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Argos Satellite Tracking Data for Red-throated Loons (Gavia stellata) - Processed Data

Data Download [6.5MB] | Metadata | AK Science Portal | Project Site | Date Range: 07/06/2000 - 08/23/2010


This metadata document describes the data contained in the "processedData" folder of this data package. This data package contains all data collected by the Argos System from 92 satellite transmitters attached to Red-throated Loons on their breeding range in coastal areas throughout Alaska, 2000-2010. The raw data were processed to accomplish two goals: flag implausible location estimates and decode raw sensor data. Three Comma Separate Value (CSV) tables are included in the "processedData" folder of this data package: 1) the "diag_filteredLocations" table contains one record for every location estimate collected, accompanied by a binary flag that denotes an algorithm's plausibility check. Each record also includes a 'Tracking_Status' variable that denotes whether the location was collected from a live animal, a dead animal, or shed transmitter, 2) the "decodedSensor" table contains decoded sensor data such as a transmitter's temperature, battery voltage, and motion (activity), and 3) the "deploymentAttributes" table contains one record for each transmitter deployment in a CSV formatted table. The deployment attributes file contains information such as when the transmitter was attached to the animal, when tracking of a live animal ended, and a variety of variables describing the animal and transmitter. This table is identical to the "deploymentAttributes" table in the "rawData" folder of this data package.

Author(s): Uher-Koch, B. D.; Schmutz, J. A.; Douglas, D. C.

Suggested Citation:
Uher-Koch, B. D., Schmutz, J. A. and Douglas, D. C., 2017, Tracking data for Red-throated Loons (Gavia stellata) (ver. 2.0, February 2020): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7TH8KVH.

Version History:
First release: December 2017
Revised: February 2020 (ver. 2.0)

Referenced Publication(s):

McCloskey, S. E., B. D. Uher-Koch, J. A. Schmutz, and T. F. Fondell. 2017. International migration patterns of Red-throated Loons (Gavia stellata) from four breeding populations in Alaska. PLoS One 13(1):e0189954. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0189954

Poessel, S. A., B. D. Uher-Koch, J. M. Pearce, J. A. Schmutz, A. -L. Harrison, D. C. Douglas, V. R. von Biela, and T. E. Katzner. 2020. Movements and habitat use of loons for assessment of conservation buffer zones in the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska. Global Ecology and Conservation 22:e00980. doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00980


DataID: 169 | doi:10.5066/F7TH8KVH | Date Posted Online: 2017-12-11 | Last Updated: 2020-02-19 12:06:36

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