Data from: Abundance, survival, and annual rate of change in Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) on a Navy sonar range

Bayesian mark-recapture estimates of survival, abundance, and trend are
reported for Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) using a Navy
training range off southern California. The deep-diving beaked whale
family is exceptionally vulnerable to mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS),
which has been implicated in mass strandings and altered foraging
behavior. Extremely low sighting probabilities impede studies of
population-level impacts of MFAS on beaked whales. The San Nicolas Basin
hosts a Navy training range subject to frequent MFAS use and attracts high
densities of Z. cavirostris. An eleven-year (2007–2018)
photo-identification program leveraged automated acoustic detection and
location capabilities on the range’s 1,800-km2 hydrophone array to enhance
capture probability. Estimated population parameters for Z. cavirostris
using the range included mean (90% credibility intervals) apparent annual
survival of 0.950 (0.899–0.986), the annual number of individuals as 121
(71–219), and the annual rate of change of -0.8% (-5.6 – 4.1%).
Simulations show the probability of detecting abundance changes is
currently low, but can be greatly improved through continued monitoring
and increased effort. Complementary data collection on habitat use and
demographic rates in San Nicolas and surrounding basins is also essential
to relating the direct effects of MFAS use to changes in vital rates and
broader population outcomes.