density_narw.RdMonthly rasters giving the estimated mean abundance of right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) per grid cell for the given month, averaged over the period 2010-2020. This era reflects an apparent major shift in right whale distributions around 2010.
A list of twelve SpatialGridDataFrame objects.
Density surface for January
Density surface for February
Density surface for March
Density surface for April
Density surface for May
Density surface for June
Density surface for July
Density surface for August
Density surface for September
Density surface for October
Density surface for November
Density surface for December
Data provided by Jason Roberts (Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University).
Density predictions for Cape Cod Bay for January-May use estimates from Ganley et al. (2019). Predictions for the month of December use all surveys conducted by the Center for Coastal Studies during the month of December from 2003-2020. Additional survey data were added to v12, and the aggregate database of surveys now extends through spring of 2019. The study area was extended farther inshore in certain bays and estuaries, per NOAA’s request.
Roberts JJ, Yack TM, Halpin PN (2022) Density Model for North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) for the U.S. East Coast, Version 12, 2022-02-14. Prepared for Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic by the Duke University Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Durham, NC.
Roberts JJ, Best BD, Mannocci L, Fujioka E, Halpin PN, Palka DL, Garrison LP, Mullin KD, Cole TVN, Khan CB, McLellan WM, Pabst DA, Lockhart GG (2016) Habitat-based cetacean density models for the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Scientific Reports, 6: 22615. DOI: 10.1038/srep22615
Ganley L, Brault S, Mayo CA (2019) What we see is not what there is: Estimating North Atlantic right whale Eubalaena glacialis local abundance. Endangered Species Research, 38: 101–113. DOI: 10.3354/esr00938