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Acoustic detections sea turtles in Matagorda Bay, Texas, from 2019-11-24 – 2021-09-15

Authors: Wildermann, N.E., P.T. Plotkin, D.M. Coffey, and G.W Stunz.
Published On: Nov 28 2023 15:43 UTC
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7266/z7fmk2g7
UDI: HI.x949.000:0004
Project Information

Funded By:
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Research Group:
Fisheries and Ocean Health

Point of Contact

Greg W. Stunz
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi / The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies
greg.stunz@tamucc.edu

Data Collection Period
2019-11-24
to
2021-09-15
Theme keywords

sea turtle movement, acoustics, sea turtle, acoustic detections, green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, sea turtle tagging

ISO 19115-2 Metadata
  View Metadata
Abstract:

Acoustic tag detections of sea turtles tagged in Matagorda Bay from November 2019 through September 2021. Twelve green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) were tagged between 2019-11-23 and 2021-07-10 and tracked between 2019-11-24 and 2021-09-15. Stationary receivers were deployed between Bob Hall Pier, Corpus Christi, and Matagorda Bay, Texas.

Suggested Citation:

Wildermann, N.E., P.T. Plotkin, D.M. Coffey, and G.W Stunz.. 2023. Acoustic detections sea turtles in Matagorda Bay, Texas, from 2019-11-24 – 2021-09-15. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/z7fmk2g7

Purpose:

Data is sparse on the movement and health of the sea turtle population in Texas, especially in the Matagorda area despite sea turtle sightings occurring regularly in the area. These data include locations of sea turtles caught in Matagorda Bay and tagged with acoustic tags.

Data Parameters and Units:

"Detections" Column Header Description DateTime_UTC Date and time (Coordinated Universal Time, UTC) of recorded acoustic detection (yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss) Receiver Acoustic receiver model and serial number Transmitter Acoustic transmitter code space and ID number Transmitter_Name User-defined acoustic transmitter name Transmitter_Serial Acoustic transmitter serial number Sensor_Value Values from sensor tags (.e.g, pressure/depth, acceleration, temperature) Sensor_Unit Units pertaining to the sensor value (e.g., m, ms-2, degrees Celcius) Station_Name User-defined acoustic receiver station name Latitude Latitude of acoustic receiver station (decimal degrees) Longitude Longitude of acoustic receiver station (decimal degrees) "Transmitters" Column Header Description Turtle_ID Individual identification code Species Sea turtle species Latitude Latitude of sea turtle release (decimal degrees) Longitude Longitude of sea turtle release (decimal degrees) DateTime_Local Local date and time (Central Standard/Daylight Time) of sea turtle release (yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm) DateTime_UTC Date and time (Coordinated Universal Time, UTC) of sea turtle release (yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm) Transmitter Acoustic transmitter code space and ID number Transmitter_Model Acoustic transmitter model Transmitter_Serial Acoustic transmitter serial number Expected_Life_Time_Days Expected battery life time of the acoustic transmitter in days Transmission_Delay Maximum acoustic transmitter delay rate in seconds Transmitter_Status Status of acoustic transmitter (e.g., deployed, recovered) Sensor_Slope Slope used in the linear equation to convert raw sensor measurements. This value is provided by the manufacturer. Sensor_Intercept Intercept used in the linear equation to convert raw sensor measurements. This value is provided by the manufacturer. Sensor_Type Type of sensor (e.g., pinger, temperature, pressure, accelerometer) Sensor_Unit Units pertaining to the sensor value (e.g., m, ms-2, degrees Celcius) "Receivers" Column Header Description Station_Name User-defined acoustic receiver station name Receiver Acoustic receiver model and serial number Project User-defined acoustic receiver station project name DeployDateTime_Local Local date and time (Central Standard/Daylight Time) when receiver was deployed (yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss) RecoveryDateTime_Local Local date and time (Central Standard/Daylight Time) when receiver was recovered (yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss) Latitude Latitude of acoustic receiver station (decimal degrees) Longitude Longitude of acoustic receiver station (decimal degrees) Receiver_Status Status of acoustic receiver (e.g., deployed, recovered, lost)

Methods:

Turtles were captured in nets and fitted with acoustic tags. Acoustic receivers were attached via zip ties to PVC pipes which were embedded into the sediment within Matagorda Bay and attached by a wire leash at some inshore platforms to detect individuals’ movements. Receivers were mounted subsurface on channel markers (with U.S. Coast Guard approval) or PVC pipes driven into the substrate.

Instruments:

Innovasea V13-1x-069k-1, V16-4x-069k-1, and V16-4x-069k-2 transmitters. Each transmitter emits a uniquely-coded ‘pulse train’ on a pseudo-random repeat rate of 40-80 seconds at a frequency of 69 kHz. The maximum delay rate of 80 seconds is provided in the "Transmission_Delay" column on the Transmitters tab.