Description

The initial objective of this dataset was to study the seasonal dive patterns of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in the St. Lawrence Estuary and Sable Island. This study was part of a larger program addressing the foraging behavior of the species. Ten harbor seals were captured using gillnets between 1994 and 1998 at three sites in the St. Lawrence Estuary: Bic Island (48.412°N/68.845°W, n=1 individual), Île Blanche (47.928°N/69.673°W, n=1), anse du Petit-Mitis (48.682°N/68.030°W, n=5) and at Sable Island (43.934°N/59.886°W, n=3). The seals were fitted with a satellite-linked time-depth recorder (SLTDR, Type 3.10, Wildlife Computers) equipped with an Argos transmitter and attached to the nape of the neck. The methods used for capturing and instrumenting the individuals, as well as the data processing, are detailed in Lesage (1999) and Lesage et al. (1999). For most individuals, monitoring began in September and continued until the end of the following spring. Telemetry tracking data for these same individuals are available in this publication: Satellite telemetry data related to seasonal movements of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) from the St. Lawrence Estuary and Sable Island, 1994 – 1998 - https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/b8e9bec4-7568-4666-8175-1e069bc1ffca This dataset consists of dive profiles in the form of frequency histograms with 10 or 14 bins (depth strata or time intervals), compiled over daily 6-hour periods (morning, day, evening, night). The histograms are of three types: maximum depth, dive duration, and time-at-depth. Data recording and processing are explained in detail in Wildlife Computers (1995, 1997). PTT configuration files, data intermediate files, transmission and validity reports are also included and their description is explained in Wildlife Computers (1995). The raw data was filtered using data validity reports provided by the data provider.

Resources

Name	Format	Description	Link
Appendix	PDF		https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/b4812613-4cdd-4fdc-b8bc-5e08ffc87eb6/attachments/annexe_phoque_commun_appendix_harbour_seal.pdf
Data on harbour seal dive patterns	ZIP		https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/b4812613-4cdd-4fdc-b8bc-5e08ffc87eb6/attachments/Data_Donnees.zip
Data dictionary on harbour seal dive patterns	CSV		https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/b4812613-4cdd-4fdc-b8bc-5e08ffc87eb6/attachments/dictionnaire_de_donnees_phoques_commun_data_dictionary_harbour_seal.csv
References	PDF		https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/b4812613-4cdd-4fdc-b8bc-5e08ffc87eb6/attachments/References.pdf

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