Full Record - Platform Transmitting Terminal (PTT) tracking of Antarctic Fur Seals at Bird Island, South Georgia, from 1995 - 2010

Platform Transmitting Terminal (PTT) tracking of Antarctic Fur Seals at Bird Island, South Georgia, from 1995 - 2010

GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/01220

Abstract:
Platform Transmitting Terminal (PTT) tags were used to track Antarctic Fur Seals (Arctocephalus gazella) from Bird Island, South Georgia, 1995-2010. PTT tags use the ARGOS satellite system to collect geospatial data. Tags were deployed on breeding females during the summer, to provide information on where the seals are foraging during lactation and into the winter months.

Citation:
Staniland, I., Waluda, C., & Forcada, J. (2020). Platform Transmitting Terminal (PTT) tracking of Antarctic Fur Seals at Bird Island, South Georgia, from 1995 - 2010 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/224003cc-8f77-4980-8cac-5574e179e4f8

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https://ramadda.data.bas.ac.uk/repository/entry/show?entryid=224003cc-8f77-4980-8cac-5574e179e4f8

REFERENCE MATERIALS

License

Use:	This data is governed by the NERC data policy http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/sites/data/policy/ and supplied under Open Government Licence v.3 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Authors

Name	UK Polar Data Centre
Role(s)	Metadata Author
Organisation	British Antarctic Survey

Name	Dr Iain Staniland
Role(s)	Investigator
Organisation	British Antarctic Survey

Name	Dr Claire M Waluda
Role(s)	Investigator
Organisation	British Antarctic Survey

Name	Dr Jaume Forcada
Role(s)	Investigator
Organisation	British Antarctic Survey

Basic Information

Creation Date:	2019-08-02
Dataset Progress:	In Work
Dataset Language:	English
ISO Topic Categories:	Biota
Parameters:	Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Diurnal Movements Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Indicator Species Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Predation

Additional Information

Reference:	Barlow KE, Boyd IL, Croxall JP, Reid K, Staniland IJ, Brierley AS (2002) Are penguins and seals in competition for Antarctic krill at South Georgia?. Marine Biology 140: 205-213 Staniland I, Robinson SL, Silk J, Warren N, Trathan P (2012) Winter distribution and haul-out behaviour of female Antarctic fur seals from South Georgia. Marine Biology 159: 291-301 Boyd IL, Staniland IJ, Martin AR, (2002) Distribution of foraging by female Antarctic fur seals. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 242:285-294 Staniland IJ, Reid K, Boyd IL (2004) Comparing individual and spatial influences on foraging behaviour in Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella). Mar Ecol Prog Ser 275:263-274 Staniland IJ, Morton A, Robinson SL, Malone D, Forcada J (2011). Foraging behaviour in two Antarctic fur sealcolonies with differing population recoveries. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 434:183-196
Quality:	The PTT data files include quality information, under the fields loc_class and loc_ind. The loc_class field indicates an error value for the location which is determined by the number of satellites the tag connected with. Codes are detailed in readme.txt file. The loc_ind field indicates the IQ (Quality indicator). This indicator gives information on the transmitter in terms of X and Y. X (the first digit in the loc_ind field) indicates residual error on the frequency calculation. Y (the second digit in the loc_ind field) indicates transmitter oscillator frequency drift between two satellite passes. Meanings of the values of X and Y are detailed in the readme.txt file.
Lineage/Methodology:	Platform transmitter terminals (PTTs) were deployed on lactating female Antarctic fur seals at Bird Island, South Georgia. PTTs were attached with epoxy glue to the hair along the dorsal midline between the scapulae. The PTTs had a minimum transmission interval of 45 s, and they only operated when the saltwater switch, located close to the base of the antenna, showed that the antenna was out of the water. There was no duty cycling of the PTTs, but they were programmed to switch off after the animals had spent 1 h out of the water. PTTs were deployed annually between 1995 and 2010. In 1995 and 1996 the PTTs were deployed on individuals for two foraging trips. For most other years PTTs were deployed for one foraging trip per individual. Fieldwork was approved by the British Antarctic Survey Animal Ethics Committee. All data were collected under permit from the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
Ownership:

Extent

Temporal Coverage:
Start Date	1995-12-07
End Date	2010-03-03

Spatial Coverage:
Latitude
Southernmost	-54.02
Northernmost	-54.02
Longitude
Westernmost	-38.02
Easternmost	-38.02
Altitude
Min Altitude	N/A
Max Altitude	N/A
Depth
Min Depth	N/A
Max Depth	N/A

Location:
Location	South Georgia Island
Detailed Location	Bird Island

Instrumentation

Data Collection:	Platform transmitter terminals (PTTs) (1995, 1996:Wildlife Computers, 1 W, 250 to 500 g, up to 15 x9 x3cm; 1997, 1998: Telonics ST-10, 0.5 W, 200 g, 10 x4 x2.5 cm).