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Bull shark catches, water temperatures, salinities, and dissolved oxygen levels in the Shark River Slough, Everglades National Park (FCE) , from May 2005 to May 2009


At a Glance


Authors: Michael Heithaus, Philip Matich
Time period: to
Package id: knb-lter-fce.1167.3
Dataset id: LT_TDCS_Heithaus_001

How to cite:
Heithaus, M., P. Matich. 2011. Bull shark catches, water temperatures, salinities, and dissolved oxygen levels in the Shark River Slough, Everglades National Park (FCE) , from May 2005 to May 2009. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/. Dataset accessed 2024-03-28.

Geographic Coverage


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Detailed Metadata


  • Dataset Creator(s)
    • Name: Dr Michael Heithaus 
    • Position: coPI
    • Organization: Florida International University, BBC, MSB 250A
    • Address: 3000 NE 151 St
      North Miami, FL 33181 USA
    • Phone: 305-919-5234
    • Fax: 305-919-4030
    • Email: heithaus@fiu.edu
    • URL: http://www.fiu.edu/~heithaus/

    • Name: Philip Matich 
    • Position: Graduate Student
    • Organization: Florida International University, BBC, MSB 334
    • Address: 3000 NE 151 St
      North Miami, FL 33181 USA
    • Phone: 305-919-4263
    • Fax: 305-919-4030
    • Email: pmati001@fiu.edu

  • Dataset Abstract
    This dataset provides information on the catches of bull sharks in the Shark River Slough in relation to physical factors including dissolved oxygen, water temperature, salinity, and distance upstream. Analysis of data collected from 2005-2007 indicate that distance from the Gulf of Mexico and dissolved oxygen concentrations have the largest effects on bull shark catch rates. Data are presented for both young of the year sharks, which are concentrated in areas away from the main channel approximately 20km upstream, and older juvenile sharks which are found along the main channel at similar distances upstream. Salinity has a surprisingly weak impact on catches over the time frame initially investigated.
  • Geographic Coverage
    Study Extent Description
    The Study Extent of this dataset includes the FCE Shark River Slough research sites within Everglades National Park, South Florida

    Bounding Coordinates
    Data were collected from the mouth of the Shark River to approximately 30km upstream in Rookery Branch
    N: 25.454, S: 25.333, E: -80.670, W: -81.120

    Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Study Area: South Florida, Everglades National Park, and Florida Bay
    N: 25.761, S: 24.913, E: -80.490, W: -81.078

    FCE LTER Sites
    SRS4, SRS5, SRS6

    All Sites
    Geographic Description
    Bounding Coordinates
    DR (Down River generally near SRS6)
    N: 25.359, S: 25.358, E: -81.061, W: -81.119
    SRS5
    N: 25.39, S: 25.37, E: -81.01, W: -81.04
    SRS4
    N: 25.42, S: 25.41, E: -80.96, W: -80.99
    OC (Otter Creek, northern Tarpon Bay and Otter Creek)
    N: 25.44, S: 25.43, E: -80.94, W: -80.98
    UR (Up River, throughout Rookery Branch)
    N: 25.45, S: 25.45, E: -80.87, W: -80.92
  • Attributes
    • Data Table:   Bull shark catches, water temperatures, salinities, and dissolved oxygen levels in the Shark River Slough, Everglades National Park (FCE)
      Attribute Name:
      SITENAME
      Attribute Label:
      sitename
      Attribute Definition:
      Name of LTER site
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Name of LTER site
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Date
      Attribute Label:
      date
      Attribute Definition:
      Collection date
      Storage Type:
      datetime
      Measurement Scale:
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      DOY
      Attribute Label:
      DOY
      Attribute Definition:
      Day of Year
      Storage Type:
      ordinal
      Measurement Scale:
      Day of Year
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Set_Start_Time
      Attribute Label:
      Set_Start_Time
      Attribute Definition:
      Set Start Time
      Storage Type:
      datetime
      Measurement Scale:
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Set_Num
      Attribute Label:
      Set_Num
      Attribute Definition:
      cumulative longline set number
      Storage Type:
      ordinal
      Measurement Scale:
      cumulative longline set number
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (Value was not recorded)

      Attribute Name:
      Num_Hooks
      Attribute Label:
      Num_Hooks
      Attribute Definition:
      Number of Hooks on longline set
      Storage Type:
      nominal
      Measurement Scale:
      Number of Hooks on longline set
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (Value was not recorded)

      Attribute Name:
      Bull_Shark_Count
      Attribute Label:
      Bull_Shark_Count
      Attribute Definition:
      number of sharks caught on longline
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: countPerLongline
      Precision: 1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (Value was not recorded)

      Attribute Name:
      TEMP
      Attribute Label:
      TEMP
      Attribute Definition:
      water temperature
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: celsius
      Precision: 0.1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.0 (Value was not recorded)

      Attribute Name:
      Salinity
      Attribute Label:
      salinity
      Attribute Definition:
      Composite salinity
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: PSU
      Precision: 0.1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.0 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      DO
      Attribute Label:
      DO
      Attribute Definition:
      Dissolved oxygen
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: milligramsPerLiter
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value was not recorded)

      Attribute Name:
      DO_perSat
      Attribute Label:
      DO_perSat
      Attribute Definition:
      dissolved oxygen percent saturation
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: percent
      Precision: 0.1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.0 (Value was not recorded)


  • Methods
    Sampling Description
    Longline catches of bull sharks

    Method Step

    Description
    Longline catches of bull sharks

    Instrumentation
    ~500m longline with 30-50 2m gangions equipped with 13/0-15/0 circle hooks and baited with mullet

    Method Step

    Description
    Dissolved oxygen collected during longline sets

    Instrumentation
    YSI85

    Method Step

    Description
    Water Temperature collected during longline sets

    Instrumentation
    YSI85

    Method Step

    Description
    Salinity collected during longline sets

    Instrumentation
    YSI85

    Quality Control
    Data are checked against field notes and datasheets after entry. Data are visually inspected by graduate students and the PI to determine if any values are obviously in error.
  • Distribution and Intellectual Rights
    Online distribution
    http://fcelter.fiu.edu/perl/public_data_download.pl?datasetid=LT_TDCS_Heithaus_001.txt
    Data Submission Date:  2009-05-19

    Intellectual Rights
    These data are classified as 'Type II' whereby original FCE LTER experimental data collected by individual FCE researchers to be released to restricted audiences according to terms specified by the owners of the data. Type II data are considered to be exceptional and should be rare in occurrence. The justification for exceptions must be well documented and approved by the lead PI and Site Data Manager. Some examples of Type II data restrictions may include: locations of rare or endangered species, data that are covered under prior licensing or copyright (e.g., SPOT satellite data), or covered by the Human Subjects Act, Student Dissertation data and those data related to the FCE LTER Program but not funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under LTER grants #DEB-9910514, and # DBI-0620409. Researchers that make use of Type II Data may be subject to additional restrictions to protect any applicable commercial or confidentiality interests. All publications based on this dataset must cite the data Contributor, the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program and that this material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation through the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research program under Cooperative Agreements #DEB-1237517, #DBI-0620409, and #DEB-9910514. Additionally, two copies of the manuscript must be submitted to the Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Program Office, LTER Program Manager, Florida International University, Southeast Environmental Research Center, OE 148, University Park, Miami, Florida 33199. For a complete description of the FCE LTER Data Access Policy and Data User Agreement, please go to FCE Data Management Policy at http://fcelter.fiu.edu/data/DataMgmt.pdf and LTER Network Data Access Policy at http://fcelter.fiu.edu/data/core/data_user_agreement/distribution_policy.html.

  • Keywords
    FCE, Florida Coastal Everglades LTER, ecological research, long-term monitoring, bull shark, consumer interactions, habitat use, Shark River Slough, salinity, water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, percent dissolved oxygen, water, processes
  • Dataset Contact
    • Position: Information Manager
    • Organization: LTER Network Office
    • Address: UNM Biology Department, MSC03-2020
      1 University of New Mexico
      Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 USA
    • Phone: 505 277-2535
    • Fax: 505 277-2541
    • Email: tech-support@lternet.edu
    • URL: http://www.lternet.edu

    • Name: Dr Michael 
    • Position: Florida International University, BBC, MSB 361
    • Organization: Heithaus
    • Address: coPI
      3000 NE 151 St, North Miami FL 33181
    • Phone: USA
    • Fax: 305-919-5234
    • Email: 305-919-4030
    • URL: heithaus@fiu.edu

    • Position: Information Manager
    • Organization: Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Program
    • Address: Florida International University
      University Park
      OE 148
      Miami, FL 33199 USA
    • Phone: 305-348-6054
    • Fax: 305-348-4096
    • Email: fcelter@fiu.edu
    • URL: http://fcelter.fiu.edu

  • Data Table and Format
    Data Table:  Bull shark catches, water temperatures, salinities, and dissolved oxygen levels in the Shark River Slough, Everglades National Park (FCE)

    Entity Name:
    LT_TDCS_Heithaus_001
    Entity Description:
    Bull shark catches, water temperatures, salinities, and dissolved oxygen levels in the Shark River Slough, Everglades National Park (FCE)
    Object Name:
    LT_TDCS_Heithaus_001
    Number of Header Lines:
    1
    Attribute Orientation:
    column
    Field Delimiter:
    ,
    Number of Records:
    255