Metadata

Package Name: swfsc_serdp_cce_2009

Metadata:

Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center
Publication_Date:
May, 2009 and In Preparation (expected publication date summer 2012)
Title:
Predictive Models of Cetacean Densities in the Eastern Pacific Ocean; AND Predictive Modeling of Cetacean Densities in the California Current Ecosystem based on Summer/Fall Ship Surveys in 1991- 2008
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Online_Linkage: <http://seamap.env.duke.edu>
Description:
Abstract:
We use data from 16 ship-based cetacean and ecosystem assessment surveys to develop habitat models to predict density for 15 cetacean species in the ETP and for 12 cetacean species in the California Current Ecosystem (CCE). All data were collected by NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) from 1986-2006 using accepted, peer-reviewed survey methods. Data include over 17,000 sightings of cetacean groups on transects covering over 400,000 km. The expected number of groups seen per transect segment and the expected size of groups were modeled separately as functions of habitat variables. Model predictions were then used in standard line-transect formulae to estimate density for each transect segment for each survey year. Predicted densities for each year were smoothed with geospatial methods to obtain a continuous grid of density estimates for the surveyed area. These annual grids were then averaged to obtain a composite grid that represents our best estimates of cetacean density over the past 20 years in the ETP and the past 15 years in the CCE. Many methodological choices were required for every aspect of this modeling. In completing this project, we explored as many of these choices as possible and used the choices that resulted in the best predictive models. To evaluate predictive power, we used cross-validation (leaving out one survey year and predicting densities for that year with models built using only the other years). Data from the two most recent surveys (2005 in the CCE and 2006 in the ETP) were used for this model validation step. We explored three modeling approaches to predict cetacean densities from habitat variables: Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) with polynomials, Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) with nonparametric smoothing functions, and Regression Trees. Within the category of GAMs, we tested and compared several software implementations. In summary, we found that Regression Trees could not deal effectively with the large number of transect segments containing zero sightings. GLMs and GAMs both performed well and differences between the models built using these methods were typically small. Different GAM implementations also gave similar, but not identical results. We chose the GAM framework to build our best-and-final models. In some cases, only the linear terms were selected, making them equivalent to GLMs. We explored the effects of two aspects of sampling scale (resolution and extent) on our cetacean density models. To explore the effect of resolution, we sampled transect segments on scales ranging from 2 to 120 km. We found that differences in segment lengths within this range had virtually no effect on our models in the ETP, but that scale affected the models for some species in the CCE where habitats are more geographically variable. For our best-and-final models, we accommodated this regional scale difference by using a longer segment length in the ETP (10 km) than in the CCE (5 km). To explore the effect of extent, we constructed models using data from the ETP and CCE separately and for the two ecosystems combined. We found that the best predictive models were based on data from only one ecosystem; therefore, all our best-and-final models are specific to either the CCE or the ETP. We explored five methods of interpolating oceanographic measurements to obtain continuous grids of our in situ oceanographic habitat variables. Cross-validation of the interpolations gave similar results for all methods. Ordinary kriging was chosen as our preferred method because it is widely used and because, qualitatively, it did not produce unrealistic “bull’s eyes” in the continuous grids. We explored the use of CCE oceanographic habitat data from two available sources: in situ measurements collected during cetacean surveys and remotely sensed measurements from satellites. Only sea surface temperature (SST) and measures of its variance were available from remotely sensed sources, whereas the in situ measurements also included sea surface salinity, surface chlorophyll and vertical properties of the water-column. We conducted a comparison of the predictive ability of models built using in situ, remotely sensed, or combined data and found that the combined models typically resulted in the best density predictions for a novel year of data. In our best-and-final CCE models we therefore used the combination of in situ and remotely sensed data that gave the best predictive power. In some years, in situ data also included net tows and acoustic backscatter. We explored whether indices of “mid-trophic” species abundance derived from these sources improved the predictive power of our models. The plankton and small nekton (mid-trophic level species) sampled by these methods are likely to include cetacean prey and were therefore expected to be closely correlated with cetacean abundance. We tested the predictive power of models built with 1) only physical oceanographic and chlorophyll data, 2) only net-tow indices, 3) only acoustic backscatter indices, or 4) the optimal combination of all three in situ data sources. We found that models for some species were improved by using mid-trophic measures of their habitat, but the improvement was marginal in most cases. Although the results look promising, our best-and-final models do not include indices of mid-trophic species abundance because acoustic backscatter was measured on too few surveys. We explored the effect of seasonality on our models using aerial survey data collected in February and March of 1991 and 1992. Due to logistic constraints, our ship survey data are limited to summer and fall seasons, corresponding to the “warm-season” for cetaceans in the CCE. Although some data in winter and spring (the “cold-season”) are available from aerial surveys in California, these data are too sparse to develop habitat models. We therefore tested whether models built from data collected during multiple warm seasons could be use to predict density patterns in the cold season. We used the 1991-92 aerial surveys to test these predictions. Although the warm-season models were able to predict We use data from 5 ship-based cetacean and ecosystem assessment surveys to develop habitat models to predict density for 12 cetacean species in the California Current Ecosystem (CCE). All data were collected by NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) from 1991-2005 using accepted, peer-reviewed survey methods. The expected number of groups seen per transect segment and the expected size of groups were modeled separately as functions of habitat variables. Model predictions were then used in standard line-transect formulae to estimate density for each transect segment for each survey year. Predicted densities for each year were smoothed with geospatial methods to obtain a continuous grid of density estimates for the CCE. These annual grids were then averaged to obtain a composite grid. When data from a 2008 CCE cetacean and ecosystem assessment became available, we used data from the combined set of 1991-2008 data to update the habitat-based density models. The additional year of data provided increased sample sizes and a greater range of oceanic conditions for robust model development. Predicted densities for each year were smoothed and then averaged to produce a composite grid that represents our best estimate of CCE cetacean density over the past 20 years.
Purpose:
The Navy and other users of the marine environment conduct many activities that can potentially harm marine mammals. Consequently, these entities are required to complete Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements to determine the likely impact of their activities. Specifically, those documents require an estimate of the number of animals that might be harmed or disturbed. A key element of this estimation is knowledge of cetacean (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) densities in specific areas where those activities will occur.
Supplemental_Information:
This report was prepared under contract to the Department of Defense Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP). The publication of this report does not indicate endorsement by the Department of Defense, nor should the contents be construed as reflecting the official policy or position of the Department of Defense. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Department of Defense.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Single_Date/Time:
Calendar_Date: July-Nov 1991, 1993, 1996, 2001, 2005, 2008
Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: Irregular
Spatial_Domain:
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -131.000000
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -117.128600
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 48.506100
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.050000
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword: density
Theme_Keyword: habitat models
Theme_Keyword: distribution
Theme_Keyword: cetacean
Place:
Place_Keyword: California
Place_Keyword: Oregon
Place_Keyword: Washington
Place_Keyword: California Current Ecosystem
Place_Keyword: Eastern North Pacific
Access_Constraints:
REQUIRED: Restrictions and legal prerequisites for accessing the data set.
Use_Constraints:
REQUIRED: Restrictions and legal prerequisites for using the data set after access is granted.
Data_Set_Credit:
"Barlow, Jay, Megan C. Ferguson, Elizabeth A. Becker, Jessica V. Redfern, Karin A. Forney, Ignacio L. Vilchis, Paul C. Fiedler, Tim Gerrodette, Lisa T. Ballance. 2009. Predictive modeling of cetacean densities in the eastern Pacific Ocean. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS 444. 206p. Becker, Elizabeth A., Karin A. Forney, Megan C. Ferguson, Jay Barlow, Jessica V. Redfern. In Prep. Predictive Modeling of Cetacean Densities in the California Current Ecosystem based on Summer/Fall Ship Surveys in 1991- 2008.U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS XXX."
Native_Data_Set_Environment:
Microsoft Windows 2000 Version 5.2 (Build 3790) Service Pack 2; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.3.1.3000
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:
Spatial_Reference_Information:
Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
Geographic:
Latitude_Resolution: 0.000000
Longitude_Resolution: 0.000000
Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees
Geodetic_Model:
Horizontal_Datum_Name: D_WGS_1984
Ellipsoid_Name: WGS_1984
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257224
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Detailed_Description:
Entity_Type:
Entity_Type_Label: serdp_swfsc_cce
Entity_Type_Definition:
Cetacean Densities (Animals per Square Kilomoter) in the California California Ecosystem (CCE)
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: Shape
Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.
Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: gid
Attribute_Definition: grid cell ID from original SURFER file
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: cid
Attribute_Definition: cell ID used by Duke SDSS
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Bmu_i_u_h
Attribute_Definition:
blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) in summer using in-situ model - high 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Bmu_i_u_l
Attribute_Definition:
blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) in summer using in-situ model - low 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Bmu_i_u_d
Attribute_Definition:
blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) in summer using in-situ model - average density
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Bmu_i_u_e
Attribute_Definition:
blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) in summer using in-situ model - standard error
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Bph_r_u_h
Attribute_Definition:
fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) in summer using remotely-sensed model - high 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Bph_r_u_l
Attribute_Definition:
fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) in summer using remotely-sensed model - low 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Bph_r_u_d
Attribute_Definition:
fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) in summer using remotely-sensed model - average density
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Bph_r_u_e
Attribute_Definition:
fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) in summer using remotely-sensed model - standard error
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Bba_r_u_h
Attribute_Definition:
Guild: Berardius (Berardius) in summer using remotely-sensed model - high 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Bba_r_u_l
Attribute_Definition:
Guild: Berardius (Berardius) in summer using remotely-sensed model - low 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Bba_r_u_d
Attribute_Definition:
Guild: Berardius (Berardius) in summer using remotely-sensed model - average density
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Bba_r_u_e
Attribute_Definition:
Guild: Berardius (Berardius) in summer using remotely-sensed model - standard error
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Dde_i_u_h
Attribute_Definition:
short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) in summer using in-situ model - high 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Dde_i_u_l
Attribute_Definition:
short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) in summer using in-situ model - low 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Dde_i_u_d
Attribute_Definition:
short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) in summer using in-situ model - average density
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Dde_i_u_e
Attribute_Definition:
short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) in summer using in-situ model - standard error
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Ggr_r_u_h
Attribute_Definition:
Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) in summer using remotely-sensed model - high 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Ggr_r_u_l
Attribute_Definition:
Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) in summer using remotely-sensed model - low 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Ggr_r_u_d
Attribute_Definition:
Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) in summer using remotely-sensed model - average density
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Ggr_r_u_e
Attribute_Definition:
Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) in summer using remotely-sensed model - standard error
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Lob_i_u_h
Attribute_Definition:
Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) in summer using in-situ model - high 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Lob_i_u_l
Attribute_Definition:
Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) in summer using in-situ model - low 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Lob_i_u_d
Attribute_Definition:
Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) in summer using in-situ model - average density
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Lob_i_u_e
Attribute_Definition:
Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) in summer using in-situ model - standard error
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Lbo_i_u_h
Attribute_Definition:
northern right whale dolphin (Lissodelphis borealis) in summer using in-situ model - high 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Lbo_i_u_l
Attribute_Definition:
northern right whale dolphin (Lissodelphis borealis) in summer using in-situ model - low 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Lbo_i_u_d
Attribute_Definition:
northern right whale dolphin (Lissodelphis borealis) in summer using in-situ model - average density
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Lbo_i_u_e
Attribute_Definition:
northern right whale dolphin (Lissodelphis borealis) in summer using in-situ model - standard error
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Mno_r_u_h
Attribute_Definition:
humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in summer using remotely-sensed model - high 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Mno_r_u_l
Attribute_Definition:
humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in summer using remotely-sensed model - low 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Mno_r_u_d
Attribute_Definition:
humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in summer using remotely-sensed model - average density
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Mno_r_u_e
Attribute_Definition:
humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in summer using remotely-sensed model - standard error
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Pda_i_u_h
Attribute_Definition:
Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) in summer using in-situ model - high 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Pda_i_u_l
Attribute_Definition:
Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) in summer using in-situ model - low 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Pda_i_u_d
Attribute_Definition:
Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) in summer using in-situ model - average density
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Pda_i_u_e
Attribute_Definition:
Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) in summer using in-situ model - standard error
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Pma_i_u_h
Attribute_Definition:
sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in summer using in-situ model - high 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Pma_i_u_l
Attribute_Definition:
sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in summer using in-situ model - low 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Pma_i_u_d
Attribute_Definition:
sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in summer using in-situ model - average density
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Pma_i_u_e
Attribute_Definition:
sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in summer using in-situ model - standard error
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Sco_r_u_h
Attribute_Definition:
striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) in summer using remotely-sensed model - high 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Sco_r_u_l
Attribute_Definition:
striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) in summer using remotely-sensed model - low 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Sco_r_u_d
Attribute_Definition:
striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) in summer using remotely-sensed model - average density
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Sco_r_u_e
Attribute_Definition:
striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) in summer using remotely-sensed model - standard error
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Zsm_r_u_h
Attribute_Definition:
Guild: small beaked whale (Ziphius and Mesoplodon) in summer using remotely-sensed model - high 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Zsm_r_u_l
Attribute_Definition:
Guild: small beaked whale (Ziphius and Mesoplodon) in summer using remotely-sensed model - low 90% CI
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Zsm_r_u_d
Attribute_Definition:
Guild: small beaked whale (Ziphius and Mesoplodon) in summer using remotely-sensed model - average density
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Zsm_r_u_e
Attribute_Definition:
Guild: small beaked whale (Ziphius and Mesoplodon) in summer using remotely-sensed model - standard error
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: mdl_fld
Attribute_Definition: column used for internal cetmap symbology generation
Attribute_Definition_Source: Ben Best
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
Since fieldnames of shapefiles are limited to 10 characters, the following name scheme was used:
species_model_season_output
species: Bba = Guild: Berardius (Berardius) Bmu = blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) Bph = fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) Dde = short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) Ggr = Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) Lbo = northern right whale dolphin (Lissodelphis borealis) Lob = Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) Mno = humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Pda = Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) Pma = sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) Sco = striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) Zsm = Guild: small beaked whale (Ziphius and Mesoplodon)
model: i = in-situ r = remote-sensed
season: u = summer
output type: h = high 90% CI density l = low 90% CI density d = average density e = standard error of density
Distribution_Information:
Resource_Description: Downloadable Data
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Transfer_Size: 0.258
Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20100414
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization:
REQUIRED: The organization responsible for the metadata information.
Contact_Person: REQUIRED: The person responsible for the metadata information.
Contact_Address:
Address_Type:
REQUIRED: The mailing and/or physical address for the organization or individual.
City: REQUIRED: The city of the address.
State_or_Province: REQUIRED: The state or province of the address.
Postal_Code: REQUIRED: The ZIP or other postal code of the address.
Contact_Voice_Telephone:
REQUIRED: The telephone number by which individuals can speak to the organization or individual.
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
Metadata_Time_Convention: local time
Generated by mp version 2.9.12 on Sun Jul 01 16:04:34 2012