The endangered St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE) beluga population is in decline and has shown no signs of recovery despite multiple protection measures. Changes in prey availability and exposure to organohalogen contaminants have been proposed as potential factors limiting the its recovery. Studies on SLE belugas show that exposure to contaminants may actually disrupt the individual’s energy metabolism. However, whether this translates into changes in energy reserves and body condition of individuals is still unknown. This dataset was developed to study the potential relationships between the body condition of individuals and their concentrations of organohalogen contaminants and lipid metabolites. The sampling consisted in the recovery of 51 beluga carcasses (37 females and 14 males) stranded in the St. Lawrence estuary between 1998 and 2016 and deemed fresh enough (Geraci-Lounsbury code = <3) to undergo a laboratory necropsy. The necropsy included the following procedures: determination of cause of death, morphometric measurements, sampling of the outer layer of blubber, age measurement and assessment of physical condition. The blubber samples were then subjected to lipid extraction and measurement of their concentration of polybrominated or emerging flame retardants, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides. Their concentration of the following lipid metabolites were also measured: fatty acids, acylcarnitines, lysophosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelins. The methods are described in further detail in Bernier-Graveline et al. (2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110272). Data quality control procedures included triplicate analyses of method blanks and standard reference material. This dataset contains morphometric measurements, sex and age, cause of death, a body condition index, the relative proportion of lipids in blubber, the concentration of polybrominated or emerging flame retardants, polychlorinated biphenyls ( PCB) and organochlorine pesticides and derived products. The contact for the main co-authors of Bernier-Graveline et al. (2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110272) are included in the file "Authors_contact_auteurs.pdf"

This dataset contains lab-measured percent lipid and fatty acid composition data from Pacific walruses harvested in waters near Saint Lawrence Island. Each row indicates data from a single layer from a blubber core sample collected from one body site (flank, rump, or sternum) from one walrus harvested by Native Alaskans during the spring walrus hunts of 2007 - 2010. Blubber cores were divided into two roughly equal depths (inner and outer) and individually characterized. Results are proportion lipid content of the sub-sample mass and proportional abundance of each fatty acid of total fatty acids identified in the sub-sample on a wet-weight basis. Some samples were found to be inadequate due to lack of anatomical landmarks and do not have laboratory values indicated. Some samples are flagged as being incomplete based on notes from the laboratory.

Survival endpoints for juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) in response to exposure to wildland firefighting chemicals. Exposures were either attenuated or pulsed. For attenuated exposures, chemical treatment was applied at the beginning of the exposure and control water was added for the duration of the assay so chemical concentration gradually decreased over time. In pulsed exposures, organisms were exposed to chemical treatments for a set period of time and then moved to chambers without chemical applied. This data set includes data from seven assays and include treatments under various exposure conditions such as different background water hardness, chemical application rates, and test temperatures. Also included are water quality data from all assays.

Suction cup attached multisensor tags were placed on beluga whales in Bristol Bay, Alaska, to collect depth, 3D acceleration and sound. Data were coupled with satellite tag data and stomach temperature data from the same individual in 2014. Hearing sensitivity was also collected on these individuals.

PURPOSE: An aerial survey of the Western Hudson Bay beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) population was conducted on August 12th, 2015 to provide a population estimate. Surveys were flown in a DeHavilland Twin Otter (DH-6) fitted with four bubble windows and an optical glass-covered camera hatch at the rear underbelly of the plane. A Global Positioning System (GPS) unit logged the position, altitude, speed, and heading of the aircraft each second. Surveys were initially flown at a target ground speed of 100 knots (185 km/h), and target altitudes of 1,000 ft (305 m) for visual surveys and 2,000 ft (610 m) for photographic surveys. After the second day of flying, the target ground speed was adjusted to 110 knots (204 km/h). Complete coverage of the two photographic strata was achieved using a Nikon D810 camera fitted with a 25 mm lens. The camera was mounted at the rear of the aircraft and directed straight down with the longest side perpendicular to the track line. The camera was connected to a GPS unit to geo-reference photographs, and to a laptop computer to control exposure settings and photo interval. At an altitude of 2,000 ft (610 m), the 25 mm lens captured a ground area of approximately 875 m x 585 m. The photograph interval was set to maintain an overlap of 20 to 40 % between consecutive photos, and with a transect spacing of 600 m, the lateral overlap between photos from adjacent transects was approximately 30 %. DESCRIPTION: Aerial surveys of summering Western Hudson Bay (WHB) beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) were conducted on August 12th, 2015 to update the previous population abundance. The survey area comprised five strata (three visual and two photographic) encompassing high use areas around three river estuaries where recurring aggregations of WHB beluga are found during the summer months. This metadata covers the photographic data related to the survey. The photographic surveys completely covered high density aggregations in the Churchill River and near the mouth of the Seal River.

PURPOSE: An aerial survey of the Western Hudson Bay beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) population was conducted on August 19th, 2015 to provide a population estimate. Surveys were flown in a DeHavilland Twin Otter (DH-6) fitted with four bubble windows and an optical glass-covered camera hatch at the rear underbelly of the plane. A Global Positioning System (GPS) unit logged the position, altitude, speed, and heading of the aircraft each second. Surveys were initially flown at a target ground speed of 100 knots (185 km/h), and target altitudes of 1,000 ft (305 m) for visual surveys and 2,000 ft (610 m) for photographic surveys. After the second day of flying, the target ground speed was adjusted to 110 knots (204 km/h). Complete coverage of the two photographic strata was achieved using a Nikon D810 camera fitted with a 25 mm lens. The camera was mounted at the rear of the aircraft and directed straight down with the longest side perpendicular to the track line. The camera was connected to a GPS unit to geo-reference photographs, and to a laptop computer to control exposure settings and photo interval. At an altitude of 2,000 ft (610 m), the 25 mm lens captured a ground area of approximately 875 m x 585 m. The photograph interval was set to maintain an overlap of 20 to 40 % between consecutive photos, and with a transect spacing of 600 m, the lateral overlap between photos from adjacent transects was approximately 30 %. DESCRIPTION: Aerial surveys of summering Western Hudson Bay (WHB) beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) were conducted on August 19th, 2015 to update the previous population abundance. The survey area comprised five strata (three visual and two photographic) encompassing high use areas around three river estuaries where recurring aggregations of WHB beluga are found during the summer months. This metadata covers the photographic data related to the survey. The photographic surveys completely covered high density aggregations in the Churchill River and near the mouth of the Seal River.

PURPOSE: These data have been updated following a Canadian Science Advice Secretariat (CSAS) Regional Science Advisory Process. Associated publications are available in the citation section below or will be posted on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science Advisory Schedule as they become available. DESCRIPTION: The yearly biomass estimates of Gulf of St. Lawrence Witch Flounder were obtained using a Bayesian Schaefer Surplus Production model as part of the stock assessment to year 2021. The yearly estimates presented come from Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations. The yearly median estimates are provided, along with uncertainty estimates (2.5th, 25th, 75th and 97.5th percentiles). The values are in thousands of tons of 30+ cm biomass. USE LIMITATION: To ensure scientific integrity and appropriate use of the data, we would encourage you to contact the data custodian.

This data set describes nucleotide sequence data derived from 18S ribosomal DNA amplified in two fragments. A total of 87 feces from Pacific walrus and 57 marine invertebrates were examined for this study. Samples were collected from the Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea, Alaska. Samples used in the study originated from feces or muscle samples collected in the field from ice floes or benthic van Veen grab samples.

This data set contains information (in two spreadsheets) from the monitoring of nests of Pacific, Yellow-billed and Red-throated loons at two 64 km2 sites in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) during the summers of 2011-2014. We categorized each nest site by the physical aspects of the lake and proximity to other nesting loons. To determine nest fate (incubating, nest successful, nest failed), nests were revisited and inspected at least once a week. During each nest visit, we estimated embryo development (to predict hatch dates) by floating eggs. Nests were considered successful if one or more chicks hatched.

This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for Steller sea lions and seals in the Bristol Bay Subarea. The Subarea includes marine and coastal areas of Bristol Bay and part of the southern Alaska Peninsula. (This area extends from directly south of Goodnews Bay to slightly north of Port Seniavan along the Bristol Bay side of the Alaska Peninsula, as well as the Pacific Ocean side of the Alaska Peninsula from Cape Providence to Kupreanof Peninsula.) Vector points in this data set represent Steller sea lion and harbor/spotted seal haul-outs. Species-specific abundance, seasonality, status, life history, and source information are stored in relational data tables (described below) designed to be used in conjunction with this spatial data layer.This data set comprises a portion of the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) data for the Bristol Bay Subarea. ESI data characterize the marine and coastal environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil. The ESI data include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources. See also the M_MAMMAL (Marine Mammal Polygons) data layer, part of the larger Bristol Bay Subarea ESI database, for additional marine mammal information.