Seabird visual surveys using line-transect methods collected from USFWS aircraft in the Gulf of Mexico for the Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (GoMMAPPS) project from 2018-01-31 to 2020-02-12 (NCEI Accession 0247205)
As part of the Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (GoMMAPPS), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted low-level (61m above sea level) seabird aerial surveys of Gulf of Mexico coastal waters out to 50nm offshore from the USA-Mexico border to Key West, FL (including the Dry Tortugas) from 2018-01-31 to 2020-02-12. Using a double-observer protocol, three observers collected data along 3 parallel 10nm transects spaced 1nm apart for 30nm transect/sampling hexagon units. Over 3 years, four survey events were completed representing greater than 36,000km of effort. Aerial survey crews recorded 13,581 avifauna detections representing 71,698 individuals. Observers identified 23 marine bird species (n = 52 all bird species identified) in total. Non-avifauna observations (e.g., marine mammals, sea turtles) totaled 3,160 individuals representing 2063 detections.
Dataset Citation
- Cite as: Wilson, Randy; Gleason, Jeff; Lyons, Jim; Silverman, Emily; Sussman, Allison; Zipkin, Elise; Davis, Kayla; Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (2022). Seabird visual surveys using line-transect methods collected from USFWS aircraft in the Gulf of Mexico for the Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (GoMMAPPS) project from 2018-01-31 to 2020-02-12 (NCEI Accession 0247205). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/vyg0-tv44. Accessed [date].
Dataset Identifiers
ISO 19115-2 Metadata
gov.noaa.nodc:0247205
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NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 NCEI.Info@noaa.gov |
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NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov |
Time Period | 2018-01-31 to 2020-02-12 |
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West: -97.37671
East: -80.90023
South: 24.5908
North: 30.40749
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Dataset Progress Status | Complete - production of the data has been completed Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility |
Data Update Frequency | As needed |
Supplemental Information | Despite the importance of the Gulf of Mexico for marine species, there is limited information available to quantify species-use in the region. To bridge this gap, the Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (GoMMAPPS), was developed as a federal partnership between the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Additionally, the seabird survey program worked in partnership with Michigan State University, Clemson University, and Terra Mar Applied Sciences LLC. For seabirds, a combination of ship-based and aerial surveys were employed (USFWS Quest Kodiak 100 Amphibious Aircraft). Low-level (61m above sea level) aerial surveys covering the coastal waters out to 50nm offshore were conducted from the USA-Mexico border to Key West, FL (including the Dry Tortugas) from February 2018 to February 2020. 180 40-km2 hexagonal survey units from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (US EPA EMAP; White 1992) were randomly selected by generalized random tessellation stratified sampling (GRTS). For each hexagon, a random flight direction was selected, thus defining two additional, adjacent hexagons and creating a three-hexagon sampling unit. Using a double-observer protocol, three observers collected data along 3 parallel 10nm transects spaced 1nm apart for 30nm of transects/sample unit. Observers surveyed the same sampling units (or a subset of these due to weather constraints) in each survey event (a survey event is a single survey season, e.g., winter 2018). Over 3 years (2018-2020) four survey events were completed; 600 hexagons were surveyed in total representing 1,800 transect segments and >36,000km of effort. Aerial survey crews recorded 13,581 avifauna detections representing 71,698 individuals. Observers identified 23 marine bird species (n = 52 all bird species identified) in total. Non-avifauna observations (e.g., marine mammals, sea turtles) totaled 3,160 individuals representing 2063 detections. Submission Package ID: ARYMDB |
Purpose | Improved information is needed on living marine resource abundance, distribution, habitat use, and behavior in the Gulf of Mexico to properly mitigate and monitor for potential impacts of human activities, including offshore energy development. Understanding of cumulative impacts on protected species in the Gulf of Mexico from both natural and anthropogenic forcing is required to inform NEPA assessments, consultations and rulemaking related to Endangered Species Act (ESA), Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), and Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), as well as other statutes that govern bureau activities. The results of this study will provide important information to inform both Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) regulatory needs, as well as other agencies and stakeholders involved in effective management and conservation of protected species in the northern Gulf of Mexico. This dataset includes seabird visual observation data (with corresponding latitude and longitude locations), survey design spatial files (hexagons and transects), and the aerial survey Data Management Plan. This dataset also includes opportunistic non-seabird sightings such as marine mammals and sea turtles. |
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Last Modified: 2024-06-10T13:21:59Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov