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PIFSC Metadata Library > PIFSC Protected Species Division (PSD) Metadata... > PSD Marine Turtle Biology and Assessment Progra... > PIR Marine Turtle Database > PIR Marine Turtle Strandings >

Database for PIR Marine Turtle Strandings

Entity (ENT)  |  Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC)
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:56551  |  Updated: October 20, 2022  |  Published / External 

Item Identification

Title: Database for PIR Marine Turtle Strandings
Short Name: Stranding Database
Status: On Going
Abstract:

This Stranding database is used to track reports of Pacific Islands Region marine turtle strandings.

Purpose:

The Turtle Database Processing System (TDPS) was designed to support marine turtle research at the National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) Marine Turtle Biology and Assessment Program (MTBAP). It provides for the systematic storage, retrieval, and summarization of data collected in three sources categories: (1) data pertaining to turtles found stranded on beaches or incidentally caught in nearshore fishing gear and reported to NMFS, (2) data collected by NMFS during survey of nearshore turtle habitat, and (3) data on nesting activity collected by NMFS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) biologists, or other collaborating biologists from turtle nesting beaches. In all three categories, most turtles involved are uniquely identified through the application of flipper tags. thus a key feature of the database is the ability to trace the history of encounters with individual turtles and cross-reference information among data sets. A central turtle ID file facilitates this.
Supplemental Information:

Division: Protected Species

Division Director: Charles Littnan

Program: PSD Marine Turtle Biology and Assessment Program

Program Lead: T. Todd Jones

Authorities: Endangered Species Act

Ownership: PIFSC

Temporal Resolution: Date

Frequency of Collection: Opportunistic

Time of Collection: Throughout the year

Types of Data Collected: Turtle strandings

Collection Method: Collection form

Recording Media: Paper

Validation and QC Procedures: Available

QC Standards: Available

Storage Media: Paper Forms, Hard Disk Drive (HDD), External HDD/Access database

Storage Format: Access

Backups: Available

Update Schedule: Whenever new data are entered

Data Distribution Method: Email

Keywords

Theme Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None Date
None MTBAP
None pacific sea turtles
None PIFSC
None PSD
None strand
None stranding

Spatial Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None American Samoa
None CNMI
None Guam
None Hawaiian Islands
None Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
None Pacific Ocean
None Saipan

Physical Location

Organization: Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
City: Honolulu
State/Province: HI
Country: USA
Location Description:

1845 Wasp Boulevard

Building 176

Entity Information

Entity Type: Data Table
Active Version?: Yes
Description:

This Stranding database is used to track reports of Pacific Islands Region marine turtle strandings.

Data Attributes

Attribute Summary

Rubric Score Primary Key? Name Type Description
100
 EVENTS_EVENT_ID Number Unique numeric identifier for this table generated by computer
100
 Event_Type Text The id for a type of turtle or human activity during which data about a turtle are recorded. Different event types are used to describe different types of activities.
100
 Obs_Initials Text Initials of person that's reporting the observation
100
 TURTLEID Text A unique alphanumeric identifier assigned by MTBAP staff to a specific turtle. The TURTLEID remains the same for a turtle throughout its recorded history. The TURTLEID was previously (but is not always) the first tag number applied to the turtle.
100
 MOTOTOOL Text Etched number, letter, and/or symbol engraved into the carapace
100
 TAG_NUM Text The unique alpha/numeric characters associated with each tag.
100
 EVENT_DATE Date Date the event occurred
100
 EVENT_TIME Number The exact time of the event, if known
100
 ISLAND Text The id of the island where the turtle was encountered
100
 Area Text The id of a specific (named) site where historical fieldwork has occurred.
100
 Site Text The id of the location within the island where the turtle was encountered (Note: This is NOT a named study site)
100
 GPS_WAYPT Number A number assigned by a Global Positioning System unit for a specific location (coordinates) of the event
100
 GPS_unit Number The last four digits of the property sticker number of the Global Positioning System unit
100
 DATALOGGER Number Serial number of the electronic device that records the temperature of wherever it is placed.
100
 LAT_DD Number Global Positioning System latitude coordinate of the event location
100
 LONG_DD Number Global Positioning System longitude coordinate of the event location
100
 SPECIES_CODE Text Two letter abbreviation of the scientific name of one of seven sea turtle species encountered in the Pacific Island Region
100
 SEX Text The abbreviation for the gender of the turtle (M = male, F = female , U = Unknown).
100
 SCL_CM Number Straight carapace length measured in centimeters (cm) to the nearest 0.1, taken from the midpoint of the precentral/nuchal notch to longest point on shell (post central), not to the notch, using the metal caliper.
100
 SCW_CM Number Straight carapace width measured in centimeters (cm) to the nearest 0.1, taken from the widest part on the shell, usually at the 6th marginals for greens and hawksbills, using the metal caliper.
100
 CCL_CM Number Curved carapace length measured in centimeters (cm, or a conversion of 2.54cm x number of inches if not taken in cm) to the nearest 0.5, taken from the midpoint of the precentral/nuchal scute to the longest point (post centrals) not to the notch, following the curvature of the shell using the measuring tape.
100
 CCW_CM Number Curved carapace width measured in centimeters (cm, or a conversion of 2.54cm x number of inches if not taken in cm) to the nearest 0.5, taken from the widest part on the shell, usually at the 6th marginals for greens and hawksbills, following the curvature of the shell using the measuring tape.
100
 PLASTRON_LEN_CM Number Plastron length measured in centimeters (cm) to the nearest 0.1, taken from the hardest points at the anterior and the posterior of the plastron (hard bottom shell) using the metal caliper.
100
 TAIL_LEN_CM Number Tail length measured in centimeters (cm) to the nearest 0.5, taken from posterior rigid tip of the plastron to the distal tip of the tail with the tail extended as straight as possible using the measuring tape.
100
 VENT_LEN_CM Number Vent/cloaca length measured in centimeters (cm) to the nearest 0.5, taken from the posterior tip of the plastron to the middle of the vent/cloaca opening using the measuring tape.
100
 Mass Number Weight measured in kilograms (kg) to the nearest 0.1 using a digital scale.
100
 TUMORS_YNU Text Whether or not tumors are present.
100
 TUMRNK Number Number assigned for the subjective overall tumor score based on the severity and location of the tumors (range 0-4, with 0 being no tumors and 4 indicating very severe tumor coverage)
100
 EMACIATION_CODE Number Number assigned for the degree to which the turtle's underside (plastron) is concave (range 0-3, with 0 being no emaciation and 3 being extreme emaciation)
100
 PHOTOS_Taken Yes/No Whether or not photos were taken of this turtle.
100
 SAMPLES_TAKEN Yes/No Whether or not samples were taken from this turtle.
100
 RELEASE_DATE Date If the turtle is released alive from a stranding or rehab, this is the date it was released.
100
 RELEASE_LOC Text The id of the location/study site where turtle was released after the event
100
 NECROPSY Yes/No Whether or not a necropsy was performed on this turtle
100
 HOOK Yes/No Whether or not a fish hook is embedded in the turtle. Unknown means that it is not verified whether or not a fishing hook is present.
100
 LINE Yes/Not Whether or not fishing line is entangling the turtle. Unknown means that it is not verified whether or not fishing line is present.
100
 Fishing_Line_Severity Number Number assigned to describe the seriousness of the affect the fishing line has to the turtle (e.g., number of appendages entangled but no amputations = 2, ingestion/amputation = 3)
100
 NET Yes/No Whether or not a net is entrapping the turtle. Unknown means that it is not verified whether or not a net or trap (such as a crab or lobster) is present.
100
 BOAT_IMPACT Yes/No Whether or not the turtle has been hit by a boat or propeller. Unknown means that it is not verified whether or not an impact by a boat or propeller occurred.
100
 SHARK_ATTACK Yes/No Whether or not the turtle has been bitten or attacked by a shark. Unknown means it is not verified that the turtle was attacked by a shark.
100
 HUMAN_TAKE Yes/No Whether or not a person or persons intentionally took the turtle for their benefit. (Unknown means that it is not known whether or not the information was collected or that the turtle was not examined to determine whether or not human take was involved.)
100
 Capture_Method Text Not applicable to strandings
100
 Capture_Platform Text Not applicable to strandings

Attribute Details

EVENTS_EVENT_ID

CC ID: 845334
Seq. Order: 1
Data Storage Type: Number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Unique numeric identifier for this table generated by computer

Event_Type

CC ID: 845335
Seq. Order: 2
Data Storage Type: Text
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

The id for a type of turtle or human activity during which data about a turtle are recorded. Different event types are used to describe different types of activities.

Obs_Initials

CC ID: 845336
Seq. Order: 3
Data Storage Type: Text
Min Length: 2
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Initials of person that's reporting the observation

TURTLEID

CC ID: 845337
Seq. Order: 4
Data Storage Type: Text
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

A unique alphanumeric identifier assigned by MTBAP staff to a specific turtle. The TURTLEID remains the same for a turtle throughout its recorded history. The TURTLEID was previously (but is not always) the first tag number applied to the turtle.

MOTOTOOL

CC ID: 845338
Seq. Order: 5
Data Storage Type: Text
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Etched number, letter, and/or symbol engraved into the carapace

TAG_NUM

CC ID: 845339
Seq. Order: 6
Data Storage Type: Text
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

The unique alpha/numeric characters associated with each tag.

EVENT_DATE

CC ID: 845340
Seq. Order: 7
Data Storage Type: Date
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Date the event occurred

EVENT_TIME

CC ID: 845342
Seq. Order: 8
Data Storage Type: Number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

The exact time of the event, if known

ISLAND

CC ID: 845343
Seq. Order: 9
Data Storage Type: Text
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

The id of the island where the turtle was encountered

Area

CC ID: 845344
Seq. Order: 10
Data Storage Type: Text
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

The id of a specific (named) site where historical fieldwork has occurred.

Site

CC ID: 845346
Seq. Order: 11
Data Storage Type: Text
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

The id of the location within the island where the turtle was encountered (Note: This is NOT a named study site)

GPS_WAYPT

CC ID: 845347
Seq. Order: 12
Data Storage Type: Number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

A number assigned by a Global Positioning System unit for a specific location (coordinates) of the event

GPS_unit

CC ID: 845348
Seq. Order: 13
Data Storage Type: Number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

The last four digits of the property sticker number of the Global Positioning System unit

DATALOGGER

CC ID: 845349
Seq. Order: 14
Data Storage Type: Number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Serial number of the electronic device that records the temperature of wherever it is placed.

LAT_DD

CC ID: 845350
Seq. Order: 15
Data Storage Type: Number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Global Positioning System latitude coordinate of the event location

LONG_DD

CC ID: 845351
Seq. Order: 16
Data Storage Type: Number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Global Positioning System longitude coordinate of the event location

SPECIES_CODE

CC ID: 845352
Seq. Order: 17
Data Storage Type: Text
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Two letter abbreviation of the scientific name of one of seven sea turtle species encountered in the Pacific Island Region

SEX

CC ID: 845353
Seq. Order: 18
Data Storage Type: Text
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

The abbreviation for the gender of the turtle (M = male, F = female , U = Unknown).

SCL_CM

CC ID: 845354
Seq. Order: 19
Data Storage Type: Number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Straight carapace length measured in centimeters (cm) to the nearest 0.1, taken from the midpoint of the precentral/nuchal notch to longest point on shell (post central), not to the notch, using the metal caliper.

SCW_CM

CC ID: 845355
Seq. Order: 20
Data Storage Type: Number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Straight carapace width measured in centimeters (cm) to the nearest 0.1, taken from the widest part on the shell, usually at the 6th marginals for greens and hawksbills, using the metal caliper.

CCL_CM

CC ID: 845356
Seq. Order: 21
Data Storage Type: Number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Curved carapace length measured in centimeters (cm, or a conversion of 2.54cm x number of inches if not taken in cm) to the nearest 0.5, taken from the midpoint of the precentral/nuchal scute to the longest point (post centrals) not to the notch, following the curvature of the shell using the measuring tape.

CCW_CM

CC ID: 845357
Seq. Order: 22
Data Storage Type: Number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Curved carapace width measured in centimeters (cm, or a conversion of 2.54cm x number of inches if not taken in cm) to the nearest 0.5, taken from the widest part on the shell, usually at the 6th marginals for greens and hawksbills, following the curvature of the shell using the measuring tape.

PLASTRON_LEN_CM

CC ID: 845358
Seq. Order: 23
Data Storage Type: Number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Plastron length measured in centimeters (cm) to the nearest 0.1, taken from the hardest points at the anterior and the posterior of the plastron (hard bottom shell) using the metal caliper.

TAIL_LEN_CM

CC ID: 845359
Seq. Order: 24
Data Storage Type: Number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Tail length measured in centimeters (cm) to the nearest 0.5, taken from posterior rigid tip of the plastron to the distal tip of the tail with the tail extended as straight as possible using the measuring tape.

VENT_LEN_CM

CC ID: 845360
Seq. Order: 25
Data Storage Type: Number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Vent/cloaca length measured in centimeters (cm) to the nearest 0.5, taken from the posterior tip of the plastron to the middle of the vent/cloaca opening using the measuring tape.

Mass

CC ID: 845361
Seq. Order: 26
Data Storage Type: Number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Weight measured in kilograms (kg) to the nearest 0.1 using a digital scale.

TUMORS_YNU

CC ID: 845362
Seq. Order: 27
Data Storage Type: Text
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Whether or not tumors are present.

TUMRNK

CC ID: 845363
Seq. Order: 28
Data Storage Type: Number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Number assigned for the subjective overall tumor score based on the severity and location of the tumors (range 0-4, with 0 being no tumors and 4 indicating very severe tumor coverage)

EMACIATION_CODE

CC ID: 845364
Seq. Order: 29
Data Storage Type: Number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Number assigned for the degree to which the turtle's underside (plastron) is concave (range 0-3, with 0 being no emaciation and 3 being extreme emaciation)

PHOTOS_Taken

CC ID: 845365
Seq. Order: 30
Data Storage Type: Yes/No
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Whether or not photos were taken of this turtle.

SAMPLES_TAKEN

CC ID: 845366
Seq. Order: 31
Data Storage Type: Yes/No
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Whether or not samples were taken from this turtle.

RELEASE_DATE

CC ID: 845367
Seq. Order: 32
Data Storage Type: Date
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

If the turtle is released alive from a stranding or rehab, this is the date it was released.

RELEASE_LOC

CC ID: 845368
Seq. Order: 33
Data Storage Type: Text
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

The id of the location/study site where turtle was released after the event

NECROPSY

CC ID: 845369
Seq. Order: 34
Data Storage Type: Yes/No
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Whether or not a necropsy was performed on this turtle

HOOK

CC ID: 845370
Seq. Order: 35
Data Storage Type: Yes/No
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Whether or not a fish hook is embedded in the turtle. Unknown means that it is not verified whether or not a fishing hook is present.

LINE

CC ID: 845371
Seq. Order: 36
Data Storage Type: Yes/Not
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Whether or not fishing line is entangling the turtle. Unknown means that it is not verified whether or not fishing line is present.

Fishing_Line_Severity

CC ID: 845373
Seq. Order: 37
Data Storage Type: Number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Number assigned to describe the seriousness of the affect the fishing line has to the turtle (e.g., number of appendages entangled but no amputations = 2, ingestion/amputation = 3)

NET

CC ID: 845374
Seq. Order: 38
Data Storage Type: Yes/No
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Whether or not a net is entrapping the turtle. Unknown means that it is not verified whether or not a net or trap (such as a crab or lobster) is present.

BOAT_IMPACT

CC ID: 845375
Seq. Order: 39
Data Storage Type: Yes/No
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Whether or not the turtle has been hit by a boat or propeller. Unknown means that it is not verified whether or not an impact by a boat or propeller occurred.

SHARK_ATTACK

CC ID: 845376
Seq. Order: 40
Data Storage Type: Yes/No
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Whether or not the turtle has been bitten or attacked by a shark. Unknown means it is not verified that the turtle was attacked by a shark.

HUMAN_TAKE

CC ID: 845377
Seq. Order: 41
Data Storage Type: Yes/No
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Whether or not a person or persons intentionally took the turtle for their benefit. (Unknown means that it is not known whether or not the information was collected or that the turtle was not examined to determine whether or not human take was involved.)

Capture_Method

CC ID: 845799
Seq. Order: 42
Data Storage Type: Text
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Not applicable to strandings

Capture_Platform

CC ID: 845800
Seq. Order: 43
Data Storage Type: Text
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Not applicable to strandings

Support Roles

Data Steward

CC ID: 845324
Date Effective From: 2006
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Murakawa, Shawn KK
Address: 1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96818
USA
Email Address: shawn.murakawa@noaa.gov
Phone: (808)725-5731
Business Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. M - F
Contact Instructions:

Email shawn.murakawa@noaa.gov

Distributor

CC ID: 845325
Date Effective From: 2006
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC)
Address: 1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96818
USA
Email Address: pifsc.info@noaa.gov
Phone: 808-725-5360
URL: https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Metadata Contact

CC ID: 845326
Date Effective From: 2006
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Murakawa, Shawn KK
Address: 1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96818
USA
Email Address: shawn.murakawa@noaa.gov
Phone: (808)725-5731
Business Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. M - F
Contact Instructions:

Email shawn.murakawa@noaa.gov

Point of Contact

CC ID: 845327
Date Effective From: 2006
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Murakawa, Shawn KK
Address: 1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96818
USA
Email Address: shawn.murakawa@noaa.gov
Phone: (808)725-5731
Business Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. M - F
Contact Instructions:

Email shawn.murakawa@noaa.gov

Extents

Extent Group 1

Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1

CC ID: 845329
W° Bound: -177.395907
E° Bound: -154.789191
N° Bound: 28.217525
S° Bound: -14.560291
Description

Nearshore waters and shorelines of the Hawaiian Archipelago and American Samoa

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 1

CC ID: 845330
Time Frame Type: Continuing
Start: 1975-06-13

Access Information

Security Class: Unclassified

Distribution Information

Distribution 1

CC ID: 845332
Start Date: 2006
End Date: Present
Download URL: https://oceanwatch.pifsc.noaa.gov/xfer/PIFSC_PIRO_bulk_data_download_InPort_5448.tgz
Distributor: Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) (2006 - Present)

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 56551
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:56551
Metadata Record Created By: Shawn KK Murakawa
Metadata Record Created: 2019-05-30 12:58+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: SysAdmin InPortAdmin
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2022-10-20 02:17+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2019-05-30
Owner Org: PIFSC
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2019-05-30
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2020-05-30