Marine Bird Specimen and Feeding Studies (F031) is one of a group of seven datasets related to Marine Birds from Coastal Alaska and Puget Sound Data (1975 -1980). Each dataset uses the NODC Taxonomic Code to indicate species. Marine Bird Specimen and Feeding Studies (F031) contains data from laboratory examination of marine bird specimens collected in the field and analysis of food sample contents to determine prey species and characteristics. These data provide information on population dynamics and trophic relationships. Position, date and time are reported for each sample station, along with environmental data at the sample site including ice conditions, if appropriate. Environmental data may include air temperature and pressure, wind direction and speed, sea surface temperature, tide conditions and habitat and microenvironment descriptors. Species identification, general biological condition (e.g., age, sex, color), weight, and body dimensions are reported for each specimen (multiple specimens may be collected at each sample site). If food samples are taken, food sample source and characteristics are reported. From food sample analysis, prey species are identified and for each such species further detailed data may be presented including frequency distribution of prey or prey part length and weight. These data were collected in 1975 - 1980 for coastal Alaska.

Marine Bird Surveys (F041) is one of a group of seven datasets related to Marine Birds from Coastal Alaska and Puget Sound Data (1979). Each dataset uses the NODC Taxonomic Code to indicate species. Marine Bird Surveys (F041) data type contains data from field observations (land surveys) of marine birds and the environment in which they were sighted. These data are collected to provide information on population density and distribution. Position, date, start time, elapsed time and survey segment area and distance are recorded for each survey. The survey environment is described by vegetation type, geological characteristics, beach substrate, upland type, nearshore bathymetry, meteorological and tidal conditions. Species information includes number of individuals by age and sex. Information such as age, sex, location, condition, presence of oil and cause of death may also be reported for individual specimens. These data were collected in 1978 - 1979 for Puget Sound as part of the Marine EcoSystems Analysis (MESA) Puget Sound Project.

Migratory Sea Bird Watch (F038) is one of a group of seven datasets related to Marine Birds from Coastal Alaska and Puget Sound Data (1974 -1982). Each dataset uses the NODC Taxonomic Code to indicate species. Migratory Sea Bird Watch (F038) data type contains data from field observations of migratory bird species made at fixed offshore positions. These data are collected to provide information about migratory routes and breeding locales of principal marine bird species. Position, date, start and end times, elapsed time, distance from shore, platform type, counting method and sampling technique are reported for each series of observations. Environmental information may include meteorological and sea surface conditions, ice cover, and tide height and trend. Species information may include age, sex, color, plumage, molt, behavior, number of individuals and number of species. These data were collected in 1977 - 1978 for coastal Alaska.

Marine Bird Habitats (F040) is one of a group of seven datasets related to Marine Birds from Coastal Alaska and Puget Sound Data (1975 -1978). Each dataset uses the NODC Taxonomic Code to indicate species. Marine Bird Habitats (F040) data type contains data from field observations of marine bird species and their associated habitats. The data are collected to provide information about species abundance, distribution and behavior. Position, date, time, elapsed survey time, area and distance, platform type and sampling technique are reported for each survey. Environmental information may include meteorological conditions, sea surface temperature and salinity, tide conditions and ice characteristics. Species and habitat information may include number of species, number of individuals per species, age, sex, color, molt, behavior, physiographic features, substrate, cover and distances to shore, barrier islands, or river deltas. These data were collected in 1975 - 1978 for coastal Alaska.

Marine Bird Sighting, Ship/Aircraft Census (F033) is one of a group of seven datasets related to Marine Birds from Coastal Alaska and Puget Sound Data (1974 -1983). Each dataset uses the NODC Taxonomic Code to indicate species. Marine Bird Sighting, Ship/Aircraft Census (F033) contains data from field observations of marine birds made along ship or aircraft survey tracks. These data are collected to provide information on population density and distribution. Start and end position, date and elapsed time, speed and course, platform type and observing techniques are reported for each survey. Environmental information may include meteorological and sea surface conditions, distances to the shoreline and shelf break, ice characteristics within and outside each transect and surface debris, including oil slicks. Species data may include age, sex, color, plumage, number of individuals, direction of flight, behavior and food source association. Any number of species may be reported within one observation time span. These data were collected from 1975 - 1982 for coastal Alaska and adjacent North Pacific Ocean.

NODC Standard Marine Bird Sighting, Land Census (F034) is one of a group of seven datasets related to Marine Birds from Coastal Alaska and Puget Sound Data (1975 -1980). Each dataset uses the NODC Taxonomic Code to indicate species. Marine Bird Sighting, Land Census (F034) contains data from field observations of marine birds made along land survey tracks. These data are collected to provide information on population density and distribution and breeding locales. The contents and structure of data type file are similar to Marine Bird Sighting, Aircraft Census (F033), although the transect distance of land surveys will normally be shorter than that of ship and aircraft surveys. In this data type the investigator defines the lateral dimension of survey distance unit (a specified number of whole meters). Start and end position, date and elapsed time, and number of distance units are reported for each survey. Environmental information may include meteorological and adjacent sea surface conditions, distance to nearest shoreline, ice characteristics, and debris, including oil slicks. Species data may include age, sex, color, plumage, number of individuals, flight direction, behavior, and foodsource association. Any number of species may be reported within one observation time span. These data were collected in 1975 - 1980 for coastal Alaska.

NODC maintains data in three NODC Standard Format Marine Mammal Data Sets: Marine Mammal Sighting and Census (F127); Marine Mammal Specimens (F025); Marine Mammal Sighting 2 (F026). These data type formats are designed to support studies of biological populations and ecosystems that are subject to impact from oil and gas development, marine pollution and other environmental disturbances. Information on marine animal populations, activities, migratory routes and breeding locales are obtained from either surface ship or aircraft surveys. The Marine Mammal Sighting and Census (F127) data type contains data from field observations of marine mammals. Obtained from ship or aircraft surveys, the data are collected to provide information on population density and distribution, mammal behavior and activity, migratory routes and breeding locales. In addition to data on the survey track and observed environmental conditions (including ice conditions, if encountered), F127 data may contain data from each species sighted. Parameters reported may include group size; total number of individuals, adults (males and females), subadults and pups; and mammal activity. F127 contains data for 1979 - 1991.

NODC maintains data in three NODC Standard Format Marine Mammal Data Sets: Marine Mammal Sighting and Census (F127); Marine Mammal Specimens (F025); Marine Mammal Sighting 2 (F026). These data type formats are designed to support studies of biological populations and ecosystems that are subject to impact from oil and gas development, marine pollution and other environmental disturbances. Information on marine animal populations, activities, migratory routes and breeding locales are obtained from either surface ship or aircraft surveys. The Marine Mammal Sighting 2 (F026) data type contains data from field observations of marine mammals. Obtained from ship or aircraft surveys, the data are collected to provide information on population density and distribution, migratory routes, and breeding locales. In addition to data on the survey track and observed environmental conditions (including ice conditions, if encountered), the file contains data for each species sighted. Parameters reported may include total number of individuals, number of pups, number of groups and number of mammals per group. F026 contains data for 1976 only. For further information on these data, contact Karl Schneider (see personnel section). NOTE: In this file type, the geographic location of each group sighted is not recorded; in F127, locations of group sightings are recorded as well as the beginning and end positions of each station or segment of survey track.

NODC maintains data in three NODC Standard Format Marine Mammal Data Sets: Marine Mammal Sighting and Census (F127); Marine Mammal Specimens (F025); Marine Mammal Sighting 2 (F026). These data type formats are designed to support studies of biological populations and ecosystems that are subject to impact from oil and gas development, marine pollution and other environmental disturbances. Information on marine animal populations, activities, migratory routes and breeding locales are obtained from either surface ship or aircraft surveys. The Marine Mammal Specimens (F025) data type contains data from examinations of marine mammal specimens. The data are collected to define behavior, population dynamics and trophic relationships of marine mammals. In addition to species, position, time and environmental conditions at the collection site, data for each specimen may include weight and body dimensions, sex and reproductive status, age, primary cause of death and analysis of stomach contents. The species of both the specimen and its ingested prey are encoded using the NODC Taxonomic Code. Comments may be reported in a free-text record. F025 contains data for 1975 - 1981. For further information on these data, contact Francis H. Fay (see personnel section).

Data has been processed by NODC to the NODC standard Marine Bird Sighting, Ship/Aircraft Census (F033) format. The F033 format contains data from field observations of marine birds made along ship or aircraft survey tracks. These data are collected to provide information on population density and distribution. Start and end position, date and elapsed time, speed and course, platform type and observing techniques are reported for each survey. Environmental information may include meteorological and sea surface conditions, distances to the shoreline and shelf break, ice characteristics within and outside each transect and surface debris, including oil slicks. Species data may include age, sex, color, plumage, number of individuals, direction of flight, behavior and food source association. Any number of species may be reported within one observation time span.