Dataset: Shark dive profiles
Deployment: Thorrold_2004-11

Temperature-depth profiles from archival tags deployed on basking sharks.

Principal Investigator:

Simon Thorrold (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI)

Co-Principal Investigator:

Leah Houghton (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI)

Greg Skomal (Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries)

Contact:

Camrin Braun (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI)

BCO-DMO Data Manager:

Shannon Rauch (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI BCO-DMO)

Project:

Resolving Migratory Connectivity of Basking Sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) in the Western Atlantic Ocean: Integrating Novel Geochemical Tracers with Satellite Archival Tags (Basking Shark Geochem Tracers)

Current State:

Final no updates expected

Version:

04 April 2014

Version Date:

2014-04-04

Data URL:

https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset-deployment/506115/data

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Description

This dataset contains pop-up satellite archival transmitting (PSAT) tag data for 25 individual basking sharks tagged in the North Atlantic Ocean in 2004-2011. Platform terminal transmission (PTT) numbers are used as individual identification numbers throughout the dataset. Unique identification (UID) numbers provide a daily index value.

Methods & Sampling

Dataset acquisition description

Basking sharks were tagged with Wildlife Computers PAT and miniPAT pop-up archival tags. These tags logged temperature and pressure at regular intervals through the deployment. Software on the tag then summarized the temperature-depth and time-at-depth information over 12 or 24 hours and this summary information is then transmitted via ARGOS satellites to the researcher upon tag release on pre-determined date set by the researcher. Geolocation of the sharks through time is then achieved either by light level geolocation or by matching with ARGO float profiles as outlined below (see 'Processing Description').

Data Processing Description

Dataset Processing Description

Depth temperature profiles derived from each individual basking shark tag were matched to all ARGO float profiles in the Atlantic (above 20°S) within 2 weeks of the day the profile was recorded on the tag. The ARGO profile with the smallest mean square error was selected as the most likely location of the shark. These profile-derived location estimates were then combined with light-based geolocation estimates and fed into the kftrack movement model to acquire a final estimate of the individual’s most probable track. A final bathymetric correction was performed to ensure the final estimated location allowed the shark to reach the maximum depth recorded by the tag for that day. (See the shark tracking estimates dataset (http://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/476315) for these location data.)

Related references:
Skomal, G.B., Zeeman, S.I., Chisholm, J.H., Summers, E.L., Walsh, H.J., McMahon, K.W., and Thorrold, S.R. 2009. Transequatorial migrations by basking sharks in the western Atlantic Ocean. Current Biology, v.19, p. 1019. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2009.04.019

More information about this dataset deployment

Funding

Award Number	Funding Source
OCE-0825148	NSF Division of Ocean Sciences

Instruments

Wildlife Computers Mk10 Pop-up Archival Tag (PAT)

Supplied Name: Wildlife Computers PAT and miniPAT pop-up archival tags

Supplied Description:

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Wildlife Computers Mk10 Pop-up Archival Tag (PAT)

Acronym: MK10 PAT

Generic Description:

The Pop-up Archival Transmitting (Mk10-PAT) tag, manufactured by Wildlife Computers, is a combination of archival and Argos satellite technology. It is designed to track the large-scale movements and behavior of fish and other animals which do not spend enough time at the surface to allow the use of real-time Argos satellite tags. The PAT can be configured to transmit time-at-depth and time-at-temperature histograms, depth-temperature profiles, and/or light-level curves. The histogram duration (1 to 24 hours) and bin ranges can also be configured. PAT archives depth, temperature, and light-level data while being towed by the animal. At a user-specified date and time, the PAT actively corrodes the pin to which the tether is attached, thus releasing the PAT from the animal. The PAT then floats to the surface and transmits summarized information via the Argos system. Argos also uses the transmitted messages to provide the position of the tag at the time of release.

Parameters

Supplied Name	Supplied description	Supplied Units	Standard Name
ptt	Platform terminal transmission (PTT) number; used as a unique identification number for the individual shark.	dimensionless	pttno
date	Date (year-month-day) in YYYYmmdd format.	unitless	date
uid	Unique identification (UID) numbers that provide a daily index value.	dimensionless	time_point
day	2-digit day of month.	dd (01 to 31)	day
month	2-digit month of year.	mm (01 to 12)	month
year	4-digit year in YYYY format.	unitless	year
depth	Depth.	meters	depth
temp_min	Minimum temperature.	degrees Celsius	temp
temp_max	Maximum temperature.	degrees Celsius	temp
temp_mean	Mean temperature.	degrees Celsius	temp

Database

Contribute Data

Dataset: Shark dive profiles
Deployment: Thorrold_2004-11

Dataset acquisition description

Dataset Processing Description

Database

Contribute Data

Dataset: Shark dive profilesDeployment: Thorrold_2004-11

Dataset acquisition description

Dataset Processing Description

Dataset: Shark dive profiles
Deployment: Thorrold_2004-11