Description: Recordings from the PerenniAL Acoustic Observatory in the Antarctic ocean (PALAOA) show seasonal acoustic presence of 4 Antarctic ice-breeding seal species (Ross seal, Ommatophoca rossii, Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii, crabeater, Lobodon carcinophaga, and leopard seal, Hydrurga leptonyx). Apart from Weddell seals, inhabiting the fast-ice in Atka Bay, the other three (pack-ice) species however have to date never (Ross and leopard seal) or only very rarely (crabeater seals) been sighted in the Atka Bay region. The aim of the PASATA project is twofold: the large passive acoustic hydrophone array (hereafter referred to as large array) aims to localize calling pack-ice pinniped species to obtain information on their location and hence the ice habitat they occupy. This large array consists of four autonomous passive acoustic recorders with a hydrophone sensor deployed through a drilled hole in the sea ice. The PASATA recordings are time-stamped and can therefore be coupled to the PALAOA recordings so that the hydrophone array spans the bay almost entirely from east to west. The second, smaller hydrophone array (hereafter referred to as small array), also consists of four autonomous passive acoustic recorders with hydrophone sensors deployed through drilled holes in the sea ice. The smaller array was deployed within a Weddell seal breeding colony, located further south in the bay, just off the ice shelf. Male Weddell seals are thought to defend underwater territories around or near tide cracks and breathing holes used by females. Vocal activity increases strongly during the breeding season and vocalizations are thought to be used underwater by males for the purpose of territorial defense and advertisement. With the smaller hydrophone array we aim to investigate underwater behaviour of vocalizing male and female Weddell seals to provide further information on underwater movement patterns in relation to the location of tide cracks and breathing holes. As a pilot project, one on-ice and three underwater camera systems have been deployed near breathing holes to obtain additional visual information on Weddell seal behavioural activity. Upon each visit in the breeding colony, a census of colony composition on the ice (number of animals, sex, presence of dependent pups, presence and severity of injuries-indicative of competition intensity) as well as GPS readings of breathing holes and positions of hauled out Weddell seals are taken.

Description: The dataset presents maps for the year-round habitat suitability of the Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) in the Southern Ocean. These maps represent predictions from dynamic species distribution models using MaxEnt software. In these models, species visual observations were spatiotemporally matched with contemporaneous environmental conditions, predicting habitat suitability both in time and space. Models were evaluated on spatial- and temporal-block cross-validation, attempting to correct for spatial sampling bias. More details on the models and methods implemented are given in El-Gabbas et al. 2021 (doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.802276). The dataset provides maps for the mean daily, weekly, and monthly habitat suitability between June 2002 and December 2019. Further, we also provide maps that summarize long-term daily habitat suitability into monthly maps.

Description: The dataset presents maps for the year-round habitat suitability of the fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the Southern Ocean. These maps represent predictions from dynamic species distribution models using MaxEnt software. In these models, species visual observations were spatiotemporally matched with contemporaneous environmental conditions, predicting habitat suitability both in time and space. Models were evaluated on spatial- and temporal-block cross-validation, attempting to correct for spatial sampling bias. More details on the models and methods implemented are given in in El-Gabbas et al. 2021 (doi:10.3389/fpls.2021.629962). The dataset provides maps for the mean daily, weekly, and monthly habitat suitability between June 2002 and December 2019. Further, we also provide maps that summarize long-term daily habitat suitability into monthly maps.

Description: The dataset presents maps for the year-round habitat suitability of the Antarctic blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia) in the Southern Ocean. These maps represent predictions from dynamic species distribution models using MaxEnt software. In these models, species visual observations were spatiotemporally matched with contemporaneous environmental conditions, predicting habitat suitability both in time and space. Models were evaluated on spatial- and temporal-block cross-validation, attempting to correct for spatial sampling bias. More details on the models and methods implemented are given in El-Gabbas et al. 2021 (doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.802276). The dataset provides maps for the mean daily, weekly, and monthly habitat suitability between June 2002 and December 2019. Further, we also provide maps that summarize long-term daily habitat suitability into monthly maps.

Description: The dataset presents maps for the year-round habitat suitability of the humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Southern Ocean. These maps represent predictions from dynamic species distribution models using MaxEnt software. In these models, species visual observations were spatiotemporally matched with contemporaneous environmental conditions, predicting habitat suitability both in time and space. Models were evaluated on spatial- and temporal-block cross-validation, attempting to correct for spatial sampling bias. More details on the models and methods implemented are given in El-Gabbas et al. 2021 (doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.802276). The dataset provides maps for the mean daily, weekly, and monthly habitat suitability between June 2002 and December 2019. Further, we also provide maps that summarize long-term daily habitat suitability into monthly maps.

Description: Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) data were collected by recorder AU0086 of type AURAL (Autonomous Underwater Recorder for Acoustic Listening (AURAL); Model 2, Multi-Électronique) at 66.6117° S, 27.1218° W, mooring AWI209-6, in the Weddell Sea, Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. Passive acoustic data were collected from December 2010 to December 2012 by AU0086 as part of the Hybrid Antarctic Float Observing System (HAFOS) in the Weddell Sea. The recorder was moored at 207 m depth and scheduled to record at a duty cycle of 4.5 min per 3 h at a sample rate of 32,768 Hz. Further details about the data acquisition and processing of this data set can be found in the accompanying metadata file (see Additional metadata) as well as the data processing report (see Data Processing Report). Passive acoustic data archived here represent data processing Level 1+, according to the standards defined in the associated Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) Glossary (Thomisch et al. 2023a). Further information on data processing with regard to data preparation and standardization can be found in the associated SOP Part 1: Data preparation and standardization (Thomisch et al. 2023b).

Description: Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) data were collected by recorder SV1025 of type Sono.Vault (manufactured by develogic GmbH, Hamburg, Germany) at 59.0438° S, 0.082° E, mooring AWI227-12, in Weddell Sea, Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. During a deployment period from December 2012 to December 2014, passive acoustic data were collected from December 2012 to July 2013 (recording period) by SV1025 as part of the Hybrid Antarctic Float Observing System (HAFOS) in the Weddell Sea. The recorder was moored at 1020 m depth and scheduled to record continuously at a sample rate of 5,333 Hz. Further details about the data acquisition and processing of this data set can be found in the accompanying metadata file (see Additional metadata) as well as the data processing report (see Data Processing Report). Passive acoustic data archived here represent data processing Level 2+ (see the associated data processing report), deviating from Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) Glossary (Thomisch et al. 2023a). Further information on data processing with regard to data preparation and standardization can be found in the associated SOP Part 1: Data preparation and standardization (Thomisch et al. 2023b).

Description: Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) data were collected by recorder AU0231 of type AURAL (Autonomous Underwater Recorder for Acoustic Listening (AURAL; Model 2, Multi-Électronique) at 61.0147° S, 55.9755° W, mooring AWI251-1, in the Weddell Sea, Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. Passive acoustic data were collected from January 2013 to February 2016 by AU0231 as part of the Hybrid Antarctic Float Observing System (HAFOS) in the Weddell Sea. The recorder was moored at 210 m depth and scheduled to record at a duty cycle of 5 min per hour at a sample rate of 32,768 Hz. Further details about the data acquisition and processing of this data set can be found in the accompanying metadata file (see Additional metadata) as well as the data processing report (see Data Processing Report). Passive acoustic data archived here represent data processing Level 1+, according to the standards defined in the associated Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) Glossary (Thomisch et al. 2023a). Further information on data processing with regard to data preparation and standardization can be found in the associated SOP Part 1: Data preparation and standardization (Thomisch et al. 2023b).

Description: Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) data were collected by recorder SV1005 of type Sono.Vault (manufactured by develogic GmbH, Hamburg, Germany) at 69.005° S, 6.9815° W, mooring AWI244-2, in the Weddell Sea, Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. During a deployment period from December 2010 to December 2012, passive acoustic data were collected from December 2010 to January 2011 (recording period) by SV1005 as part of the Hybrid Antarctic Float Observing System (HAFOS) in the Weddell Sea. The recorder was moored at 1003 m depth and scheduled to record continuously at a sample rate of 5,333 Hz. Further details about the data acquisition and processing of this data set can be found in the accompanying metadata file (see Additional metadata) as well as the data processing report (see Data Processing Report). Passive acoustic data archived here represent data processing Level 2+, deviating from the standards defined in the associated Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) Glossary (Thomisch et al. 2023a). Further information on data processing with regard to data preparation and standardization can be found in the associated SOP Part 1: Data preparation and standardization (Thomisch et al. 2023b).

Description: Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) data were collected by recorder SV1030 of type Sono.Vault (manufactured by develogic GmbH, Hamburg, Germany) at 65.6205° N, 36.422° W, mooring AWI208-7, in Weddell Sea, Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. During a deployment period from January 2013 to January 2017, passive acoustic data were collected from January 2013 to October 2013 (recording period) by SV1030 as part of the Hybrid Antarctic Float Observing System (HAFOS) in the Weddell Sea. The recorder was moored at 956 m depth and scheduled to record continuously at a sample rate of 5,333 Hz. Further details about the data acquisition and processing of this data set can be found in the accompanying metadata file (see Additional metadata) as well as the data processing report (see Data Processing Report). Passive acoustic data archived here represent data processing Level 2+, deviating from the standards defined in the associated Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) Glossary (Thomisch et al. 2023a). Further information on data processing with regard to data preparation and standardization can be found in the associated SOP Part 1: Data preparation and standardization (Thomisch et al. 2023b).