NYSDEC aerial surveys

Meghan Rickard

doi:10.15468/n4wpnp

NYSDEC aerial surveys

Citation

Rickard, M. 2022. NYSDEC aerial surveys. Data downloaded from OBIS-SEAMAP (https://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/2209) on yyyy-mm-dd. https://doi.org/10.15468/n4wpnp accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-15.

Description

Original provider: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Dataset credits: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Abstract: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Marine Resources contracted Tetra Tech to conduct aerial whale monitoring in the New York Bight (NYB). Monitoring consisted of 36 monthly line-transect aerial surveys starting in March 2017 and ending in February 2020. The NYB survey area is a 43,449 square kilometer area of ocean from the south shore of Long Island to the continental shelf break. These surveys focused on six large whale species: the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), fin whale (B. physalus), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), sei whale (B. borealis), and sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). This longitudinal multi-year study provides new insight into the occurrence, relative abundance, behavior, and densities and abundance of the six large whale species, as well as the occurrence other marine species, in the NYB. A total of 733.1 hours and 149,482 kilometers of flight time were completed over 263 survey flights. Observations were conducted by two observers from a high-winged, twin-engine Partenavia aircraft; one observer was positioned on each side of the aircraft and looked through bubble windows. Data recorded included all parameters required to estimate density and abundance using distance sampling techniques. A total of 3,069 sightings of 37,410 estimated individuals were recorded, including all six large whale species, other marine mammals, sea turtles, and other marine species (i.e., sharks, rays, fish schools, etc.). Further details may be found in the Final Comprehensive Report at www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/mmaeran3.pdf and the associated references. Purpose: The primary goals of the aerial surveys were: (1) Determine the distribution and estimate relative abundance and density of the six large whale species; (2) Determine monthly and seasonal occurrence, and inter-annual variability of the distribution and estimated abundance, density, and relative abundance for the six species; (3) Record data about the behavior of sighted large whales; (4) Record opportunistic sightings of sea turtles and other marine species; and (5) Record relevant environmental variables. Supplemental information: Environmental data are available and included in the downloadable zipped file.

Purpose

The primary goals of the aerial surveys were: (1) Determine the distribution and estimate relative abundance and density of the six large whale species; (2) Determine monthly and seasonal occurrence, and inter-annual variability of the distribution and estimated abundance, density, and relative abundance for the six species; (3) Record data about the behavior of sighted large whales; (4) Record opportunistic sightings of sea turtles and other marine species; and (5) Record relevant environmental variables.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

NA

Sampling

NA

Method steps

NA

Additional info

marine, harvested by iOBIS

Taxonomic Coverages

Scientific names are based on the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

Manta birostris
common name: Atlantic manta rank: species
Cetorhinus maximus
common name: basking shark rank: species
Balaenoptera
common name: baleen whales rank: genus
Balaenoptera
common name: baleen whales rank: genus
Prionace glauca
common name: blue shark rank: species
Balaenoptera musculus
common name: Blue Whale rank: species
Tursiops truncatus
common name: Common Bottlenose Dolphin rank: species
Delphinidae
common name: dolphins rank: family
Delphinus delphis
common name: Short-beaked Common Dolphin rank: species
Ziphius cavirostris
common name: Cuvier's Beaked Whale rank: species
Delphinidae
common name: dolphins rank: family
Balaenoptera physalus
common name: Fin Whale rank: species
Carcharodon carcharias
common name: Great white shark rank: species
Sphyrnidae
common name: bonnethead sharks rank: family
Phocoena phocoena
common name: Harbor Porpoise rank: species
Megaptera novaeangliae
common name: Humpback Whale rank: species
Lepidochelys kempii
common name: Kemp's Ridley rank: species
Dermochelys coriacea
common name: Leatherback Sea Turtle rank: species
Caretta caretta
common name: Loggerhead Sea Turtle rank: species
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
common name: Common Minke Whale rank: species
Mola mola
common name: ocean sunfish rank: species
Eubalaena glacialis
common name: North Atlantic Right Whale rank: species
Globicephala
common name: pilot whales rank: genus
Grampus griseus
common name: Risso's Dolphin rank: species
Balaenoptera borealis
common name: Sei Whale rank: species
Delphinus delphis
common name: Short-beaked Common Dolphin rank: species
Elasmobranchii
common name: cartilaginous fishes rank: subclass
Physeter macrocephalus
common name: Sperm Whale rank: species
Delphinidae
common name: dolphins rank: family
Mysticeti
common name: baleen whales rank: suborder
Hyperoodontidae
rank: family
Cetacea
common name: cetaceans rank: order
Delphinidae
common name: dolphins rank: family
Cetacea
common name: cetaceans rank: order
Elasmobranchii
common name: cartilaginous fishes rank: subclass
Phocidae
common name: earless seals rank: family
Cheloniidae
common name: Sea Turtles rank: family
Elasmobranchii
common name: cartilaginous fishes rank: subclass
Cetacea
common name: cetaceans rank: order
Rhincodon typus
common name: whale shark rank: species

Geographic Coverages

North Atlantic,New York Bight

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Meghan Rickard
originator
position: Primary contact
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
email: meghan.rickard@dec.ny.gov

OBIS-SEAMAP
metadata author
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: https://seamap.env.duke.edu

OBIS-SEAMAP
distributor
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: https://seamap.env.duke.edu

Meghan Rickard
owner
position: Primary contact
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
email: meghan.rickard@dec.ny.gov

Meghan Rickard
administrative point of contact
position: Primary contact
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
email: meghan.rickard@dec.ny.gov