profiles/NPS_Profile.xml>
Profile_Name: NPS NR and GIS Metadata Profile

Contact_Information:
Contact_Address:
Address: MANDATORY IF APPLICABLE for Data Store

Contact_Information:
Contact_Address:
Address: MANDATORY IF APPLICABLE for Data Store

Generated by mp version 2.8.25 on Mon Dec 11 00:00:17 2006