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Description
Ten days of aerial surveys from July 11 to 29, 2005 recorded the distribution and relative abundance of marine mammals, birds, and large fish over a 1,672 km² study area in the Gulf of Maine. The survey, conducted by SCIOPS, involved six 46 km transects per day, with observations made from a twin-engine aircraft flying at 230 m altitude. Data includes sighting locations, species identifications, and group sizes for upper trophic level predators.
Use Cases
Model species distribution for marine mammals and large fish using geospatial sighting coordinates and bathymetric data from the 100 m isobath.
Analyze relative abundance trends across the ten survey days by correlating sighting counts with flight transect and time-of-day data.
Study predator co-occurrence by examining simultaneous sightings of birds, mammals, and fish recorded during circling events for identification.
Estimate detection probabilities by analyzing sightings binned into five distance groupings from 15° to 90° of arc from the flight path.
Strengths
Surveys cover a 1,672 km² area with six 46 km transects per day over ten days, providing systematic spatial coverage.
Data includes precise GPS location and time for each sighting, recorded directly from the aircraft's navigation system.
Methodology includes circling to confirm species identification and individual counts, improving data accuracy for uncertain sightings.
Limitations
Bird observations were restricted to a 170 m strip (15°-45° arc) during transects, creating an incomplete census of avian predators.
Data is from a single month in 2005, limiting analysis of seasonal or interannual trends.
The survey area is focused on specific bathymetric features (Platts Bank, Three Dory Ridge), which may not represent the broader Gulf of Maine.
Provenance
Source
SCIOPS via NASA Earthdata.
Collection Method
Aerial surveys conducted from a high-wing, twin-engine aircraft flying at 230 m altitude and 185 km/hr, with two observers and a dedicated data recorder.
Time Range
July 11 to July 29, 2005.
Freshness
null
Geography
Western Gulf of Maine, centered on Platts Bank (43°10'N, 069°40'W), covering 1,672 km².
Bird sightings recorded during circling maneuvers for mammal/fish identification were excluded from analysis to avoid bias, meaning some avian data is not part of the core dataset. License terms are unknown.