NCCOS Assessment: Predictive Mapping of Seabirds, Pinnipeds and Cetaceans off the Pacific Coast of Washington from 1995-07-21 to 2015-12-08 (NCEI Accession 0148762)

This data collection comprises seasonal distribution maps and model outputs of selected seabird, pinniped and cetacean species off the Pacific coast of Washington. The maps were developed by predicting relative density using associative models linking at-sea species observations with environmental covariates. Seabird, pinniped and cetacean observations were compiled from federal, state and NGO monitoring programs with data between 1995 and 2014. Environmental covariates were processed from long-term archival satellite, oceanographic and hydrographic databases.

Selected species include: Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus), Rhinoceros Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata), Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata), Common Murre (Uria aalge), Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes), Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), Pink-footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus), Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus), Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus), harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and Dall’s porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli). Summer season (April to October) predictions were developed for all species. In addition, winter season (November to March) predictions were developed for Rhinoceros Auklet, Common Murre and Black-footed Albatross.

The collection includes multiple geospatial model outputs for each species and season combination. Data are grouped into seabird, pinniped and cetacean datasets, and each dataset includes its own data documentation record.