Dataset of marine mammal observations made in the Southern Ocean from late 1998 to early 2000. Further information about the data are included in a word document in the download. The data are held in excel spreadsheets. The word document mentioned above lists the column headings for the excel spreadsheets. The fields in this dataset are: date time species Number of animals Distance Bearing Heading Initial Cue Behaviour Latitude Longitude Effort status Notes Wind speed Wind direction Actual wind speed Actual wind direction Sea State Cloud cover Visibility Boat speed Boat course Speed made good Course made good Temperature Wave Height Weather Depth Swell height More notes

Observation on V3 commenced as the Aurora Australis departed Fremantle and concluded on the approach to Hobart. The SOCEP research objective is to detect and document cetacean sightings and relevant environmental and other information throughout the voyage. The BROKE-West multidisciplinary voyage provides an opportunity to correlate sightings data with oceanographic and biology research conducted by other programs. Search effort is conducted over a broad range of weather conditions. The majority of Antarctic species are medium to large whales, with cues that can be detected in relatively high Beaufort sea states up to and including Beaufort Sea State 7. Observers search for whales while ever light, weather and sea conditions are suitable unless the vessel is stopped (e.g. CTD stations) or traveling slowly (e.g. trawling). Data are recorded using a laptop computer-based sighting program (Wincruz for Logger v3) that automatically logs under-way data from the ship's system including GPS position, ship course and speed, wind direction and speed, and also downloads time and date when required (F1 key). Data Collection In the preferred and highest level of (Full Effort) two observers are positioned on the port (Port) and starboard (Starboard) sides of the flying bridge (wheelhouse roof). The search area is an arc 180 degrees ahead to abeam of the vessel, primarily with the naked eye and augmented by the use of Fujinon 7x50 binoculars. A third observer (Tracker) is also stationed on the flying bridge. This person's role is to positively identify species, numbers and behaviour, particularly in the case of distant sightings, with the aid of Fujinon 25 x 150 binoculars (BigEyes). This team member also captures digital video footage of cetacean sightings when appropriate. The fourth rostered team member, the Central Logger (CL) is located on the bridge and communicates with those on the flying bridge via hand-held radio transceiver. The role of the CL is to record all relevant data on the Logger laptop computer. When in sea ice, a fifth member of the team ('Duplicate Identifier') is rostered to collect sea ice digital still images and video, and enter ice data in the SeaIce page in Logger. The CL monitors the effort activity and progressively updates as necessary general information such as search effort, observers, weather, sea conditions. Search effort is dropped a lower level of effort (CAS Effort), if visibility is determined to be too poor for Full Effort due to some combination of adverse weather conditions that precluded detection of most species (i.e. strong winds, fog, and large swell, confused swell, high sea state). If conditions become too poor to survey, or if the ship is traveling slowly or stopped, the effort is terminated (Off Effort). At such times the CL is generally rostered to remain on the bridge to ensure that passing whales do not go unreported, and to alert the rest of the team when the ship begins transiting at speed again or if visibility improves. Sightings When observers report whale sightings the CL enters the time, angle and distance from vessel, species identification, number of animals, sighting cue, behaviour and presence of ice and ancillary data. Cetaceans are identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible. Positive species identification is made only when there is certainty. Best, high and low estimates of group size are recorded for each sighting, and where more than one observer made an estimate, the final record is arrived at by consensus. Photographic records of cetaceans (and other wildlife and habitat) are collected opportunistically using digital cameras. Other Wildlife Seal and penguin species are logged while in sea ice, and opportunistically elsewhere. Flying birds within 100 metres of the ship are logged half-hourly, and large flocks are logged when observed. Other Event Occurrences such as the sighting or marine debris are logged as they are observed. Sea Ice Data Sea ice observations

These notes present a summary of observations on seabirds, seals and plankton conducted from the vessel Kyo Maru No 27 during the seventh International Decade of Cetacean Research Southern Hemisphere Minke Whale Assessment cruise. The cruise was conducted under the auspices of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to whom Paul Ensor was contracted as a consultant. The information presented here are personal observations only; recorded outside normal research hours or in such a manner that his participation in the cetacean research was not compromised.

Metadata record for data from ASAC Project 38 See the link below for public details on this project. From the abstracts of the referenced papers: The origin of echinoderms from Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean is analysed through a novel application of multivariate statistics. Ordinations are produced from a combination of species distribution, bathymetric, habitat and life history data in order to assess patterns of migration. The analyses distinguish groups of species derived from the Kerguelen Plateau, New Zealand and eastern Antarctica. These groups correlate with attributes expected for epiplanktonic dispersal and range expansion along the North and South Macquarie Ridges respectively. There is no convincing evidence for long-distance pelagic dispersal, migration from the abyssal plain or for human translocation of species. The results indicate that taxonomic groups differ in their ability to disperse, and emphasise the importance of depth in biogeographical analyses. Dispersal by range expansion appears to have been more significant than epiplanktonic dispersal and vicariant rather than long-distance dispersal mechanisms are the preferred explanation for some disjunct distribution patterns. Fifty two echinoderm species are recorded from off Macquarie Island and the Macquarie Ridge in the Southern Ocean. One new asteroid Odontohenricia anarea sp. nov. and one new holothurian Trachythyone nelladana sp. nov. are described. The asteroid genus Calvasterias is synonymised with Anasterias. The asteroids Cycethra macquariensis and Asterina hamiltoni are synonymised with Asterina frigida and placed in the same genus Cycethra. The asteroid Ceramaster lennoxkingi is synonymised with C. patagonicus, Solaster dianae with S. notophrynus, and Anasterias sphoerulatus with A. mawsoni. The asteroids Psilaster charcoti, Odontaster penicillatus, Ceramaster patagonicus, Crossaster multispinus, Solaster notophrynus, Pteraster affinis, Henricia studeri, the ophiuroid Ophioplocus incipiens, and the holothurians Paelopatides ovalis, Synallactes challengeri, Laetmogone sp, Taeniogyrus sp are recorded from the island for the first time. The following species previously recorded from Macquarie Island have been re-identified: the asteroids Odontaster auklandensis (=O. penicillatus), Henricia aucklandiae (=H. studeri), Henricia lukinsi (=H. obesa), Smilasterias irregularis (=S. clarkailsa), Anasterias antarctica (=A. directa), and the ophiuroid Ophiacantha pentagona (=O. vilis). The existence at Macquarie Island of the species Hymenaster sp, Goniocidaris umbraculum and Ocnus calcareus require confirmation. The asteroids Anasterias mawsoni, Pteraster affinis, Porania antarctica and Odonaster meridionalis are reported from the shore around Heard Island. The ecology and relationships of echinoderms from Macquarie Island are discussed.

This log contains notes and observations of whales and seals at Mawson, collected between 1979 and 1984. Included animals are Minke Whales, Killer Whales, Leopard Seals, Elephant Seals, Crabeater Seals and Fur Seals. Locations include Horseshoe Harbour, Welch Island and Giganteus Island. The hard copy of the log has been archived by the Australian Antarctic Division library.

Public summary for project 2128: The aim of this study is to relate the foraging behaviour of Antarctic fur seals breeding on the Kerguelen Plateau at Iles Kerguelen and Heard Island, to the distribution of prey species at sea. Specifically this project seeks to examine the relationship between predators and prey, and how their locations at sea vary according to the position of major productive zones, such as the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone. This project will provide important data on the relationship between predators and their prey and the developing commercial fisheries in the region. These data are central to improved conservation and management of marine resources on the Kerguelen Plateau. Variations made to the work plan The original comparative aspects of the program planned for the 1999/00 season, where fur seals from Iles Kerguelen and Heard Island were to be satellite tracked simultaneously could not be undertaken because of original 1999/00 field season to Heard Island was re-scheduled to 2000/01. Fortunately the project collaborator Dr Christophe Guinet (French CEBC-CNRS) agreed to extend the work program at Iles Kerguelen another season, and the comparative and integrated fur seal-prey-fisheries study over the Kerguelen Plateau was undertaken the following season (2000/01). Details of this study are presented in ASAC project 1251 (CI - Goldsworthy)and 1085 (CI-Robertson). Significant findings: The distribution of the foraging activity of Antarctic fur seal females was investigated at Cap Noir (49 degrees 07 S, 70 degrees 45E), Kerguelen Island in February 1998. Eleven females were fitted with a satellite transmitter and Time Depth recorder. The two sets of data were combined to locate spatially the diving activity of the seals. The fish component of the fur seal diet was determined by the occurrence of otolotihs found in 55 scats collected during the study period at the breeding colony. Oceanographic parameters were obtained simultaneously through direct sampling and satellite imagery. The mesopelagic fish community was sampled on 20 stations along four transects where epipelagic trawls were conducted at night at 50 meters of depth. We then investigated, using geographic information systems, the relationship between the spatial distribution of the diving activity of the fur seals and oceanographic factors that included sea surface temperature, surface chlorophyll concentration, prey distribution and bathymetry obtained at the same spatio-temporal scale as the spatial distribution of the diving activity of our study animals. An inverse relationship was found between the main fish species preyed by fur seal and those sampled in trawl nets. However, the diving activity of Antarctic fur seal females was found to be significantly related to oceanographic conditions, fish-prey distribution and to the distance from the colony but these relationships changed with the spatial scale investigated. A probabilistic model of the Kerguelen Plateau was developed that predicted where females should concentrate their foraging activity according to the oceanographic conditions of the year, and the locations of their breeding colonies. Maternal allocation in growth of the pup was measured in Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) at Iles Kerguelen during the 1997 austral summer. Absolute mass gain of pups following a maternal foraging trip was independent of the sex of the pup but was positively related to the foraging trip duration and to maternal length. However, daily mass gain, i.e. the absolute mass gain of the pup divided by the foraging trip duration, decreased with increasing foraging trip duration but increased with maternal length. While fasting, the daily mass loss of the pup was related to the sex of the pup and initial body mass, with both heavier pups and female pups losing more mass per day than lighter pups and male pups. The mass specific rate of mass loss was significantly higher in female pups than in male

A collection of at sea observations made of icebergs, seabirds and whales on the BROKE voyage of the Aurora Australis during the 1995-1996 summer season. The data are mostly text or csv files and document observations of icebergs, seabirds and whales, giving times and/or locations. Further supporting information may be included in the data download, or in other metadata records relating to the BROKE voyage (as opposed to the later BROKE-West voyage).

This is a scanned copy of the annual report on vertebrate biology at Macquarie Island, 1990, by Rupert Woods. The scanned report contains information on: Elephant seal census Elephant seal tagging program (1984-1985, 1987-1991) Freeze branding Weaner weights Anaesthetics Gastric lavage Opthalmology problems Penguin crush (mass deaths of King Penguins) PTTs and TDTRs Toxoplasmosis Morbilivirus DNA samples (elephant seals and fur seals) Anaesthesia and surgery of birds Details of a neo-natal longfinned pilot whale washed ashore Fur seals (census, euthanasia, injuries, net entanglements) Letters Abandoned elephant seal pup Drift cards Killer whale attack

This is a scanned copy of the vertebrate ecologists report from Macquarie Island, 1985, written by Mark Hindell. The report includes: The diet of the four penguin species breeding on Macquarie Island (Royal, Rockhopper, King and Gentoo). Aspects of the morphology of the four penguin species The past and present status of the southern elephant seal on Macquarie and Heard Islands

This dataset is a document describing the Ctenophores of the Southern Ocean. It lists all the known species and with illustrated diagrams provides a guide to their taxonomic identification. The document is available for download as a pdf from the provided URL.