Surveying the Past: North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database Gary S. Drew and John F. Piatt

Assessing Seabird Abundance and Distribution

Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment Program - OCSEAP Surveys 273 Surveys Standard Protocols Standard Protocols Central Data Repository Central Data Repository Limitations Limitations - Data format - Surveys not integrated - Lack of documentation

Objectives of the NPPSD Compile databases in native formats Compile databases in native formats Merge datasets using common unit of measure Merge datasets using common unit of measure Provide extensive documentation Provide extensive documentation Develop database programs for accessing and querying the database Develop database programs for accessing and querying the database Create web site for disseminating data Create web site for disseminating data

Obstacles Lack of documentation Lack of documentation Variable QAQC Variable QAQC Lack of documentation Lack of documentation Variable QAQC Variable QAQC Different formats Different formats Different protocols Different protocols OCSEAP Post OCSEAP

Design Comprehensive archiving plan Comprehensive archiving plan Extensive QAQC Extensive QAQC Use of relational database Use of relational database Selection of density for units of measure Selection of density for units of measure Reclassification of some fields Reclassification of some fields Extensive documentation Extensive documentation –Metadata database –Taxonomic code list –Users guide

Archiving Original Format (Raw) Original Format (Raw) Level 1 - Post QAQC (Access DT) Level 1 - Post QAQC (Access DT) Level 2 - Standardized (Access DT) Level 2 - Standardized (Access DT) NPPSD Summary Database (Access DT) NPPSD Summary Database (Access DT)

QAQC Out of Range Out of Range Data type mismatch Data type mismatch Documentation data mismatch Documentation data mismatch

Calculating Density Time x Speed x Transect Width Time x Speed x Transect Width Distance x Transect Width Distance x Transect Width Use Lat Long Start/Stop and Great Circle Distance Formula x Transect Width Use Lat Long Start/Stop and Great Circle Distance Formula x Transect Width

Standardization Survey Type Survey Type Survey Platform Survey Platform Behavior Behavior

NPPSD Metadata Metadata FDGC Compliant FDGC Compliant Access Database Access Database

Taxonomic Code List

Marine Mammals Data on marine mammals was collected on most seabird surveys

NPPSD Seabird Numbers Seabird Density Marine Mammal Numbers Marine Mammal Density Short-Tailed Albatross OCSEAP Surveys Kodiak Surveys Divoky Surveys USFWS Surveys George Hunt Surveys Robert Day Surveys Data processing queries Datasets for Analysis Mapped Data Products USFWS Ecological Services

LOCATION L1 ENVIRONMENT L1 Make Location L2 (1) Location L2 (2) Location L2 (2) LOCATION L2 Make Location L2 (2) Make Location L2 (3) Export to Excel Great Circle XY Distance Calc Copy Distance Calculations Import to Access Make Location L2 (4) Excel Spreadsheet Access Select Query Access Table Make Table Query

LOCATION L2 DATA L1 Make Data Birds L2 (1) Make Data Birds L2 (2) Access Select Query Access Table Make Table Query Make Data Birds L2 (3) Numbers/Density Make Data Birds L2 (4) Number Make Data Mammals L2 (3) Numbers / Density Make Data Birds L2 (4) Density Make Data Mammals L2 (4) Number Make Data Mammals L2 (4) Density

Data Table Number of Surveys Number of Transects Seabird Density 37757,660 Seabird Number 40661,195 Marine Mammal Density 37757,660 Marine Mammal Number 40661,195 NPPSD Data Tables Version 1.0

Data Set Number of Surveys Number of Transects Shuntov (Russia) Piatt (USGS) Irons (USFWS) Byrd/Piatt (USFWS/USGS) 9225 Day 8653 Acquired Datasets

Acquired data sets will fill data gaps Russia Russia Prince William Sound Prince William Sound Glacier Bay Glacier Bay

Products and Collaborations Distribution of Black-Footed and Laysan Albatrosses - USFWS and NMFS Distribution of Black-Footed and Laysan Albatrosses - USFWS and NMFS

Distribution of Laysan and Black- Footed Albatross in the North Pacific. Distribution of Laysan and Black- Footed Albatross in the North Pacific.

Products and Collaborations Distribution of Black-Footed and Laysan Albatrosses - USFWS and NMFS Distribution of Black-Footed and Laysan Albatrosses - USFWS and NMFS Distribution and density data for Kittlitz’s Murrelet - USFWS for “Petition for Listing” Distribution and density data for Kittlitz’s Murrelet - USFWS for “Petition for Listing” Distribution maps for Kittlitz’s Murrelets - USGS inventory plans for this species Distribution maps for Kittlitz’s Murrelets - USGS inventory plans for this species

Kittlitz’s Murrelet Distribution

Products and Collaborations Distribution of Black-Footed and Laysan Albatrosses - USFWS and NMFS Distribution of Black-Footed and Laysan Albatrosses - USFWS and NMFS Distribution and density data for Kittlitz’s Murrelet - USFWS for “Petition for Listing” Distribution and density data for Kittlitz’s Murrelet - USFWS for “Petition for Listing” Distribution maps for Kittlitz’s Murrelets - USGS inventory plans for this species Distribution maps for Kittlitz’s Murrelets - USGS inventory plans for this species Broad-scale map of Alaskan seabird distribution – MMS to assess environmental risk Broad-scale map of Alaskan seabird distribution – MMS to assess environmental risk

Seabird Density Map Based On Surveys Conducted Between

Products and Collaborations Distribution of Black-Footed and Laysan Albatrosses - USFWS and NMFS Distribution of Black-Footed and Laysan Albatrosses - USFWS and NMFS Distribution and density data for Kittlitz’s Murrelet - USFWS for “Petition for Listing” Distribution and density data for Kittlitz’s Murrelet - USFWS for “Petition for Listing” Distribution maps for Kittlitz’s Murrelets - USGS inventory plans for this species Distribution maps for Kittlitz’s Murrelets - USGS inventory plans for this species Broad-scale map of Alaskan seabird distribution – MMS to assess environmental risk Broad-scale map of Alaskan seabird distribution – MMS to assess environmental risk Developed a database for Short-tailed Albatross (STAL) - USFWS ESO Developed a database for Short-tailed Albatross (STAL) - USFWS ESO

Products and Collaborations Distribution of Black-Footed and Laysan Albatrosses - USFWS and NMFS Distribution of Black-Footed and Laysan Albatrosses - USFWS and NMFS Distribution and density data for Kittlitz’s Murrelet - USFWS for “Petition for Listing” Distribution and density data for Kittlitz’s Murrelet - USFWS for “Petition for Listing” Distribution maps for Kittlitz’s Murrelets - USGS inventory plans for this species Distribution maps for Kittlitz’s Murrelets - USGS inventory plans for this species Broad-scale map of Alaskan seabird distribution – MMS to assess environmental risk Broad-scale map of Alaskan seabird distribution – MMS to assess environmental risk Developed a database for Short-tailed Albatross (STAL) - USFWS ESO Developed a database for Short-tailed Albatross (STAL) - USFWS ESO Collaborated with George Hunt and Jaime Jahncke (UC Irving) on a presentation at PICES Collaborated with George Hunt and Jaime Jahncke (UC Irving) on a presentation at PICES Coauthored the paper “Prey Consumption and Energy Transfer by Seabirds in the Gulf of Alaska” Deep Sea Research II (in press) with George Hunt and Jaime Jahncke of UC Irving Coauthored the paper “Prey Consumption and Energy Transfer by Seabirds in the Gulf of Alaska” Deep Sea Research II (in press) with George Hunt and Jaime Jahncke of UC Irving

Prey Consumption and Energy Transfer by Marine Birds in the Gulf of Alaska PICES Presentation – Hunt, G.S. et al Deep Sea Research II Publication in press 2005

Products and Collaborations Distribution of Black-Footed and Laysan Albatrosses - USFWS and NMFS Distribution of Black-Footed and Laysan Albatrosses - USFWS and NMFS Distribution and density data for Kittlitz’s Murrelet - USFWS for “Petition for Listing” Distribution and density data for Kittlitz’s Murrelet - USFWS for “Petition for Listing” Distribution maps for Kittlitz’s Murrelets - USGS inventory plans for this species Distribution maps for Kittlitz’s Murrelets - USGS inventory plans for this species Broad-scale map of Alaskan seabird distribution – MMS to assess environmental risk Broad-scale map of Alaskan seabird distribution – MMS to assess environmental risk Developed a database for Short-tailed Albatross (STAL) - USFWS ESO Developed a database for Short-tailed Albatross (STAL) - USFWS ESO Collaborated with George Hunt and Jaime Jahncke (UC Irving) on a presentation at PICES Collaborated with George Hunt and Jaime Jahncke (UC Irving) on a presentation at PICES Coauthored the paper “Prey Consumption and Energy Transfer by Seabirds in the Gulf of Alaska” Deep Sea Research II (in press) with George Hunt and Jaime Jahncke of UC Irving Coauthored the paper “Prey Consumption and Energy Transfer by Seabirds in the Gulf of Alaska” Deep Sea Research II (in press) with George Hunt and Jaime Jahncke of UC Irving Distribution of pink-footed shearwater for the “North American Conservation Action Plan” prepared by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation Distribution of pink-footed shearwater for the “North American Conservation Action Plan” prepared by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation

Products and Collaborations Distribution of Black-Footed and Laysan Albatrosses - USFWS and NMFS Distribution of Black-Footed and Laysan Albatrosses - USFWS and NMFS Distribution and density data for Kittlitz’s Murrelet - USFWS for “Petition for Listing” Distribution and density data for Kittlitz’s Murrelet - USFWS for “Petition for Listing” Distribution maps for Kittlitz’s Murrelets - USGS inventory plans for this species Distribution maps for Kittlitz’s Murrelets - USGS inventory plans for this species Broad-scale map of Alaskan seabird distribution – MMS to assess environmental risk Broad-scale map of Alaskan seabird distribution – MMS to assess environmental risk Developed a database for Short-tailed Albatross (STAL) - USFWS ESO Developed a database for Short-tailed Albatross (STAL) - USFWS ESO Collaborated with George Hunt and Jaime Jahncke (UC Irving) on a presentation at PICES Collaborated with George Hunt and Jaime Jahncke (UC Irving) on a presentation at PICES Coauthored the paper “Prey Consumption and Energy Transfer by Seabirds in the Gulf of Alaska” Deep Sea Research II (in press) with George Hunt and Jaime Jahncke of UC Irving Coauthored the paper “Prey Consumption and Energy Transfer by Seabirds in the Gulf of Alaska” Deep Sea Research II (in press) with George Hunt and Jaime Jahncke of UC Irving Distribution of pink-footed shearwater for the “North American Conservation Action Plan” prepared by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation Distribution of pink-footed shearwater for the “North American Conservation Action Plan” prepared by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation Collaborated with Bruce Robson (World Wildlife Fund) on the planned Pribilof Islands Habitat Conservation Area. Collaborated with Bruce Robson (World Wildlife Fund) on the planned Pribilof Islands Habitat Conservation Area.

Products and Collaborations Distribution of Black-Footed and Laysan Albatrosses - USFWS and NMFS Distribution of Black-Footed and Laysan Albatrosses - USFWS and NMFS Distribution and density data for Kittlitz’s Murrelet - USFWS for “Petition for Listing” Distribution and density data for Kittlitz’s Murrelet - USFWS for “Petition for Listing” Distribution maps for Kittlitz’s Murrelets - USGS inventory plans for this species Distribution maps for Kittlitz’s Murrelets - USGS inventory plans for this species Broad-scale map of Alaskan seabird distribution – MMS to assess environmental risk Broad-scale map of Alaskan seabird distribution – MMS to assess environmental risk Developed a database for Short-tailed Albatross (STAL) - USFWS ESO Developed a database for Short-tailed Albatross (STAL) - USFWS ESO Collaborated with George Hunt and Jaime Jahncke (UC Irving) on a presentation at PICES Collaborated with George Hunt and Jaime Jahncke (UC Irving) on a presentation at PICES Coauthored the paper “Prey Consumption and Energy Transfer by Seabirds in the Gulf of Alaska” Deep Sea Research II (in press) with George Hunt and Jaime Jahncke of UC Irving Coauthored the paper “Prey Consumption and Energy Transfer by Seabirds in the Gulf of Alaska” Deep Sea Research II (in press) with George Hunt and Jaime Jahncke of UC Irving Distribution of pink-footed shearwater for the “North American Conservation Action Plan” prepared by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation Distribution of pink-footed shearwater for the “North American Conservation Action Plan” prepared by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation Collaborated with Bruce Robson (World Wildlife Fund) on the planned Pribilof Islands Habitat Conservation Area. Collaborated with Bruce Robson (World Wildlife Fund) on the planned Pribilof Islands Habitat Conservation Area. Preliminary assessment of marine bird abundance and species composition in the vicinity of the Selendang Ayu grounding Preliminary assessment of marine bird abundance and species composition in the vicinity of the Selendang Ayu grounding

M/V Selendang Ayu Grounding

Conclusions Integration of seabird surveys is a complex process. Integration of seabird surveys is a complex process. Retention of original data and format is critical Retention of original data and format is critical Documentation is a critical aspect Documentation is a critical aspect The utility of integrated datasets is manifold and unpredictable The utility of integrated datasets is manifold and unpredictable

What Next? Complete integration of acquired data Complete integration of acquired data Develop more user friendly interface Develop more user friendly interface Identify a host to serve the data Identify a host to serve the data Develop a web based GIS interface Develop a web based GIS interface Hard Copy Atlas Hard Copy Atlas

Acknowledgements We are grateful to NPRB and NPMRI as well as the USFWS and USGS for funding this research. We thank Shiway Wang, Michelle St. Peters, and Jennifer Wetzal for their tedious work on data entry, proofing, and documentation. Dave Irons, Jay Johnson, Kathy Kulitz, and Shawn Stevenson provide valuable guidance as part of a “NPPSD Working Group”. Dave and Shawn were also invaluable in finding hard copy data sheets and cruise reports for many of the historical USFWS surveys. We also want to thank Bob Day and George Hunt who have been strong supporters of this work and have provided considerable data to the effort.