Vanuatu dugong sightings recorded during CMS dugong catch / by-catch standardised questionnaire 2015-2017

Christina Shaw1, Christina Shaw2

1 Vanuatu Eviornmental Science Society, Kumal Highway, Port Vila, Vanuatu; 2 

Corresponding author(s): Christina Shaw (vess@vanuatuconservation.org)

Received {date}; Revised {date}; Accepted {date}; Published {date}

Citation: Combination of authors, year of data paper publication (in parentheses), Title, Journal Name, Volume, Issue number (in parentheses), and doi of the data paper.

Abstract

These sightings of dugongs are where members of the local communities say they have seen dugongs during interviews for the CMS dugong catch/ by catch standardised questionnaire. The questionnaire survey was conducted between 2015 and 2017. Sightings were where people remembered seeing dugongs in their lifetimes and some of the dates may not be accurate. The locations of the sightings were drawn onto paper maps and them transcribed to Google earth, hence they may not be accurate.

Keywords: Occurrence, dugong

General description

Purpose: To create the first collection of seagrasses in Vanuatu
Additional information: Thank you to David Bloom and John Weiczorek, the instructors on this project for the help and guidance

Project details

Project title: Capacity building and data mobilization for conservation and decision-making in the South Pacific
Personnel: Christina Shaw, Douglas Koran
Funding: This project is the Vanuatu component of the Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project which is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The global project is supported by the Dugong Secretariat of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and project managed by Mohamed bin Zayed Species (MbZ) Conservation Fund. The project in Vanuatu is implemented by VESS and supported by the Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation, the Vanuatu Fisheries Department and the Department of Tourism
Data prepared and published under GBIF project "Capacity building and data mobilization for conservation and decision making in the South Pacific" - BID-PA2016-0002-REG with thanks to the John and Dave Foundation.
Study area descriptions/descriptor: Vanuatu

Data published through GBIF: http://ipt.vertnet.org:8080/iptstrays/resource?r=vess_vanuatu_dugong_questionnaire

Taxonomic coverage

General taxonomic coverage description: Dugongs
Taxonomic ranks
Species: Dugong dugon
Common names: dugong

Spatial coverage

General spatial coverage: Vanuatu
Coordinates: 20°30'32.4''S and 13°14'24''S Latitude; 165°27'14.4''E and 171°31'8.4''E Longitude 

Natural collections description

Collection name: Vanuatu Seagrasses
Formation period: historic sightings recorded by interview survey from 2015 to 2017
Specimen preservation method: Dried and pressed
Specimen preservation method: Mounted

Methods

Method step description: Students and new graduates were training in how to conduct the CMS dugong catch /by-catch standardised questionnaire. the survey team traveled throughout Vanuatu conducting the questionnaire. The responses were collected on paper and then transcribed into an excel spreadsheet when back in the VESS office. Sightings and areas were drawn on paper maps during the questionnaire and transcribed to google earth once back at the office.
Study extent description: Sightings of dugongs throughout Vanuatu
Sampling description: These sightings of dugongs are where local communities members say they have seen dugongs during interviews for the CMS dugong catch/ by catch standardised questionnaire. The questionnaire survey was conducted between 2015 and 2017. Sightings were where people remembered seeing dugongs in their lifetimes and some of the dates may not be accurate. The locations of the sightings were drawn onto paper maps and them transcribed to Google earth, hence they may not be accurate.

Datasets

Dataset description
Object name: Darwin Core Archive Vanuatu dugong sightings recorded during CMS dugong catch / by-catch standardised questionnaire 2015-2017
Character encoding: UTF-8
Format name: Darwin Core Archive format
Format version: 1.0
Distribution: http://ipt.vertnet.org:8080/iptstrays/archive.do?r=vess_vanuatu_dugong_questionnaire
Publication date of data: 2018-10-17
Language: English
Licences of use: Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC-BY-NC) 4.0 License

Metadata language: English
Date of metadata creation: 2018-06-20
Hierarchy level: Dataset