Bahamas Marine Mammal Survey Strandings

The Bahamas Marine Mammal Survey (BMMS) is a long-term study that has
been documenting the occurrence, distribution, and abundance of marine mammals
around the islands of The Bahamas since 1991. With more than 1900 marine mammal
encounters in The Bahamas, we are providing the only comprehensive
documentation of the marine mammal fauna in this part of the world. Our
research is based on the use of systematic boat-based surveys for describing
the distribution and habitat use of different marine mammal species. We employ
photo-identification techniques for the recognition of individual whales and
dolphins, and we have developed new statistical approaches for using these data
to determine abundance estimates and occupancy patterns. This photographic
sampling is complemented by the collection of skin and faecal samples for
molecular genetic analysis, which are being used to assess levels of genetic
diversity and investigate the structuring of marine mammal populations. The
dataset presented here includes both marine mammal and turtle sightings. The
dataset consists of 89 stranding records between 1944 and 2005, including 15
species with Cuvier's beaked whale being the most common. Marine mammal
sightings data includes 444 sightings between 1988 and 2005, including
sightings reported from the public. The dataset includes 1,934 BMMS vessel
encounters with marine mammals between 1991 and 2005, comprising 20 different
species, with the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin representing 60% of all
encounters. Finally, the dataset also includes 101 sightings of turtles
comprising 3 different species between 1991 and 2005.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: The stranding records have no time recorded. The time
12:00:00 is entered just for administration purpose. Some records do not have
the exact date. See DateApprx field, which is not included in the downloadable
data for the public. You need to contact to the data provider to ask for
permission for additional fields.

CURRENTNESS REFERENCE: ground condition

SPATIAL REFERENCE INFORMATION - GEODETIC MODEL
Horizontal Datum Name: D_WGS_1984
Ellipsoid Name: WGS_1984
Semi-major Axis: 6378137.000000
Denominator of Flattening Ratio: 298.257224