Resident Gray Whale Relative Abundance, CCR, 2011

Citation:

Citation Information:

Originator: Craig Strong, Crescent Coastal Research
Publication Date: Unpublished Material
Title: Resident Gray Whale Relative Abundance, CCR, 2011
Geospatial Data Presentation Form: vector digital data
Other Citation Details:
Strong, C. 2009. Seabird abundance and distribution during summer off the Oregon and Southern Washington coast. Final report to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, contract # 2005-0127-006. 46 pp.
Online Linkage: GrayWhale_RelAbundance_CCR_2011.shp

Description:

Abstract:
This dataset contains spatial information for the relative abundance of resident Gray Whales within Oregon's nearshore marine environment. Under contract with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Craig Strong of Crescent Coastal Research conducted quantitative visual surveys of all bird and mammal species, with an emphasis on Marbled Murrelet, during the months of May - September from 1992-present (2011, currently). All surveys were conducted using small boats and multiple observers. Relative abundances (# individuals/linear kilometer of survey transect) of Gray Whales were summarized for the periods of 1992-1995 and 2000-2010, when survey methods were consistent among years. Observations from the month of May were not included in calculations to avoid inclusion of migrating Gray Whales (a separate sub-population).
Purpose:
The primary purpose of these surveys was to monitor the distribution, abundance, and habitat use of Marbled Murrelets over time, for management purposes. The secondary purpose of these surveys was to monitor the distribution, abundance, and habitat use of other seabird species and marine mammals.
Time Period of Content:

Time Period Information:

Range of Dates/Times:

Beginning Date: 1992
Beginning Time: Unknown
Ending Date: 2010
Ending Time: Unknown

Currentness Reference: ground condition

Status:

Progress: In work
Maintenance and Update Frequency: Annually

Spatial Domain:

Bounding Coordinates:

West Bounding Coordinate: -124.845097
East Bounding Coordinate: -123.681782
North Bounding Coordinate: 46.239032
South Bounding Coordinate: 41.631406

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme Keyword Thesaurus: N/A
Theme Keyword: Gray whale
Theme Keyword: Marine mammal

Place:

Place Keyword Thesaurus: N/A
Place Keyword: Nearshore
Place Keyword: Oregon
Place Keyword: Pacific Northwest

Access Constraints: None
Use Constraints: Not for redistribution
Point of Contact:

Contact Information:

Contact Person Primary:

Contact Person: Craig Strong
Contact Organization: Crescent Coastal Research

Contact Position: Proprietor, Biological Consultant
Contact Electronic Mail Address: cstrong.ccr@charter.net

Native Data Set Environment: Microsoft Windows Vista Version 6.1 (Build 7601) Service Pack 1; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.3.1.4000

Logical Consistency Report:
Data were drawn from two sources: nearshore Oregon, and offshore Oregon. Differences in survey techniques resulted in calculated density estimates that are not directly comparable between sources, however, broad scale comparisons showed differences in avifauna composition down the coast and relative to shore. Data for the Oregon coast are provided in detail per survey segment.
Completeness Report:
The original project area extended from Pt. Grenville, WA to the Oregon-California border within 8000m offshore, and out to 120 km offshore in central and southern Oregon. A total of 32,600 km of at sea transect observations were included. Most of the survey effort was near shore along the Oregon coast between 1992 and 2007, however offshore Oregon data from 2000 and 2002 are also included.
Lineage:

Source Information:

Source Citation Abbreviation: Strong, C., 1992-2007
Source Contribution:
The CCR data includes the Oregon coast, from the Columbia River to Prince Island, California (about 4 km into Calif. Waters), and extending to 5000 m offshore. This is the largest data set since it includes a time series from 1992 to 2007. The coast of northern Oregon consists of long sandy beaches alternating with rocky capes and offshore islands. Central Oregon, from Yaquina Head to Coos Bay, is largely sandy (but with a steeper gradient than found in Washington) with few islands. Southern Oregon has an increasingly rocky shoreline as one travels south, with numerous sea stacks. Estuaries intersperse the sandy beaches of north and central Oregon, but are fewer and smaller in the south.
Source Information:

Source Citation Abbreviation: Ainley, GLOBEC, 2000-02
Source Contribution:
Offshore Oregon seabird data from the GLOBEC cruises provided by Dr. Ainley extends from 0.5 to 120 km out to sea between Newport, OR and the California border following a pattern designed to sample cross-shelf oceanographic parameters (Figures 4 and 5).
Process Step:

Process Description:
At sea transects by both the CCR were designed specifically to sample populations of Marbled Murrelets, though data on other seabirds and mammals were taken concurrently. Vessel surveys were made from 19 to 21 ft. boats equipped with compass, Global Positioning System receiver (GPS), and a sonar depth finder, which also relayed sea surface temperature. Other equipment included binoculars, digital watches, and micro tape recorders for each observer, maps covering planned transect lines, and buoys on measured lines or laser rangefinders.
The deck of the boat was about level with the waterline, thus standing observer viewing height was about 2m above water. Two observers and a vessel driver were on board for all transects. Each observer scanned a 90o arc between the bow and the beam continuously, only using binoculars to confirm identification or to observe plumage or behavior of murrelets. Search effort was directed primarily towards the bow quarters and within 50 m of the vessel, so that densities based on line and narrow strip transects would be at their most accurate. All seabirds within 50 m of both sides of the boat and on the water were recorded.

Marine mammals were also recorded when sighted at any distance, with an estimate of perpendicular distance to the transect line, as with murrelets. Estimates of distance from the line of transect were calibrated by towing a buoy at measured distances from the boat (5 to 120m away) prior to 2001 and using a laser rangefinder to buoy or targets since 2001.

All marine mammal detections were recorded in the CCR database, and since 1996 with an estimate of distance off the transect line, Marine mammal data are retained in the CCR base data CCRBASE90S.XLS and CCRBASE00S.XLS), but are not addressed in the public USFWS report due to funding and temporal restraints.

Process Step:

Process Description:
Using GIS mapping, the coast was divided into contiguous 20 km long Primary Sampling Units (PSU) throughout 5 Marbled Murrelet Conservation Zones. The 20 km length was selected as a distance which provides an adequate sample of seabird density and can be completed by vessel transects in about half a day, allowing completion before seasonal afternoon winds become strong.

Delineation and transect routes were generated using ARCINFO GIS mapping by Ken Ostrom (2000-2002) and Rich Young (2003-2007) at the USFWS region 1 office in Portland for Zones 2 and 3, and by Bill Hogoboom at the RSL office in Arcata for Zone 4.

Cloud Cover: 0

Direct Spatial Reference Method: Vector
Point and Vector Object Information:

SDTS Terms Description:

SDTS Point and Vector Object Type: G-polygon
Point and Vector Object Count: 140

Horizontal Coordinate System Definition:

Planar:

Map Projection:

Map Projection Name: Lambert Conformal Conic
Lambert Conformal Conic:

Standard Parallel: 43
Standard Parallel: 45.5
Longitude of Central Meridian: -120.5
Latitude of Projection Origin: 41.75
False Easting: 1312335.958005
False Northing: 0

Planar Coordinate Information:

Planar Coordinate Encoding Method: Coordinate Pair
Coordinate Representation:

Abscissa Resolution: 0
Ordinate Resolution: 0

Planar Distance Units: international feet

Geodetic Model:

Horizontal Datum Name: North American Datum of 1983
Ellipsoid Name: Geodetic Reference System 80
Semi-major Axis: 6378137
Denominator of Flattening Ratio: 298.257

Detailed Description:

Entity Type:

Entity Type Label: GrayWhale_RelAbundance_CCR_2011

Attribute:

Attribute Label: FID
Attribute Definition: Internal feature number.
Attribute Definition Source: ESRI
Attribute Domain Values:

Unrepresentable Domain: Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute Label: GrayWhale_
Attribute Definition: Number individuals per linear kilometer of survey transect

Attribute:

Attribute Label: GrayWhale1
Attribute Definition: Number of years surveyed

Attribute:

Attribute Label: SEGID

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Shape
Attribute Definition: Feature geometry.
Attribute Definition Source: ESRI
Attribute Domain Values:

Unrepresentable Domain: Coordinates defining the features.

Distributor:

Contact Information:

Contact Person Primary:

Contact Person: Craig Strong
Contact Organization: Crescent Coastal Research

Contact Position: Proprietor, Biological Consultant
Contact Electronic Mail Address: cstrong.ccr@charter.net

Resource Description: Downloadable Data
Standard Order Process:

Digital Form:

Digital Transfer Information:

Transfer Size: 0.235

Metadata Date: 11/22/2011
Metadata Review Date:
Metadata Future Review Date:
Metadata Contact:

Contact Information:

Contact Organization Primary:

Contact Organization: Crescent Coastal Research
Contact Person: Craig Strong

Contact Position: Proprietor, Biological Consultant
Contact Address:

Address Type: mailing address
Address: 7700 Bailey Rd
City: Crescent City
State or Province: CA
Postal Code: 95531
Country: U.S.A.

Contact Voice Telephone: (707) 487-0246
Contact Electronic Mail Address: cstrong.ccr@charter.net

Metadata Standard Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata Standard Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
Metadata Time Convention: local time