8e910ac8-6f52-4548-bbcb-78474b559294 eng utf8 dataset dataset NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre +44 (0)1223 221400 British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB3 0ET United Kingdom polardatacentre@bas.ac.uk https://www.bas.ac.uk/team/business-teams/information-services/uk-polar-data-centre/ information pointOfContact 2025-03-04 ISO 19115 Geographic Information - Metadata ISO 19115:2003(E) European Petroleum Survey Group (EPSG) Geodetic Parameter Registry 2008-11-12 publication European Petroleum Survey Group EPSGadministrator@iogp.org https://www.epsg-registry.org/ EPSG Geodetic Parameter Dataset The EPSG Geodetic Parameter Dataset is a structured dataset of Coordinate Reference Systems and Coordinate Transformations, accessible through this online registry. information publisher urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::3031 6.18.3 Annual population counts of multiple species of seal, Signy Island, 1974-2024 2025-03-04 creation 2025-03-04 revision 2025-03-04 publication 2025-03-04 released 1.0 https://doi.org/10.5285/8e910ac8-6f52-4548-bbcb-78474b559294 doi GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/02026 https://data.bas.ac.uk/ Please cite this item as: Dunn, M., Waluda, C., Adlard, S., Lynnes, A., Fox, D., Briggs, D., & Morley, T. (2025). Annual population counts of multiple species of seal, Signy Island, 1974-2024 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/8e910ac8-6f52-4548-bbcb-78474b559294 The seal population on Signy Island has been monitored since 1974. The total number of adult seals were counted in February each year. The island was divided into 6 zones, and the number of Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella), elephant seals (Mirounga leonina), Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) and other seal species in each zone were counted, typically over several days. For fur seals the number of pups, white seals and entangled seals were also recorded. The first recorded count was conducted in 1974 and counts have been done annually since 1985. This work is carried out to support the conservation of higher predators at Signy. This work was funded by Natural Environment Research Council (UK) core funding to the British Antarctic Survey. No credit. completed Dunn, Michael British Antarctic Survey Researcher author Waluda, Claire British Antarctic Survey Researcher author Adlard, Stacey British Antarctic Survey Researcher author Lynnes, Amanda International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators Researcher author Fox, Derren The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Researcher author Briggs, Dirk British Antarctic Survey Researcher author Morley, Tim University of Aberdeen Researcher author NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre +44 (0)1223 221400 British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB3 0ET United Kingdom PDCServiceDesk@bas.ac.uk https://www.bas.ac.uk/team/business-teams/information-services/uk-polar-data-centre/ information pointOfContact asNeeded completed EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Population Dynamics theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 2026-01-27 publication 23 Global Change Data Center, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD United States of America https://earthdata.nasa.gov/about/gcmd/global-change-master-directory-gcmd-keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords. information publisher Antarctic Fur Seal Arctocephalus gazella Elephant Seal Leptonychotes weddellii Mirounga leonina Seal count Weddell Seal theme Signy Island South Orkney Islands place Habitats and biotopes theme GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2021-01-06 revision otherRestrictions no limitations to public access otherRestrictions no limitations license Open Government Licence v3.0 otherRestrictions This data is governed by the NERC Data Policy: https://www.ukri.org/who-we-are/nerc/our-policies-and-standards/nerc-data-policy/ otherRestrictions and supplied under Open Government Licence v.3 (). url url crossReference textTable eng utf8 biota -45.6 -45.6 -60.71666 -60.71666 1974-01-01 2024-03-31 It is recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of any data, and that the author be contacted with any questions regarding appropriate use. If you find any errors or omissions, please report them to polardatacentre@bas.ac.uk. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre +44 (0)1223 221400 British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB3 0ET United Kingdom PDCServiceDesk@bas.ac.uk https://www.bas.ac.uk/team/business-teams/information-services/uk-polar-data-centre/ information distributor bytes 1 http://ramadda.data.bas.ac.uk/repository/entry/show?entryid=8e910ac8-6f52-4548-bbcb-78474b559294 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Get Data Download data download dataset Methodology: The coastal area of Signy Island was divided into six standard zones which were each divided into a number of regions. The zone boundaries remained unaltered between survey years. Within each zone, all seals present were counted. Direct line-of-sight ground counts, using binoculars, took place led by experienced observers using a consistent methodology. Pairs of observers used tally counters to record each individual adult seal sighted on land and on sea ice adjacent to the coast of each zone, the whole census being completed over a single day prior to 1995 and over two or three days (in February) from 1997 to 2024. In some earlier surveys the month has not been recorded. The data presented here comprises the individual area counts for each survey year. Data collection: Binoculars Hand-held tally counter Data quality: Annual surveys followed consistent methodology led by experienced biologists. All personnel were familiar with identifying the three species of seal and care was always taken to examine all areas on the surveys, in order to ensure no seals were missed. Surveys took place in dry and calm weather conditions as high levels of precipitation and strong winds are known to drive large numbers of Antarctic fur seals into the sea for the duration of a storm at Signy Island. Years with no data indicate personnel had not arrived on Signy in time to carry out this activity. For additional information see Waluda et al 2010. asNeeded completed