Dataset: Shark track estimates

Name: Most probable track estimates from basking sharks tagged from F/V Ezyduzit in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean from 2004-2011 (Basking Shark Geochem Tracers project)
Published: 2014-01-21
Keywords: oceans

Cite This Dataset

DOI:10.1575/1912/bco-dmo.476315.1

Spatial Extent: N:44.4483 E:-33.99 S:-4.38 W:-77.24

Temporal Extent: 2004-09-24 - 2012-04-02

Project:

Resolving Migratory Connectivity of Basking Sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) in the Western Atlantic Ocean: Integrating Novel Geochemical Tracers with Satellite Archival Tags (Basking Shark Geochem Tracers)

Principal Investigator:

Simon Thorrold (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI)

Co-Principal Investigator:

Leah Houghton (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI)

Greg Skomal (Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries)

Contact:

Camrin Braun (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI)

BCO-DMO Data Manager:

Shannon Rauch (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI BCO-DMO)

Version:

Version Date:

2014-01-21

Restricted:

Validated:

Yes

Current State:

Final no updates expected

Most probable track estimates from basking sharks tagged from F/V Ezyduzit in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean from 2004-2011 (Basking Shark Geochem Tracers project)

Abstract:

This dataset contains the most probable track estimates for 25 individual basking sharks tagged with pop-up satellite archival transmitting (PSAT) tags in the North Atlantic Ocean in 2004-2011. Platform terminal transmission (PTT) numbers are used as individual identification numbers throughout the dataset.

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Archival Copy

Version Date	Archive	Persistent Identifier (PID)	Date PID Issued
2014-01-21	Marine Biological Laboratory/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Library (MBLWHOI DLA)	10.1575/1912/bco-dmo.476315.1	2019-11-21

Description

Methods & Sampling

Basking sharks were tagged with Wildlife Computers PAT and miniPAT pop-up archival tags. These tags logged temperature and pressure at regular intervals through the deployment. Software on the tag then summarized the temperature-depth and time-at-depth information over 12 or 24 hours and this summary information is then transmitted via ARGOS satellites to the researcher upon tag release on pre-determined date set by the researcher. (See the shark dive profiles dataset (http://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/476294) for the temperature-depth profile data.) Geolocation of the sharks through time is then achieved either by light level geolocation or by matching with ARGO float profiles as outlined below (see 'Processing Description').

Data Processing Description

Depth temperature profiles derived from each individual basking shark tag were matched to all ARGO float profiles in the Atlantic (above 20°S) within 2 weeks of the day the profile was recorded on the tag. The ARGO profile with the smallest mean square error was selected as the most likely location of the shark. These profile-derived location estimates were then combined with light-based geolocation estimates and fed into the kftrack movement model to acquire a final estimate of the individual’s most probable track. A final bathymetric correction was performed to ensure the final estimated location allowed the shark to reach the maximum depth recorded by the tag for that day.

Data Files

File
shark_tracks.csv (Comma Separated Values (.csv), 168.67 KB) MD5:f05f092a5c8775bcbc9d15244ff5638c Primary data file for dataset ID 476315

More Information about this dataset

Funding Sources

Funding Source	Award Number
NSF Division of Ocean Sciences	OCE-0825148

Deployments

Deployment	Synonyms	Start Date	Platform	Investigator
Thorrold_2004-11		2004-09-24	F/V Ezyduzit	Simon Thorrold (Principal Investigator)	data info

Instruments

Wildlife Computers Mk10 Pop-up Archival Tag (PAT)

Supplied Name: Wildlife Computers PAT and miniPAT pop-up archival tags

Supplied Description:

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Wildlife Computers Mk10 Pop-up Archival Tag (PAT)

Acronym: MK10 PAT

Generic Description:

The Pop-up Archival Transmitting (Mk10-PAT) tag, manufactured by Wildlife Computers, is a combination of archival and Argos satellite technology. It is designed to track the large-scale movements and behavior of fish and other animals which do not spend enough time at the surface to allow the use of real-time Argos satellite tags. The PAT can be configured to transmit time-at-depth and time-at-temperature histograms, depth-temperature profiles, and/or light-level curves. The histogram duration (1 to 24 hours) and bin ranges can also be configured. PAT archives depth, temperature, and light-level data while being towed by the animal. At a user-specified date and time, the PAT actively corrodes the pin to which the tether is attached, thus releasing the PAT from the animal. The PAT then floats to the surface and transmits summarized information via the Argos system. Argos also uses the transmitted messages to provide the position of the tag at the time of release.

Parameters

Date and time formats are described in python strftime() syntax.

Supplied Name	Supplied description	Supplied Units	Standard Name
ptt	Platform terminal transmission (PTT) number; used as a unique identification number for the individual shark.	dimensionless	pttno
tuid	Unique identification (UID) numbers that provide a daily index value.	dimensionless	no_bcodmo_term
year	4-digit year in YYYY format.	unitless	year
month	2-digit month of year.	mm (01 to 12)	month
day	2-digit day of month.	dd (01 to 31)	day
lon	Longitude.	decimal degrees	lon
lat	Latitude.	decimal degrees	lat
date	Date (month/day/year) in mm/dd/YYYY format.	unitless	date
type	Type of position fix: gpe = Determination of geolocation by processing light level data using Wildlife Computers Global Position Estimator software; pdt = Profile-depth-temperature; pop = position at tag pop-off; tag = position at tagging.	dimensionless	no_bcodmo_term
depth_min	Minimum depth. (Originally named 'mindep'.)	meters	depth_min
temp_depth_min	Temperature at minimum depth. (Originally named 'mindep_temp'.)	degrees Celsius	no_bcodmo_term
depth_max	Maximum depth. (Originally named 'maxdep'.)	meters	depth_max
depth_range	Depth range. (Originally named 'deprange'.)	meters	depth_range
tsst	Sea surface temperature recorded by the tag on the day specified.	degrees Celsius	no_bcodmo_term