We summarize Pacific walrus coastal haulout locations reported in published papers, reports, and personal communications from 1893 through 2014. We report haulout locations based on available reports, as well as the authors? personal knowledge of specific haulout locations and publicly available geo-referenced imagery (Digital Globe, Longmont, Colorado, USA) viewed through a virtual digital globe (Google Earth TM). For each haulout location, we provide a brief geographic description indicating the country (Russian Federation or United States), waters (Bering, Chukchi, or East Siberian Seas, or North Pacific or Arctic Oceans), geographic region and prominent local landmarks. When hauled out on land, walruses are generally restricted to a narrow strip along the coast. As such, haulouts are essentially linear coastal geographic features. Due to the scale at which exact locations are known, the scale that locations may shift among bouts of use, and the scale at which we expect this database to be used, we indicate each haulout as a single geographic point. However, for some larger haulouts and for some haulouts that have repeatedly formed along an extended coastline, we also indicate a linear geographic feature in addition to a geographic point. For a haulout that formed at various features within an enclosed bay, a distinct promontory, or small island of less than 5 km diameter, we indicated the haulout location with a single point.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Title | Pacific Walrus Coastal Haulout Database 1852-2016 |
| DOI | 10.5066/F7RX994P |
| Authors | Anthony S Fischbach, Chadwick V Jay, A. A. Kochnev, J. M. Garlich-Miller |
| Product Type | Data Release |
| Record Source | USGS Digital Object Identifier Catalog |
| USGS Organization | Alaska Science Center |
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Pacific walrus coastal haulout database, 1852-2016— Background report
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Pacific walrus coastal haulout database, 1852-2016— Background report
Walruses are large benthic predators that rest out of water between foraging bouts. Coastal “haulouts” (places where walruses rest) are formed by adult males in summer and sometimes by females and young when sea ice is absent, and are often used repeatedly across seasons and years. Understanding the geography and historical use of haulouts provides a context for conservation efforts. We summarizeAuthorsAnthony S. Fischbach, Anatoly A. Kochnev, Joel L. Garlich-Miller, Chadwick V. Jay - Connect