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    • A Dataset from Bio-loggers Deployed on Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) in Cook Inlet, Alaska (2004-2007)

    Metadata Updated: May 1, 2024

    Between 2004 and 2006 we conducted four harbor seal tagging trips in Cook Inlet during the months of October and May. In total, we captured and released 93 harbor seals, 77 of which were tagged with satellite transmitters. Each transmitter was glued to the hair on the back of the seal using durable epoxy. Fourteen of the seals were also equipped with specially developed transmitters that were attached to one of the rear flippers. Transmissions from the 91 tags resulted in 178,536 location estimates and 310,593 dive and haul-out behavior records. These data formed the basis for the development of novel analysis techniques. Johnson et al. (2008) described a novel continuous-time correlated random walk (CTCRW) method for predicting animal locations from satellite tags. Higgs and Ver Hoef (2011) described a new statistical method for analyzing dive behavior based on dive histogram recordings obtained from satellite tags.

    The data files within this dataset represent the 'raw' data obtained from the Wildlife Computers data portal. Each deployment (unique tag id + animal id combination) is provided as a zipped archive. The root folder also includes additional documentation. The various files and detailed column descriptions are described in the 'Spreadsheet-File-Descriptions.pdf' which was downloaded from Wildlife Computers (https://wildlifecomputers.com/support/downloads/). The '00_cookinletpv_get_data.Rmd' file is an RMarkdown file that provides code and documentation of the data retrieval process. The corresponding '00_cookinlet_get_data.hml' file is autogenerated from the RMarkdown file.

    Access & Use Information

    License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

    Downloads & Resources

    Dates

    Metadata Date April 17, 2024
    Metadata Created Date May 1, 2024
    Metadata Updated Date May 1, 2024
    Reference Date(s) 2019 (creation), May 20, 2019 (publication)
    Frequency Of Update notPlanned

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from NMFS AFSC

    Other Data Resources

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date April 17, 2024
    Metadata Created Date May 1, 2024
    Metadata Updated Date May 1, 2024
    Reference Date(s) 2019 (creation), May 20, 2019 (publication)
    Responsible Party (Point of Contact, Custodian)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:28173
    Access Constraints Cite As: Alaska Fisheries Science Center, [Date of Access]: A Dataset from Bio-loggers Deployed on Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) in Cook Inlet, Alaska (2004-2007) [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/28173., Access Constraints: The data set is intended to be archived with the US Animal Telemetry Network and the Data Observation Network for Earth (DataONE). Once the archival process is complete and verified, the data set will be publicly available., Use Constraints: User must read and fully comprehend the metadata prior to use. Applications or inferences derived from the data should be carefully considered for accuracy. While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. Acknowledge NOAA/NMFS/AFSC or the specified citation as the source from which these data were obtained in any publications and/or other representations of these data. Communication and collaboration with dataset authors is strongly encouraged., Distribution Liability: While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.
    Bbox East Long -147
    Bbox North Lat 61.7
    Bbox South Lat 54.8
    Bbox West Long -162
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update notPlanned
    Harvest Object Id 3875bf78-12f9-44a0-8a92-b99026c67803
    Harvest Source Id 26a29bb9-50b0-47fd-920b-edc74aa6ec76
    Harvest Source Title NMFS AFSC
    Licence NOAA provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability occurring from any incomplete, incorrect, or misleading data, or from any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading use of the data. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether or not the data is suitable for the intended purpose.
    Lineage Between 2004 and 2007, NOAA researchers captured, instrumented and released 93 harbor seals with satellite-linked bio-logging devices in Cook Inlet, Alaska. All age classes of animals were targeted. Although, there is uncertainty associated with field classification of age in seals. Satellite telemetry devices were attached to the hair of the back of the seals using fast-setting epoxy and, in some cases, to the rear inter-digital flipper webbing with two posts and holes. All data provided are included as zipped archives that contain a variety of files processed on the Wildlife Computers Data Portal. The specific files included are dependent upon the tag hardware, firmware, and programming options selected. The files and column heading descriptions are provided in the 'Spreadhseet-File-Descriptions.pdf' which was downloaded from the Wildlife Computers web site (https://wildlifecomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/manuals/Spreadsheet-File-Descriptions.pdf) on May 20 2019. The programming specifications and tag details are provided in either a *.htm or *.rpt file. These are the files created at the time the tag was programmed. The included '00_cookinletpv_get_data.Rmd' is an R Markdown file that describes the process for downloading and renaming files from the Wildlife Computers Data Portal. The '00_cookinletpv_get_data.html' file is created when this R Markdown file is run
    Metadata Language eng
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-162.0, 54.8], [-147.0, 54.8], [-147.0, 61.7], [-162.0, 61.7], [-162.0, 54.8]]]}
    Progress completed
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System EPSG::4326
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 2004
    Temporal Extent End 2007

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