Cetacean Observations and Survey Effort from the 2021 TEMPO Antarctic Voyage

621 sightings of approximately 1,609 cetaceans were recorded during a dedicated marine survey voyage in the Southern Ocean. The data was collected by four trained observers during the RV Investigator voyage IN2021_V01, which took place from 29 January to 24 March 2021. Combined survey effort included 3,612 km of formal line-transects, with humpback and fin whales being the most frequently observed species.

Use Cases

• Modeling cetacean distribution patterns based on line-transect survey effort data.
• Analyzing predator-prey overlap between whales and krill based on the voyage's primary objective.
• Studying species composition and relative abundance from the 621 recorded sightings.
• Assessing the impact of environmental conditions like sea state on observation effort and sightings.

Strengths

• Includes 621 distinct cetacean sightings with an estimated count of 1,609 individuals.
• Survey effort is precisely quantified, including 3,612 km of formal line-transects.
• Data collection followed a standardized protocol with trained observers and specific equipment.
• Provides a clear temporal scope from 29 January to 24 March 2021.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic and temporal bias inherent to the single voyage and season.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, collected during a Marine National Facility RV Investigator voyage.

Collection Method

Dedicated line-transect distance sampling by four trained observers using naked eye, binoculars, and data logged via PAMGUARD.

Time Range

29 January to 24 March 2021 (AEST).

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-05 06:13:54.118232; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Voyage from Hobart (TAS) to Hobart, covering areas off the Australian Antarctic Territory.