Dataset title:  Count data of air-breathing fauna from visual transect surveys including water temperature, time, sea and weather conditions in Shark Bay Marine Park, Western Australia from February 2008 to July 2014

Dataset ID:  ST_TDCS_Heithaus_002
Research type:   Short-term

Dataset Creator

	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:		Mr Robert Nowicki
	Position:	Graduate Student
	Organization:	Florida Internatiional University, BBC, MSB 250J
	
	Address:
			3000 NE 151 St
			North Miami, FL 33181  USA
	
	Phone:		336-403-2722
	Email:		rnowi001@fiu.edu


Metadata Provider

	Organization:	Florida International University
	
	Address:
			 3000 NE 151st Street
			North Miami, FL 33181  USA
	
	Phone:		305-919-5234
	Email:		Heithaus@fiu.edu
	URL:		www.SBERP.org


Dataset Abstract

	This dataset provides information on the relative abundances of air breathing fauna (dugongs, dolphins, sea snakes, marine birds, and sea turtles) in the study area of the Eastern Gulf of Shark Bay, Western Australia.  The dataset comprises transects that quantify animal abundances in three microhabitats (shallow seagrass banks, seagrass bank edges, and deep sandy channels).  These microhabitats vary in their food supply as well as their potential to facilitate or inhibit detection and escape from predators, mainly the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier).  As a result these data have been used to examine risk-specific habitat use behaviors of these fauna, in addition to general abundance estimates.


Geographic Coverage

	Study Extent Description

		Eastern Gulf of Shark Bay, Western Australia, North of Monkey Mia

	Bounding Coordinates

		Geographic description:	Eastern Gulf of Shark Bay, Western Australia.  Study site is approximately 130 km2 in area and begins immediately north of Monkey Mia, in Shark Bay.
		West bounding coordinate:	113.662
		East bounding coordinate:	113.796
		North bounding coordinate:	-25.721
		South bounding coordinate:	-25.808
	

	FCE LTER Sites:  Shark Bay Marine Park


	All Sites

		Geographic Description:Shallow seagrass banks and channels immediately north of Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
		Longitude:113.796
		Latitude:-25.808

		Geographic Description:Shallow seagrass banks and channels immediately north of Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
		Longitude:113.796
		Latitude:-25.808

		Geographic Description:Shallow seagrass banks and channels immediately north of Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
		Longitude:113.796
		Latitude:-25.808



Temporal Coverage

	Start Date:  2008-02-25
	End Date:  2014-07-21


Data Table

	Entity Name:  ST_TDCS_Heithaus_002.txt
	Entity Description:  Count data of air-breathing fauna from visual transect surveys including water temperature, time, sea and weather conditions in Shark Bay Marine Park, Western Australia from February 2008 to July 2014
	Object Name:  ST_TDCS_Heithaus_002.txt

	Data Format

		Number of Header Lines:  1
		Attribute Orientation:  column
		Field Delimiter:  ,
		Number of Records:  

	Attributes

		Attribute Name:  date
		Attribute Label:  date
		Attribute Definition:  date transect was run
		Storage Type:  datetime
		Measurement Scale: 
		Missing Value Code: 


		Attribute Name:  year
		Attribute Label:  year
		Attribute Definition:  year transect was run
		Storage Type:  ordinal
		Measurement Scale: 
			year transect was run
		Missing Value Code: 


		Attribute Name:  month
		Attribute Label:  month
		Attribute Definition:  month transect was run
		Storage Type:  ordinal
		Measurement Scale: 
			month transect was run
		Missing Value Code: 


		Attribute Name:  day
		Attribute Label:  day
		Attribute Definition:  day of month transect was run
		Storage Type:  ordinal
		Measurement Scale: 
			day of month transect was run
		Missing Value Code: 


		Attribute Name:  FZ_st
		Attribute Label:  focal zone
		Attribute Definition:  standardized focal zone
		Storage Type:  nominal
		Measurement Scale: 
			1=  shallow bank 1
			 2= deep channel 2
			 3= shallow bank 3
			 4=  deep channel 4
			 5=  deep channel 5
			 6= shallow bank 6
			8=  deep sand plain 8
			 10=  shallow bank 10
			 11=  deep channel 11
			 12=  shallow bank 12
		Missing Value Code: 


		Attribute Name:  HAB_st
		Attribute Label:  habitat type
		Attribute Definition:  standardized habitat type
		Storage Type:  text
		Measurement Scale: 
			shallow=  average depth <2.5m
			 deep=  average depth ~10m
		Missing Value Code: 


		Attribute Name:  Season
		Attribute Label:  season
		Attribute Definition:  season (warm or cool)
		Storage Type:  text
		Measurement Scale: 
			cool=  june 1 to August 15
			 warm=  August 16 to May 31
		Missing Value Code: 


		Attribute Name:  Dolphin
		Attribute Label:  count
		Attribute Definition:  Number of indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins sighted on transect
		Storage Type:  data
		Measurement Scale: 
			Units:  number
			Precision:  1
			Number Type:  integer
		Missing Value Code: -9999  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  Dugong
		Attribute Label:  count
		Attribute Definition:  number of dugongs sighted on transect
		Storage Type:  data
		Measurement Scale: 
			Units:  number
			Precision:  1
			Number Type:  real
		Missing Value Code: -9999  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  Seasnake
		Attribute Label:  count
		Attribute Definition:  number of seasnakes of any species sighted on transect
		Storage Type:  data
		Measurement Scale: 
			Units:  number
			Precision:  1
			Number Type:  real
		Missing Value Code: -9999  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  Cormorant
		Attribute Label:  count
		Attribute Definition:  number of pied cormorants sighted on transect
		Storage Type:  data
		Measurement Scale: 
			Units:  number
			Precision:  1
			Number Type:  real
		Missing Value Code: -9999  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  Turtle
		Attribute Label:  count
		Attribute Definition:  number of sea turtles sighted on transect
		Storage Type:  data
		Measurement Scale: 
			Units:  number
			Precision:  1
			Number Type:  real
		Missing Value Code: -9999  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  TRlng_m
		Attribute Label:  length
		Attribute Definition:  length of transect in meters
		Storage Type:  data
		Measurement Scale: 
			Units:  meter
			Precision:  0.001
			Number Type:  real
		Missing Value Code: -9999.000  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  TRlng_km
		Attribute Label:  length
		Attribute Definition:  length of transect in kilometers
		Storage Type:  data
		Measurement Scale: 
			Units:  kilometer
			Precision:  0.001
			Number Type:  real
		Missing Value Code: -9999.000  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  Trarea
		Attribute Label:  area
		Attribute Definition:  area of transect (total area of sighting band)
		Storage Type:  data
		Measurement Scale: 
			Units:  squareKilometers
			Precision:  0.001
			Number Type:  real
		Missing Value Code: -9999.000  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  Trdepth
		Attribute Label:  depth
		Attribute Definition:  average depth of water over transect length
		Storage Type:  data
		Measurement Scale: 
			Units:  meter
			Precision:  0.001
			Number Type:  real
		Missing Value Code: -9999.000  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  Obs
		Attribute Label:  quantity
		Attribute Definition:  number of human observers on vessel
		Storage Type:  data
		Measurement Scale: 
			Units:  number
			Precision:  1
			Number Type:  integer
		Missing Value Code: -9999  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  Time_S
		Attribute Label:  time
		Attribute Definition:  time of transect start
		Storage Type:  datetime
		Measurement Scale: 
		Missing Value Code: 


		Attribute Name:  Time_E
		Attribute Label:  time
		Attribute Definition:  time of transect end
		Storage Type:  datetime
		Measurement Scale: 
		Missing Value Code: 


		Attribute Name:  min_out
		Attribute Label:  duration (minutes)
		Attribute Definition:  number of minutes wherein transect was interrupted
		Storage Type:  datetime
		Measurement Scale: 
		Missing Value Code: -9999  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  Raw_Time
		Attribute Label:  duration
		Attribute Definition:  raw total time, including minutes out of transect
		Storage Type:  datetime
		Measurement Scale: 
		Missing Value Code: -9999  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  Total_min
		Attribute Label:  duration
		Attribute Definition:  total number of minutes on transect, excluding minutes during which transect was interrupted
		Storage Type:  datetime
		Measurement Scale: 
		Missing Value Code: -9999  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  Start_GPS_S
		Attribute Label:  Lat/Long coordinate
		Attribute Definition:  Latitude coordinate of transect start in decimal degrees
		Storage Type:  coordinate
		Measurement Scale: 
			Latitude coordinate of transect start in decimal degrees
		Missing Value Code: -9999.00000  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  Start_GPS_E
		Attribute Label:  Lat/Long coordinate
		Attribute Definition:  Longitude coordinate of transect start in decimal degrees
		Storage Type:  coordinate
		Measurement Scale: 
			Longitude coordinate of transect start in decimal degrees
		Missing Value Code: -9999.00000  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  End_GPS_S
		Attribute Label:  Lat/Long coordinate
		Attribute Definition:  Latitude coordinate of transect end in decimal degrees
		Storage Type:  coordinate
		Measurement Scale: 
			Latitude coordinate of transect end in decimal degrees
		Missing Value Code: -9999.00000  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  End_GPS_E
		Attribute Label:  Lat/Long coordinate
		Attribute Definition:  Longitude coordinate of transect end in decimal degrees
		Storage Type:  coordinate
		Measurement Scale: 
			Longitude coordinate of transect end in decimal degrees
		Missing Value Code: -9999.00000  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  Beaufort
		Attribute Label:  weather conditions
		Attribute Definition:  Beaufort weather scale conditions at deploy
		Storage Type:  ordinal
		Measurement Scale: 
			1= light air, 1.5
		Missing Value Code: -9999.0  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  Beaufort_Notes
		Attribute Label:  Notes on Beaufort weather conditions
		Attribute Definition:  Notes on Beaufort weather conditions
		Storage Type:  text
		Measurement Scale: 
			Notes on Beaufort weather conditions
		Missing Value Code: NA  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  VIS
		Attribute Label:  visibility
		Attribute Definition:  surface visibility
		Storage Type:  text
		Measurement Scale: 
			surface visibility
		Missing Value Code: NA  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  Cloud_cov
		Attribute Label:  % cloud cover
		Attribute Definition:  % cover of clouds 
		Storage Type:  data
		Measurement Scale: 
			Units:		percent
			Precision:  0.01
			Number Type:  real
		Missing Value Code: -9999  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  Cloud_cov_notes
		Attribute Label:  notes on % cloud cover
		Attribute Definition:  notes on % cloud cover
		Storage Type:  text
		Measurement Scale: 
			notes on % cloud cover
		Missing Value Code: 


		Attribute Name:  Glare
		Attribute Label:  direction and intensity
		Attribute Definition:  direction and intensity of glare
		Storage Type:  text
		Measurement Scale: 
			direction and intensity of glare
		Missing Value Code: NA  (No usable data recorded)


		Attribute Name:  Tide
		Attribute Label:  tide
		Attribute Definition:  tidal flow during transect run
		Storage Type:  text
		Measurement Scale: 
			tidal flow during transect run
		Missing Value Code: NA  (No usable data recorded)


		Attribute Name:  Low
		Attribute Label:  time
		Attribute Definition:  time of the day's low tide
		Storage Type:  datetime
		Measurement Scale: 
		Missing Value Code: NA  (Data not collected/recorded)


		Attribute Name:  Lo_Level
		Attribute Label:  depth
		Attribute Definition:  height of low tide based on lowest astronomical tide (LAT)
		Storage Type:  data
		Measurement Scale: 
			Units:  meter
			Precision:  0.01
			Number Type:  real
		Missing Value Code: -9999.00  (Value will never be recorded )


		Attribute Name:  High
		Attribute Label:  time
		Attribute Definition:  time of the day's high tide
		Storage Type:  datetime
		Measurement Scale: 
		Missing Value Code: NA  (Data not collected/recorded)


		Attribute Name:  Hi_Level
		Attribute Label:  depth
		Attribute Definition:  height of high tide based on Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT)
		Storage Type:  data
		Measurement Scale: 
			Units:  meter
			Precision:  0.01
			Number Type:  real
		Missing Value Code: -9999.00  (Value will never be recorded )




Methods

	Sampling Description 

		Visual transect surveys for air breathing fauna


	Method Step 

		Description 

			Visual transect surveys for air breathing fauna


		Citation

			Heithaus, Michael R. , Aaron J.  Wirsing, Larry M.  Dill. 1905-07-04. The ecological importance of intact top-predator populations: a synthesis of 15 years of research in a seagrass ecosystem. . Marine and Freshwater Research, 63: 1039-1050.



		Instrumentation

			Human observers on a 4.5 to 5.5 research vessel


	Method Step 

		Description 

			Water temperature collected at transect start


		Instrumentation

			Ship-based transducer


	Method Step 

		Description 

			Weather conditions collected at transect start


		Instrumentation

			Human observer


		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

	Online distribution:  https://fce-lter.fiu.edu/perl/public_data_download.pl?datasetid=ST_TDCS_Heithaus_002.txt


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.


Dataset Keywords

	populations
	birds
	mammals
	reptiles
	marine
	Shark Bay Eastern Gulf
	World Heritage Site
	ecological research
	long-term monitoring
	Data Submission Date:  2014-07-23

Maintenance

	This is a Short-term environmental dataset collected in the Eastern Gulf of Shark Bay, Western Australia.


Dataset Contact



Project permits

	DEC Permit # SF009325 and # CE004018


Dataset Submission Date 

	2014-07-23