Abstract:

This dataset contains a subset of passive acoustic data used to identify the acoustic signatures of four species of beaked whale in the Gulf of Mexico. The four species are Cuvier’s beaked whale, Gervais’ beaked whale, Blainville’s beaked whale, and a sound believed to be a beaked whale but of an unidentified species that we designate as “Beaked Whale Gulf ” (BWG). The data were collected at five locations in the Gulf of Mexico: Green Canyon, Mississippi Canyon, Dry Tortugas, Main Pass, and DeSoto Canyon. However, detections of beaked whales only occurred at Green Canyon, Mississippi Canyon, and Dry Tortugas. The acoustic signatures were used to estimate densities of beaked whales in the Gulf of Mexico. Results of the analysis were published in the paper Passive acoustic monitoring of beaked whale densities in the Gulf of Mexico (Hildebrand et al. 2015, DOI: 10.1038/srep16343). The data are stored in a Tethys temporal-spatial metadata database and must be used in conjunction with another programing environment. Sample source xwav audio files, and installation files and documentation for Tethys are included with the beaked whale acoustic data.

Suggested Citation:

Hildebrand, John. 2016. Beaked Whale acoustic detections in the Gulf of Mexico, 2010 - 2013. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N74T6GCX

Publications:

Hildebrand, J. A., Baumann-Pickering, S., Frasier, K. E., Trickey, J. S., Merkens, K. P., Wiggins, S. M., … Thomas, L. (2015). Passive acoustic monitoring of beaked whale densities in the Gulf of Mexico. Scientific Reports, 5, 16343. doi:10.1038/srep16343

Purpose:

The purpose of this research is to promote the development of methods used for density estimation of beaked whales in the Gulf of Mexico.

Data Parameters and Units:

Dataset consists of GofMXdb, an XML tethys detections database, xwav audio samples, a readme text file, buoy deployment csv file, and the installer files for Tethys. Detections database records contains number of clicks detected for each species in a 5 minute window. For each 5 minute window, the species (id and common name) , number of clicks, and time/date of start of 5 minute window. Database must be used in conjunction with another programming environment.

Individual Files: