Leopard Seal Mass Estimates via Aerial Photogrammetry

Antarctic leopard seals were surveyed using a small Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) in the austral summers of 2013 and 2014. The dataset contains 50 photogrammetric samples from 15 unrestrained seals, providing a noninvasive method for estimating body mass and condition. It tests the precision and accuracy of UAS-based photogrammetry for pinniped research.

Use Cases

• Validating UAS photogrammetry accuracy for mass estimation based on known body size and mass.
• Monitoring pinniped body condition trends in the Antarctic Peninsula region.
• Developing noninvasive wildlife survey protocols using vertical aerial imagery.

Strengths

• Contains 50 photogrammetric samples from 15 individual seals, providing a basis for method validation.
• Data collection occurred over two field seasons (January-February 2013 and 2014), offering temporal replication.
• Method provides a noninvasive alternative to physical handling for mass estimation.

Limitations

• Key metadata such as column names, row count, and license are missing from all platform entries.
• The last update date conflicts between sources (2014-03-31 vs. 2026-03-14), creating uncertainty about data currency.
• The primary data format is listed as PDF, which may limit direct computational analysis.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce, Southwest Fisheries Science Center

Collection Method

Aerial surveys conducted via small Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), with photogrammetric measurements derived from single vertical images.

Time Range

2013-01-01 to 2014-03-31

Freshness

2026-03-14 23:05:52.903936

Geography

Antarctic, specifically the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island