Elephant Seals of Campbell Island, New Zealand, 1944-1947

This dataset is based on the collection of data made at Campbell Island in the years 1944-47. From early 1941 to 1945, coast-watching stations were established at port Ross, Carnley Harbour (Auckland Islands), and Perseverance Harbour (Campbell Island) and the personnel of from three to five men each were relieved only once a year. These coast-watching stations to the New Zealand subantarctic islands was named the Cape Expedition. The objective was to warn of the possible use of Campbell and the Auckland Islands by German or Japanese warships. Standing instructions issued by Navy Office included a recommendation that the men should, in addition to service routine, record general observations on natural phenomena. Elephant seals were found breeding on Campbell Island in 1941 when the island was first occupied by members of the Cape Expedition as a war-time security measure. The author studied the species in 1942, 1943, 1945, part of 1946, and in 1947.

本数据集基于1944年至1947年间在坎贝尔岛（Campbell Island）采集的观测数据。1941年初至1945年，科研人员先后在奥克兰群岛（Auckland Islands）的罗斯港（Port Ross）、卡恩利港（Carnley Harbour）以及坎贝尔岛的珀瑟维伦斯港（Perseverance Harbour）设立海岸观测站，每个站点配备3至5名工作人员，且仅每年轮换一次。这些位于新西兰亚南极群岛的海岸观测站项目被命名为“海角远征计划（Cape Expedition）”，其任务宗旨为预警德国或日本军舰有可能利用坎贝尔岛及奥克兰群岛开展军事活动。海军司令部（Navy Office）发布的常设指令中要求，除完成日常勤务外，观测人员还需记录各类自然现象的综合观测数据。1941年，海角远征计划成员为落实战时安保措施首次进驻坎贝尔岛期间，人们在此发现了象海豹的繁殖种群。本研究的作者分别于1942年、1943年、1945年、1946年的部分时段以及1947年对该物种展开了研究。