This data is part of the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA) long term monitoring program, benthic monitoring component and a seasonal diet study in Kenai Fjords National Park. The dataset is a comma separated file exported from a Microsoft Access database. The data consists of observations made of foraging sea otters (Enhydra lutris). Observers used Questar field model spotting scopes and binoculars to identify prey. Date, local time, dive duration, success, prey type, prey size, prey number, handling time and surface time are all recorded. Sites are in Alaska and include locations in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Kenai Fjords National Park and Prince William Sound. This data in this file were collected 2012-2016.

This data is part of the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA) long term monitoring program, benthic monitoring component and a seasonal diet study in Kenai Fjords National Park. The dataset is a comma separated file exported from a Microsoft Access database. The data consists of observations made of foraging sea otters (Enhydra lutris). Observers used Questar field model spotting scopes and binoculars to identify prey. Date, local time, dive duration, success, prey type, prey size, prey number, handling time and surface time are all recorded. Sites are in Alaska and include locations in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Kenai Fjords National Park and Prince William Sound. This data in this file were collected 2012-2016.

These data are part of the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA) long term monitoring program, nearshore monitoring component. Specifically, these data describe sea otter (Enhydra lutris) aerial survey observations from the waters around Katmai National Park and Preserve from surveys conducted in 2008, 2012, 2015, and 2018. Sea otters are a keystone predator, well known for structuring the nearshore marine ecosystem through their consumption of invertebrate prey. The dataset consists of 3 comma-delimited files (CSV) exported from Microsoft Excel. The data consists of (1) Strip transect counts, (2) Intensive Search Unit (ISU) counts, and (3) Transect coordinates. For each aerial survey, a pilot flew an airplane at an altitude of 91 meters over pre-determined transects while an observer searched on one side of the plane and recorded sea otter group counts and locations. Sea otters observed within 400 meters of each transect were later used to estimate abundance. Sea otters sighted beyond the confines of designated transect swaths were also counted and mapped, time permitting. To estimate the number of sea otters in small groups (<20) not detected along transect swaths (e.g., due to diving behavior or the presence of kelp canopy), 400 meter diameter circles (i.e. ISUs) were searched intensively by periodically flying 5 concentric circles around an initiating group. These ISUs were distributed throughout the survey area in an attempt to accurately represent the full range of observation conditions encountered during the survey. When large groups of sea otters (>=20) were sighted on transect, they were circled until a complete count was made. Data are presented as three CSV files: KATM sea otter strip transect counts in dd.csv, KATM sea otter ISU counts.csv, KATM sea otter survey transect coordinates in dd.csv

This data package includes 10 child items with data about the distribution, abundance, and morphology of forage fish, zooplankton, and predators, and oceanographic conditions during surveys in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Child Item 1: "Forage Fish Catch Data from Prince William Sound, Alaska". Child Item 2: "Forage Fish Morphology Data from Prince William Sound, Alaska". Child Item 3: "Forage Fish Size, Age, and Energy Density Data from Prince William Sound, Alaska". Child Item 4: "Forage Fish Aerial Validation Data from Prince William Sound, Alaska". Child Item 5: "Marine Bird and Mammal Survey Data from Prince William Sound, Alaska". Child Item 6: "Zooplankton Biomass Data from Prince William Sound, Alaska". Child Item 7: "Macrozooplankton Hydroacoustic Index Data from Prince William Sound, Alaska". Child Item 8: "Hydroacoustic Survey Data from Prince William Sound, Alaska". Child Item 9: "Nutrient Depth Profile Data from Prince William Sound, Alaska". Child Item 10: "Conductivity, Temperature, Depth Profile Data from Prince William Sound, Alaska"

These data are is part of the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA) long term monitoring program, nearshore monitoring component. Specifically, these data describe sea otter (Enhydra lutris) aerial survey observations from the waters around Kenai Fjords National Park between 2002 and 2016. Sea otters are a keystone predator, well known for structuring the nearshore marine ecosystem through their consumption of invertebrate prey. The dataset consists of 3 comma delimited files exported from Microsoft Excel. The data consists of 1. Strip transect counts, 2. Intensive Search Unit (ISU) counts, and 3. Transect coordinates. For each aerial survey, a pilot flew an airplane at an altitude of 91m over pre-determined transects while an observer searched on one side of the plane and recorded sea otter group counts and locations. Sea otters observed within 400 m of each transect were later used to estimate abundance. Sea otters sighted beyond the confines of designated transect swaths were also counted and mapped, time permitting. To estimate the number of sea otters in small groups (<20) not detected along transect swaths (e.g., due to diving behavior or the presence of kelp canopy), 400m diameter circles (i.e. ISUs) were searched intensively by periodically flying 5 concentric circles around an initiating group. These ISUs were distributed throughout the survey area in an attempt to accurately represent the full range of observation conditions encountered during the survey. When large groups of sea otters (≥20) were sighted on transect, they were circled until a complete count was made.

This data package includes four (4) child items with data from the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA) long-term monitoring program (nearshore monitoring component) rocky intertidal study. Child Item One: "Rocky Intertidal Sea Star Size, Count, and Disease Data from Prince William Sound, Katmai National Park and Preserve, and Kenai Fjords National Park". The data include: (1) size and disease state of sea stars, (2) counts of sea stars, and (3) taxonomic classification. Child Item Two: "Rocky Intertidal Nucella, Lirabuccinum, Katharina, and Lottia Counts from Prince William Sound, Katmai National Park and Preserve, and Kenai Fjords National Park". The data include: (1) counts of Nucella spp., Lottia spp., Lirabuccinum dirum, and Katharina tunicata and (2) taxonomic classification. Child Item Three: "Rocky Intertidal Invertebrate and Algae Cover from Prince William Sound, Katmai National Park and Preserve, and Kenai Fjords National Park". The data include: (1) intertidal cover, (2) intertidal percent cover, (3) intertidal top layer percent cover, (4) intertidal substrate percent cover, and (5) taxonomic classification. Child Item Four: "Rocky Intertidal Limpet (Lottia persona) Data from Prince William Sound, Katmai National Park and Preserve, and Kenai Fjords National Park". The data include: (1) limpet (Lottia persona) sizes and (2) limpet counts.

This is a child item of the USGS Data Release: https://doi.org/10.5066/F7513WCB. These data are part of the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA) long-term monitoring program, nearshore monitoring component. The dataset has five comma separated values (.csv) file exported from a Microsoft Access relational database. The data consist of percent cover and point contact data from algae and invertebrates at intertidal rocky substrate sampling sites. Tables include: 1) intertidal cover, 2) intertidal percent cover, 3) intertidal top layer percent cover, 4) intertidal substrate percent cover, and 5) taxonomic classification table.

These data establish a baseline of benthic habitats to support future change detection activities in the Klawock River Lagoon on Alaska's Prince of Wales Island. In spring 2011, benthic habitats were mapped in the lagoon, adjacent Klawock Bay, and Klawock Harbor. The mapping emphasized eelgrass beds, which are essential for the early survival of salmon fry. The Klawock River drains a 29,061-acre watershed with 132 miles of streambed habitat, supporting seven salmon and trout species. The salmon fishery is a vital economic, cultural, and food resource in the Klawock area. In 1964, a causeway was constructed, blocking access to the lagoon from Klawock Bay and significantly reducing salmon harvests. The Nature Conservancy led a partnership to construct a culvert through the causeway, reestablishing free passage between the river and Klawock Bay. This is expected to help restore full use of the river as salmon-spawning habitat and generally improve the lagoon's quality. Aerial multispectral imagery was collected over the lagoon, bay, and harbor during the week of April 19, 2011, coinciding with the causeway's breaching. Environmental factors crucial for successful benthic mapping were incorporated into mission planning. These included collecting imagery within 1.5 hours of a zero or negative tide, clear water conditions (no algal blooms or sediment plumes from runoff), low winds to avoid surface waves, and sufficient solar illumination for imaging submerged areas. Due to insufficient biomass or illumination through the water column at the time of the aerial mission, eelgrass habitats in the lagoon could not be mapped from that source. Therefore, eelgrass habitats were determined by two field-digitizing processes, conducted in August 2010 and September 2011. The final hybrid data capture habitats 10 meters by 10 meters or larger and possess the same positional accuracy as the source imagery. The layers available within the data download include: biotic, geoform, and substrate. Partners: The Nature Conservancy

These data describe marine bird and mammal surveys conducted in glacial fjords of coastal Alaska. Data were collected to document the at-sea distribution and abundance of marine birds and mammals in Glacier Bay National Park (2004), Prince William Sound (2010), Icy Bay (2011) and Yakutat Bay (2011). Following standard US Fish and Wildlife protocols for strip surveys.

These data describe marine bird and mammal surveys conducted in glacial fjords of coastal Alaska. Data were collected to document the at-sea distribution and abundance of marine birds and mammals in Glacier Bay National Park (2004), Prince William Sound (2010), Icy Bay (2011) and Yakutat Bay (2011). Following standard US Fish and Wildlife protocols for strip surveys.