Polar Bear Fall Coastal Survey Data from the Southern Beaufort Sea of Alaska, 2010-2013

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: USGS Alaska Science Center, Polar Bear Research Program
Publication_Date: 20211231
Title:

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Anchorage, Alaska
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center

Other_Citation_Details:

Suggested Citation: USGS Alaska Science Center, Polar Bear Research Program, 2021, Polar bear fall coastal survey data from the southern Beaufort Sea of Alaska, 2010-2013: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F74Q7S6Z

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/F74Q7S6Z
Larger_Work_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center
Publication_Date: 1984
Title:

Response of Polar Bear Populations to a Rapidly Diminishing Sea Ice Environment

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: website
Series_Information:

Series_Name: Alaska Science Portal
Issue_Identification: 16

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Anchorage, Alaska
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center

Other_Citation_Details:

This is a link to the broader USGS Alaska Science Center research project supported by these data. Users will find a description of the research project and links to associated reports, publications, and data products.

Online_Linkage: https://alaska.usgs.gov/portal/project.php?project_id=16

Description:

Abstract:

This data set is one table with observations of polar bears located during aerial surveys along the coast and barrier islands of the southern Beaufort Seas during fall, 2010-2013. Survey flights were conducted using A-Star B2 and Bell 206 helicopters at an average altitude of 300 feet AGL and an average speed of 50 miles per hour. Survey crews searched for polar bears using coastal and inland transects and over-flights of all coastal barrier islands.

Purpose:

To document the distribution on polar bears along the Beaufort Sea coast and barrier islands during summer and fall. Observations were used to determine factors that influence land use of polar bears during summer and fall in Alaska.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 2010
Ending_Date: 2013

Currentness_Reference: Observed

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Southern Beaufort Sea
Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -155.3
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -111.1
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 82.5
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 66.9

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Metadata Identifier
Theme_Keyword: USGS:ASC423

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: Biota
Theme_Keyword: Environment

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: NASA GCMD Earth Science Keyword Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: Animals/Vertebrates
Theme_Keyword: Mammals
Theme_Keyword: Carnivores
Theme_Keyword: Bears

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS CSA Biocomplexity Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: Marine mammals
Theme_Keyword: Threatened species
Theme_Keyword: Seasonal distribution

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: Wildlife
Theme_Keyword: Terrestrial ecosystems
Theme_Keyword: Coastal ecosystems

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: Polar Bear
Theme_Keyword: Ursus maritimus
Theme_Keyword: Aerial Survey

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
Place_Keyword: Alaska
Place_Keyword: Beaufort Sea

Taxonomy:

Keywords/Taxon:

Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Taxonomic_Keywords: Mammals
Taxonomic_Keywords: Carnivore

Taxonomic_System:

Classification_System/Authority:

Classification_System_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Publication_Date: Unknown
Title: ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: online database
Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: online
Publisher: ITIS-North America

Other_Citation_Details:

Taxonomic details retrieved December 27, 2021 from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System online database https://www.itis.gov

Online_Linkage: https://www.itis.gov

Taxonomic_Procedures:

Species were identified by skilled observers in the field based on general appearance. Polar bears are easily distinguishable from other species by physical characteristics and habitat use patterns. In most cases, species was confirmed genetically.

Taxonomic_Completeness:

Taxonomy is complete for all samples. No vouchers were collected.

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Animalia
Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Subkingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Bilateria
Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Infrakingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Deuterostomia
Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Phylum
Taxon_Rank_Value: Chordata
Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Subphylum
Taxon_Rank_Value: Vertebrata
Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Infraphylum
Taxon_Rank_Value: Gnathostomata
Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Superclass
Taxon_Rank_Value: Tetrapoda
Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Class
Taxon_Rank_Value: Mammalia
Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Subclass
Taxon_Rank_Value: Theria
Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Infraclass
Taxon_Rank_Value: Eutheria
Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Order
Taxon_Rank_Value: Carnivora
Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Suborder
Taxon_Rank_Value: Caniformia
Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Family
Taxon_Rank_Value: Ursidae
Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus
Taxon_Rank_Value: Ursus
Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Species
Taxon_Rank_Value: Ursus maritimus
Applicable_Common_Name: Polar Bear
Applicable_Common_Name: TSN: 180542

Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:

It is requested that the authors and the USGS Alaska Science Center be cited for any subsequent publications that reference this dataset.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical
Address: 4210 University Drive
City: Anchorage
State_or_Province: Alaska
Postal_Code: 99508
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 907-786-7000
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: ascweb@usgs.gov

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Wilson, R.R.
Originator: Regehr, E.V.
Originator: St. Martin, M.
Originator: Atwood, T.C.
Originator: Peacock, E.
Originator: Miller, S.
Originator: Divoky, G.
Publication_Date: 2017
Title:

Relative influences of climate change and human activity on the onshore distribution of polar bears

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:

Series_Name: Biological Conservation
Issue_Identification: 214:288-294

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: online
Publisher: Elsevier

Other_Citation_Details:

Wilson, R.R., Regehr, E.V., Martin, M.S., Atwood, T.C., Peacock, E., Miller, S., Divoky, G. 2017. Relative influences of climate change and human activity on the onshore distribution of polar bears. Biological Conservation 214:288-294 doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2017.08.005

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2017.08.005

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

Observational data were collected using multiple observers. Contrasting observations were reconciled following discussion. Error-checking was used to identify data entry mistakes. Mistakes were corrected after consulting field data sheets.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Attribute values fall within expected ranges. Blank cells indicate that the geographic coordinates were not recorded.

Completeness_Report: Data set is complete. No data were omitted.
Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Geographic positions determined by onboard GPS

Lineage:

Methodology:

Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:

Survey flights were conducted using A-Star B2 and Bell 206 helicopters at an average altitude of 300 feet AGL and an average speed of 50 miles per hour. Survey crews searched for polar bears using coastal and inland transects and over-flights of all coastal barrier islands. Observations include polar bears of all ages. Transects were laid out in a sawtooth pattern along the coast, where inland transects were oriented approximately perpendicular to the coastline and connected by segments that ran parallel to the coast in an alternating coast-to-inland connection pattern. Barrier islands were surveyed as they were encountered, but only after completing survey transects in immediate proximity to a focal island. Collection methods included double-observer methods (Laake et al. 2008). When a bear was observed, a waypoint was obtained, sex and age class noted, body condition estimated (1-5 subjective scale; Stirling et al. 2008), and the presence of dependent young (cubs of the year, yearlings) were recorded. Helicopter-based observations of polar bears were collected using observers in the front and back seats, separated by a curtain. Ferry flights occurred when the flight crew from to or from a logistical hub or fuel cache to or from a transect or barrier island.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Laake, J.
Originator: Dawson, M.J.
Originator: Hone, J.
Publication_Date: 2008
Title:

Visibility bias in aerial survey: mark-recapture, line transect or both?

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:

Series_Name: Wildlife Research
Issue_Identification: 35(4):299-309

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: online
Publisher: CSIRO

Other_Citation_Details:

Laake, J., Dawson, M. J., Hone, J. 2008. Visibility bias in aerial survey: mark–recapture, line-transect or both? Wildlife Research 35(4):299-309 doi:10.1071/WR07034

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1071/WR07034

Type_of_Source_Media: journal article
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 2008

Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Laake et al. 2008
Source_Contribution: Method Citation: aerial surveys

Process_Step:

Process_Description: Original field data were transcribed to digital tables.
Process_Date: Unknown

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Point

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Geographic:

Latitude_Resolution: 0.00001
Longitude_Resolution: 0.00001
Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: World Geodetic System of 1984
Ellipsoid_Name: World Geodetic System of 1984
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257223563

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: Polar bear fall aerial survey_2010_2013
Entity_Type_Definition:

Data collected on the observations of polar bears during fall coastal surveys and barrier island total counts, 2010-2013. Presented in a Comma Separated Value (CSV) formatted table.

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Date
Attribute_Definition: Date of flight survey flight
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 2010-09-11
Range_Domain_Maximum: 2013-09-22
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: Date (YYYY-MM-DD)

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: TransectNumber
Attribute_Definition: Pre-assigned number identifying a given transect.
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 9
Range_Domain_Maximum: 298

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: NA
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Not Applicable, assigned when a bear was observed off-transect, including on barrier islands.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: TransectType
Attribute_Definition:

Transect type as defined by length and portion of coast or landform (e.g., island) flown over.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: inland_8km
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Transect that is 8 kilometers in length and runs inland perpendicular to the coast.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: inland_30km
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Transect that is 30 kilometers in length and runs inland perpendicular from the coast.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: coastal
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Connecting transect along the coast that is 8 kilometers in length and connects transects running perpendicular to the coastline.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: total count
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Total count of all bears conducted while flying over a barrier island.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: ferry
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Flight to and from a given transect that is off effort, meaning no observations of bears are recorded.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: TimeStart
Attribute_Definition: The time at which a given transect was started.
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 8:56
Range_Domain_Maximum: 21:13
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: Time (hh:mm)

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Latitude
Attribute_Definition:

Latitude associated with a bear observation. Blank cells indicate that latitude was not recorded.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 69.6721
Range_Domain_Maximum: 71.3438
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: Decimal Degrees (WGS84)

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Longitude
Attribute_Definition:

Longitude associated with a bear observation. Blank cells indicate that longitude was not recorded.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: -158.178
Range_Domain_Maximum: -141.301
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: Decimal Degrees (WGS84)

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: AgeClass
Attribute_Definition: Age class of each observed bear.
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: A
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: adult (individuals aged ≥ 5 years old)
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: S
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: subadult (individuals aged 2-4 years old)
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: YRL
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: yearling
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: COY
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: cub of the year
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: author defined

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: SexClass
Attribute_Definition: Sex class of each observed bear.
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined.
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: M
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: male
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: F
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: female
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: U
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: sex unknown
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: SB coastal survey track logs
Entity_Type_Definition:

Folder (with sub-folders) of original GPS flight tracking logs. Flight track logs provide multiple flight-summary header lines and specific flight data including: location, speed, orientation, and time data. Presented in both GPS Database (GDB) and tab delimited ASCII text (TXT) formats.

File naming convention: sub-folders: "tracklogs_YYYY-MM"; files: "YYYYMMDD.xxx"

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Header
Attribute_Definition: GPS record data type
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Trackpoint
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Data is a point location along the flight path.
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Position
Attribute_Definition: Geographic coordinates (WGS84) of trackpoint
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Latitude Longitude: Decimal Degrees (hddd.ddddd)

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Time
Attribute_Definition: Datetime stamp of trackpoint
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Date Time: MM/DD/YYYY hh:mm:ss (local time)

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Altitude
Attribute_Definition: Altitude of trackpoint
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Altitude: Feet

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Depth
Attribute_Definition: Depth of trackpoint
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: blank cells
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: No depth data
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Leg Length
Attribute_Definition: Travel distance during leg of trackpoint
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Distance: Feet

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Leg Time
Attribute_Definition: Elasped travel time during leg of trackpoint
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Time: hh:mm:ss

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Leg Speed
Attribute_Definition: Travel speed during leg of trackpoint
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Speed: miles per hour (mph)

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Leg Course
Attribute_Definition: Travel course bearing during leg of trackpoint
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Course bearing: Degrees from true north

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical
Address: 4210 University Drive
City: Anchorage
State_or_Province: Alaska
Postal_Code: 99508
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 907-786-7000
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: ascweb@usgs.gov

Resource_Description:

The U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center is the authoritative source and distributor of these data.

Distribution_Liability:

Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes or on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: CSV
Format_Information_Content:

Data are distributed in a Zip package containing data in CSV format and FGDC metadata in XML and HTML formats.

File_Decompression_Technique:

Compression applied by the 7-Zip utility using default compression (5). The Zip package can be decompressed and unpacked by open source or commercially available unzip tools.

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.5066/F74Q7S6Z

Fees: None

Polar Bear Fall Coastal Survey Data from the Southern Beaufort Sea of Alaska, 2010-2013

Metadata: