NYSDEC aerial surveys

Original provider:
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Dataset credits:
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Abstract:
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Division of
Marine Resources contracted Tetra Tech to conduct aerial whale monitoring in
the New York Bight (NYB). Monitoring consisted of 36 monthly line-transect
aerial surveys starting in March 2017 and ending in February 2020. The NYB
survey area is a 43,449 square kilometer area of ocean from the south shore of
Long Island to the continental shelf break. These surveys focused on six large
whale species: the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), fin whale (B.
physalus), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), North Atlantic right
whale (Eubalaena glacialis), sei whale (B. borealis), and sperm whale
(Physeter macrocephalus). This longitudinal multi-year study provides new
insight into the occurrence, relative abundance, behavior, and densities and
abundance of the six large whale species, as well as the occurrence other
marine species, in the NYB.

A total of 733.1 hours and 149,482 kilometers of flight time were completed
over 263 survey flights. Observations were conducted by two observers from a
high-winged, twin-engine Partenavia aircraft; one observer was positioned on
each side of the aircraft and looked through bubble windows. Data recorded
included all parameters required to estimate density and abundance using
distance sampling techniques. A total of 3,069 sightings of 37,410 estimated
individuals were recorded, including all six large whale species, other marine
mammals, sea turtles, and other marine species (i.e., sharks, rays, fish
schools, etc.).

Further details may be found in the Final Comprehensive Report at
www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/mmaeran3.pdf and the associated
references.

原始提供方：纽约州环境保护局（New York State Department of Environmental Conservation）
数据集致谢：纽约州环境保护局（New York State Department of Environmental Conservation）
摘要：
纽约州环境保护局海洋资源分部委托特泰克（Tetra Tech）公司于纽约湾（New York Bight，以下简称NYB）开展航空鲸鱼监测项目。本次监测共开展36次月度航线抽样航空调查，时间跨度为2017年3月至2020年2月。纽约湾调查区域范围为43449平方公里的海域，北起长岛南岸，南至大陆架外缘。本次调查聚焦六种大型鲸类：蓝鲸（Balaenoptera musculus）、长须鲸（B. physalus）、座头鲸（Megaptera novaeangliae）、北大西洋露脊鲸（Eubalaena glacialis）、塞鲸（B. borealis）以及抹香鲸（Physeter macrocephalus）。这项纵向多年期研究为纽约湾内六种大型鲸类的出现规律、相对丰度、行为模式、种群密度与数量，以及其他海洋物种的出现情况提供了全新的认知。

本次项目共完成263架次调查飞行，累计飞行时长733.1小时，飞行总距离达149482公里。观测由搭载于单翼双发帕特纳维亚（Partenavia）飞机上的两名观测员完成，两名观测员分别位于机身两侧，通过气泡观测窗开展观察。记录的数据涵盖了利用距离抽样法估算种群密度与数量所需的全部参数。本次调查共记录到3069次目击事件，涉及预估的37410头个体，涵盖六种大型鲸类、其他海洋哺乳动物、海龟以及其他海洋物种（如鲨鱼、鳐鱼、鱼群等）。

更多详细信息可查阅发布于www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/mmaeran3.pdf的最终综合报告及相关参考文献。