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Marine turtles captured during haphazard at-sea surveys in Shark Bay, Australia from February 2008 to December 2013


At a Glance


Authors: Michael Heithaus, Jordan Thomson
Time period: 2008-02-26 to 2013-12-14
Package id: knb-lter-fce.1192.4
Dataset id: LT_PP_Heithaus_004

How to cite:
Heithaus, M., J. Thomson. 2019. Marine turtles captured during haphazard at-sea surveys in Shark Bay, Australia from February 2008 to December 2013. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/7696e20214fbf84f25d664ff7dc8050c. Dataset accessed 2024-04-18.

Geographic Coverage


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Detailed Metadata


  • Dataset Creator(s)
    • Name: Dr Michael Heithaus 
    • Organization: Florida International University
    • 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: Dr. Jordan Thomson 
    • Position: Post-doctoral Associate
    • Organization: Florida Internatiional University
    • Address: 3000 NE 151 St
      North Miami, FL 33181 USA
    • Phone: 305-919-4263
    • Fax: 305-919-4030
    • Email: jathoms@fiu.edu

  • Dataset Abstract
    This dataset provides information on marine turtles captured during long-term, haphazard surveys of our study site in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Taxon found in the study area include Chelonia mydas, Caretta caretta and Eretmochelys imbricata.
  • Geographic Coverage
    Study Extent Description
    Shark Bay, Western Australia, from Jan 2008 to Dec 2013

    Bounding Coordinates
    Shark Bay, Western Australia
    N: -24.886, S: -26.663, E: 114.193, W: 113.021

    FCE LTER Sites
    Shark Bay Marine Park

    All Sites
    Geographic Description
    Bounding Coordinates
    Shallow seagrass banks and sandflats near Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
    Shallow seagrass banks and sandflats near Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
    Shallow seagrass banks and sandflats near Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
    Shallow seagrass banks and sandflats near Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
    Shallow seagrass banks and sandflats near Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
    Shallow seagrass banks and sandflats near Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
    Shallow seagrass banks and sandflats near Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
    Shallow seagrass banks and sandflats near Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
    Shallow seagrass banks and sandflats near Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
    Shallow seagrass banks and sandflats near Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
    Shallow seagrass banks and sandflats near Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
    Shallow seagrass banks and sandflats near Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
    Shallow seagrass banks and sandflats near Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
    Shallow seagrass banks and sandflats near Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
    Shallow seagrass banks and sandflats near Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
    Shallow seagrass banks and sandflats near Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
  • Attributes
    • Data Table:   Marine turtles captured during haphazard at-sea surveys in Shark Bay, Australia from February 2008 to December 2013
      Attribute Name:
      Date
      Attribute Label:
      date
      Attribute Definition:
      Collection date
      Storage Type:
      datetime
      Measurement Scale:
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Time
      Attribute Label:
      Time
      Attribute Definition:
      Time of day sample collected
      Storage Type:
      datetime
      Measurement Scale:
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      LatitudeDD
      Attribute Label:
      Latitude_DD
      Attribute Definition:
      Latitude
      Storage Type:
      coordinate
      Measurement Scale:
      Latitude
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      LongitudeDD
      Attribute Label:
      Longitude_DD
      Attribute Definition:
      Longitude
      Storage Type:
      coordinate
      Measurement Scale:
      Longitude
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Recap
      Attribute Label:
      Recap
      Attribute Definition:
      Has the Turtle been captured and tagged previously
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Yes= captured previously, No
      Missing Value Code:
      NA (Data not collected)

      Attribute Name:
      Species
      Attribute Label:
      Species
      Attribute Definition:
      Species (green, loggerhead, hawksbill)
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Species (green, loggerhead, hawksbill)
      Missing Value Code:
      NA (Data not collected)

      Attribute Name:
      Length
      Attribute Label:
      Length
      Attribute Definition:
      Curved carapace length at midline
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: centimeter
      Precision: 0.1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.0 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Width
      Attribute Label:
      Width
      Attribute Definition:
      Curved carapace width at widest point
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: centimeter
      Precision: 0.1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.0 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Tail
      Attribute Label:
      Tail
      Attribute Definition:
      Tail length (distance from posterior edge of carapace to tip of straightened tail)
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: centimeter
      Precision: 0.1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.0 (Data not collected or unreliable)

      Attribute Name:
      TailNotes
      Attribute Label:
      Tail Notes
      Attribute Definition:
      Notes on Tail Measurements
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Notes on Tail Measurements
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Mass
      Attribute Label:
      Mass
      Attribute Definition:
      Mass measured using hanging scale
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: kilogram
      Precision: 1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (Data not collected or unreliable)

      Attribute Name:
      MassNotes
      Attribute Label:
      Mass Notes
      Attribute Definition:
      Notes on Mass Measurements
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Notes on Mass Measurements
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      LeftTag
      Attribute Label:
      Left foreflipper tag
      Attribute Definition:
      Left foreflipper tag number
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Left foreflipper tag number
      Missing Value Code:
      NA (Tag not applied)

      Attribute Name:
      RightTag
      Attribute Label:
      Right foreflipper Tag
      Attribute Definition:
      Right foreflipper tag number
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Right foreflipper tag number
      Missing Value Code:
      NA (Tag not applied)

      Attribute Name:
      Notes
      Attribute Label:
      Notes
      Attribute Definition:
      Notes
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Notes
      Missing Value Code:
      NA (No notes taken)

      Attribute Name:
      Chel
      Attribute Label:
      Chelonibia barnacles
      Attribute Definition:
      Presence of large Chelonibia barnacles
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Yes= present, No
      Missing Value Code:
      NA (Data not collected or not reliable)

      Attribute Name:
      Burr
      Attribute Label:
      Burrowing barnacles
      Attribute Definition:
      Presence of burrowing barnacles
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Yes= present, No
      Missing Value Code:
      NA (Data not collected or not reliable)

      Attribute Name:
      Algae
      Attribute Label:
      Algae
      Attribute Definition:
      Presence and thickness of algae on carapace
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Presence and thickness of algae on carapace
      Missing Value Code:
      NA (Data not collected or not reliable)

      Attribute Name:
      Mud
      Attribute Label:
      Mud
      Attribute Definition:
      Presence and thickness of mud on carapace
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Yes= present, No
      Missing Value Code:
      NA (Data not collected or not reliable)

      Attribute Name:
      SeaSquirts
      Attribute Label:
      SeaSquirts
      Attribute Definition:
      Presence of epiphytic sea squirts on carapace
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Yes= present, No
      Missing Value Code:
      NA (Data not collected or not reliable)

      Attribute Name:
      Fibropapilloma
      Attribute Label:
      Fibropapilloma
      Attribute Definition:
      Presence of Fibropapillomas on body
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Yes= present, No
      Missing Value Code:
      NA (Data not collected or not reliable)

      Attribute Name:
      Damage
      Attribute Label:
      Damage
      Attribute Definition:
      Damage to flippers (RFF, LFF, RHF, LHF), carapace (CAR), tail (Tail); Yes for other damage, described in DamageNotes
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Damage to flippers (RFF, LFF, RHF, LHF), carapace (CAR), tail (Tail); Yes for other damage, described in DamageNotes
      Missing Value Code:
      NA (Data not collected or not reliable)

      Attribute Name:
      DamageNotes
      Attribute Label:
      DamageNotes
      Attribute Definition:
      Description of damage
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Description of damage
      Missing Value Code:
      NA (Data not collected or no additional details recorded)

      Attribute Name:
      SharkDamage
      Attribute Label:
      SharkDamage
      Attribute Definition:
      Presence of evidence of shark-inflicted damage (bite marks, flipper amputations)
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      1= shark-inflicted damage, 0
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (Data not collected or not reliable)

      Attribute Name:
      Substrate
      Attribute Label:
      Substrate
      Attribute Definition:
      Dominant substrate at site of capture (sand, seagrass, algae)
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Dominant substrate at site of capture (sand, seagrass, algae)
      Missing Value Code:
      NA (Data not collected or not reliable)

      Attribute Name:
      Depth
      Attribute Label:
      Depth
      Attribute Definition:
      Depth at site of capture from depth sounder
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: foot
      Precision: 0.10
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.0 (Data not collected or not reliable)

      Attribute Name:
      Condition
      Attribute Label:
      Condition
      Attribute Definition:
      Turtle body condition assessed visually (VeryConcave, Concave, SlightConcave, Flat, SlightConvex, Convex)
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Turtle body condition assessed visually (VeryConcave, Concave, SlightConcave, Flat, SlightConvex, Convex)
      Missing Value Code:
      NA (Data not collected or not reliable)

      Attribute Name:
      Activity
      Attribute Label:
      Activity
      Attribute Definition:
      Turtle activity at time of sighting (resting, swimming, breathing, feeding)
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Turtle activity at time of sighting (resting, swimming, breathing, feeding)
      Missing Value Code:
      NA (Data not collected or not reliable)


  • Methods
    Sampling Description
    Curved carapace length measured using flexible measuring tape

    Method Step

    Description
    Length

    Instrumentation
    Flexible measuring tape

    Method Step

    Description
    Width

    Instrumentation
    Flexible measuring tape

    Method Step

    Description
    Tail

    Instrumentation
    Flexible measuring tape

    Method Step

    Description
    Mass

    Instrumentation
    Hanging scale

    Method Step

    Description
    Chel

    Instrumentation
    Visual inspection

    Method Step

    Description
    Burr

    Instrumentation
    Visual inspection

    Method Step

    Description
    Algae

    Instrumentation
    Visual inspection

    Method Step

    Description
    Mud

    Instrumentation
    Visual inspection

    Method Step

    Description
    Sea Squirt

    Instrumentation
    Visual inspection

    Method Step

    Description
    Fibropapilloma

    Instrumentation
    Visual inspection

    Method Step

    Description
    Damage

    Instrumentation
    Visual inspection

    Method Step

    Description
    SharkDamage

    Instrumentation
    Visual inspection

    Method Step

    Description
    Substrate

    Instrumentation
    Visual inspection

    Method Step

    Description
    Depth

    Instrumentation
    Depth sounder

    Method Step

    Description
    Condition

    Instrumentation
    Visual inspection

    Method Step

    Description
    Activity

    Instrumentation
    Visual inspection

    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
    https://fce-lter.fiu.edu/perl/public_data_download.pl?datasetid=LT_PP_Heithaus_004.txt
    Data Submission Date:  2014-07-25

    Intellectual Rights
    This information is released under the Creative Commons license - Attribution - CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The consumer of these data ("Data User" herein) is required to cite it appropriately in any publication that results from its use. The Data User should realize that these data may be actively used by others for ongoing research and that coordination may be necessary to prevent duplicate publication. The Data User is urged to contact the authors of these data if any questions about methodology or results occur. Where appropriate, the Data User is encouraged to consider collaboration or co-authorship with the authors. The Data User should realize that misinterpretation of data may occur if used out of context of the original study. While substantial efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of data and associated documentation, complete accuracy of data sets cannot be guaranteed. All data are made available "as is." The Data User should be aware, however, that data are updated periodically and it is the responsibility of the Data User to check for new versions of the data. The data authors and the repository where these data were obtained shall not be liable for damages resulting from any use or misinterpretation of the data. Thank you.

  • Keywords
    populations, reptiles, marine, Shark Bay , World Heritage Site, ecological research, turtle monitoring, Western Australia, turtle species, turtle mass, carapace length, carapace width, turtle tail length
  • Dataset Contact
    • Name: Dr Michael 
    • Position: Co- PI
    • Organization: Heithaus
    • Address: FIU, BBC, MSB 250J, 3000 NE 151st Street
      North Miami, FL 33181 USA
    • Phone: 305-919-5234
    • Fax: 305-919-4030
    • Email: heithaus@fiu.edu
    • URL: http://www2.fiu.edu/~heithaus/

    • Name: Dr. Jordan 
    • Position: Post-doctoral Associate
    • Organization: Thomson
    • Address: 3000 NE 151 St
      North Miami, FL 33181 USA
    • Phone: 305-919-4263
    • Fax: 305-919-4030
    • Email: jathoms@fiu.edu

  • Data Table and Format
    Data Table:  Marine turtles captured during haphazard at-sea surveys in Shark Bay, Australia from February 2008 to December 2013

    Entity Name:
    LT_PP_Heithaus_004.txt
    Entity Description:
    Marine turtles captured during haphazard at-sea surveys in Shark Bay, Australia from February 2008 to December 2013
    Object Name:
    LT_PP_Heithaus_004.txt
    Number of Header Lines:
    1
    Attribute Orientation:
    column
    Field Delimiter:
    ,
    Number of Records:
    285

  • Project permits
    Dept of Env. Conservation (W. Australia) #SF009140 and previous renewals