gov.noaa.nodc:0190881 eng utf8 model NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NOAA Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information custodian 2026-04-06T17:47:49Z ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) Monk Seal Ecosystem Model Data: A Comparison of Ecosystem Structure and Energy Flows of Monk Seal Populations from Laysan Island and French Frigate Shoals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands from 1998 through 2015 (NCEI Accession 0190881) 2019-07-12 publication 2019-06-28 creation NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0190881 NCEI Archive Management System 0190881 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information publisher Kevin Trick University of Hawaii Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) Kevin.Trick@noaa.gov https://www.soest.hawaii.edu/cimar/ HTTPS University of Hawaii Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) website Institution web page information resourceProvider NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/PIFSC) resourceProvider Mariska Weijerman NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division mariska.weijerman@noaa.gov https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/ecosystem_sciences/ HTTPS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division website Institution web page information principalInvestigator Charles Littnan NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division charles.littnan@noaa.gov https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/ecosystem_sciences/ HTTPS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division website Institution web page information pointOfContact Weijerman, Mariska NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/ecosystem_sciences/ HTTPS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division website Institution web page information author Robinson, Stacie NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/ecosystem_sciences/ HTTPS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division website Institution web page information author Parrish, Frank Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center author Polovina, Jeffrey NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/ecosystem_sciences/ HTTPS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division website Institution web page information author Littnan, Charles NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Protected Species Division https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/ecosystem_sciences/ HTTPS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division website Institution web page information author Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center author NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/ecosystem_sciences/ HTTPS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division website Institution web page information contributor tableDigital To understand various ecosystem dynamics that could explain observed changes and differences in monk seal biomass at French Frigate Shoals (FFS) and Laysan (LAY), Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) version 6.4.4 modeling software was used to conduct two types of simulations, sensitivity (to understand the system) and hindcast (to evaluate drivers of monk seal population dynamics). EwE models for LAY and FFS were developed and model output was compared between the 2 models. The model output data included in the data sets represent the most important conclusions as reported in the publication from this study. These are (1) the mean of the last 5 years of each perturbation for sensitivity assessment; and (2) hindcast simulations. The first data set was used to understand the main drivers of the trophic structure and energy flow in the ecosystems. Four perturbation scenarios were simulated for a time span of 40 years (2010 through 2049): (a) baseline (compare static structural ecosystem composition between FFS and LAY), (b) altered predator abundance (30% decrease in biomass of main predators in the ecosystem), (c) altered monk seal prey abundance (30% decrease in biomass of main monk seal prey groups, with and without bottomfish to test how much bottomfish accounts for changes, and (d) altered primary productivity (change productivity annually by 10% for both phytoplankton and benthic algae through an annual forcing factor of 0.9 and 1.1 on both groups). The hindcast simulations were performed to evaluate the importance of historical stressors to monk seal population dynamics by selecting the best-fit model for the monk seal biomass time series (1998-2015). Stressors included were (a) fishing with time series based on commercial fishery data, (b) environment with time series of the monthly PDO index as a multiplier for primary productivity, (c) additional mortality simulated with a constant removal of monk seals of varied intensities, and (4) combinations of these 3 stressors (2a and 2c being the most important with regard to the observed trend in monk seal population). Time series observation data of monk seal biomass and benthic bottomfish biomass, as well as catch time series of bank sharks (only for FFS), benthic and demersal bottomfish, bank jacks, and macroheterotrophs (lobsters) were loaded into Ecosim for model fitting. Refer to Weijerman et al (2017) for complete details. The main objective of this study was to understand the difference in ecosystem dynamics that could explain the observed decrease in monk seal biomass at French Frigate Shoals and the more stable biomass at Laysan. Specifically we investigated the relative influence of potential drivers -- including primary productivity, prey population, and predation -- on the monk seal populations in 40-year simulations and the external drivers of climate and fishing with an additional mortality on monk seals in hindcast simulations. Understanding the drivers and predictability of population trends will illuminate areas of focus for Hawaiian monk seal recovery efforts. Funding Agency: NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center completed historicalArchive NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact asNeeded https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0190881 Preview graphic PNG 0190881 NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 2019-05-09 publication BIOMASS MARINE MAMMALS theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS model output theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division dataCentre NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center dataCentre NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS North Pacific Ocean Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument place NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS oceanography theme WMO_CategoryCode 2012-09-15 publication DOC/NOAA/NMFS > National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC/ESD > Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program project Provider Project Names Numeric Data Sets > Biology theme CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Vertebrates EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Mammals EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Mammals > Pinnipeds theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > MARINE MAMMALS EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > VEGETATION > BIOMASS theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) Hawaiian monk seal bottomfish fishery ecological modeling monk seal theme Provider Keywords COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > French Frigate Shoals (24N166W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Laysan Island (25N171W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (28N178W0000) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (28N178W0000) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > French Frigate Shoals (24N166W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Laysan Island (25N171W0001) place CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > HAWAIIAN ISLANDS OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN place Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian French Frigate Shoals Laysan Northwestern Hawaiian Islands place Provider Place Names KHJDLU Send2NCEI Submission Package ID accessLevel: Public otherRestrictions Cite as: Weijerman, Mariska; Robinson, Stacie; Parrish, Frank; Polovina, Jeffrey; Littnan, Charles; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2019). Monk Seal Ecosystem Model Data: A Comparison of Ecosystem Structure and Energy Flows of Monk Seal Populations from Laysan Island and French Frigate Shoals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands from 1998 through 2015 (NCEI Accession 0190881). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0190881. Accessed [date]. Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives. otherRestrictions Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2017: Monk Seal Ecosystem Model Data: A Comparison of Ecosystem Structure and Energy Flows of Monk Seal Populations from Laysan Island and French Frigate Shoals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/35796. 2017-11-06 publication gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:35796 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/35796 HTTPS https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/35796 InPort Metadata Record information NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/PIFSC) publisher tableDigital crossReference Weijerman, M., Robinson, S., Parrish, F., Polovina, J., & Littnan, C. (2017). Comparative application of trophic ecosystem models to evaluate drivers of endangered Hawaiian monk seal populations. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 582, 215–229. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12320 2017-11-06 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12320 https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12320 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12320 related journal article information Weijerman, M author Robinson, S author Parrish, F author Polovina, J author Littnan, C author Inter-Research Science Center publisher documentDigital Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 582 ISSN 0171-8630, ISSN 1616-1599, pp. 215-229 crossReference sciencePaper eng; USA utf8 environment oceans biota -172 -166 23.5 26 1998-01-01 2015-12-31 9 model data outputs and 2 data dictionaries are provided in this archival package. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 ncei.info@noaa.gov pointOfContact In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media. Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. CSV 0.772 https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0190881 HTTPS Web browser NCEI Dataset Landing Page Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/190881 HTTPS Web browser Descriptive Information Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/190881 HTTPS Web browser HTTPS Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. download ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0140/0190881/ FTP Any FTP client FTP These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP). download dataset NCEI Accession 0190881 v1.1 was published. 2019-07-12T18:46:20Z NCEI Accession 0190881 v1.1 publication https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0190881/1.1 HTTPS NCEI Accession 0190881 v1.1 published 2019-07-12T18:46:20Z download model Parameter or Variable: BIOMASS (calculated); Units: tons/square kilometer; Observation Category: model output; Sampling Instrument: Not applicable; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) version 6.4.4 was used to conduct sensitivity and hindcast simulations. Fish species were aggregated into functional groups and all biomass data was converted to metric tons per square kilometer and used as input data for the EwE models for Laysan and French Frigate Shoals. For the sensitivity assessment, four perturbation scenarios were simulated for a time span of 40 years (2010 through 2049): (a) baseline, (b) altered predator abundance, (c) altered monk seal prey abundance, and (d) altered primary productivity. The sensitivity assessment datasets include forecast simulations with monthly output for the last 5 years of the 40-year simulation run (2044-2049). Monthly output includes mean biomass of a variety of marine organisms, such as seabirds, sharks, fish, turtles, plankton, and algae. For the hindcast simulations, historical stressors to monk seal population dynamics were evaluated by selecting the best-fit model for monk seal biomass time series (1998-2015). The hindcast simulation datasets for 1998 through 2015 include simulated monk seal and bottomfish biomass factoring a few key external drivers (fishing with time series based on commercial fishery data and additional mortality simulated with a constant removal of monk seals of varied intensities being the most important). Time series observation data of monk seal biomass and benthic bottomfish biomass, as well as catch time series of bank sharks (only for FFS), benthic and demersal bottomfish, bank jacks, and macroheterotrophs (lobsters) were loaded into Ecosim for model fitting. Best-fit of model-simulated output data and observational data was based on the least square fitting criterion and summed the squared deviations. Additionally, the Akaike's information criterion (AIC) was calculated taking into account the small sample size. Refer to Weijerman et al (2017) for complete details. Weijerman M, Robinson S, Parrish F, Polovina J, Littnan C (2017) Comparative application of trophic ecosystem models to evaluate drivers of endangered Hawaiian monk seal populations. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 582:215-229. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12320; Data Quality Method: Model dynamics were validated with a hindcast simulation (1998-2015). Time series data of monk seal biomass and bottomfish biomass were loaded into Ecosim for validation and to fine-tune the model by adjusting vulnerability values and so minimize the residuals between predicted and observed time series of monk seal and bottomfish biomass using a least-square fitting criterion. We manually adjusted vulnerability values of interest based on the results from the perturbation scenarios and restricted them to ecological meaningful values (i.e., preferably between 1 and 3 with 10 as maximum value). asNeeded Metadata are developed, maintained and distributed by NCEI. Updates are performed as needed to maintain currentness. 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