Wales' grey seal photo-identification database: EIRPHOT (1992-2016)
This dataset is a catalogue of seal images that were collected as part of the former Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and Natural Resources Wales' (NRW) seal monitoring and evidence work.
Images were also provided by volunteers, partners, organisations and members of the public through collaboration with CCW/NRW. The images are of heads, necks and flanks of grey seals (mostly female) photographed at seal haul out sites around the Celtic and Irish Seas from 1992 to 2016 and show the pelage markings of seals that can be individually recognised/identified from subsequent photographic encounters – photo-identification (Capture, Mark, Recapture).
The database contains over 17,000 photographic images of more than 9,000 grey seals. Photo-ID allows individual seals to be captured through time and space and analyses of the data provide insights into site fidelity and associations, movements and connectivity, and longevity/survival.
This entry supersedes metadata entry 115548 which was created in 2013.
- Identification
- Extent
- Distribution
- Quality
- Keywords
- Spatial Reference System
- Content
- Constraints
- Maintenance
- Metadata
Identification
- Identifier
- NRW_DS122202
- Alternative Title
-
- EIRPHOT
- Metadata Language
- English
- Lineage
-
The EIRPHOT database consists of 35,724 pattern extracts, from 17,056 images across 3,273 sampling occasions collected between 1992 and 2016 at 280 locations around the British Isles, with a focus on the Irish and Celtic Seas.
The EIRPHOT database uses Microsoft Access to store photo-ID data. The Sightings table stores metadata on each sampling occasion including the date and location. This is linked to the Encounter table which lists each encounter with a seal, its age, sex, whether it was with a pup, any scars or injuries, and here it is assigned an ID. This table is linked to the Image table which records the names of images taken for each encounter. And finally this is linked to the Cells table, which lists the details of the pattern extracts that are available from the images. Pattern extracts from images entered into EIRPHOT were compared using ExtractCompare software. Capture histories were produced using Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture software. Outputs in the form of Excel spreadsheets where each row represents a uniquely identifiable seal, each column represents a time period during which the individual has been photographed and matched to a previous image, and values in each spreadsheet cell are the location code in which the animal was seen first during that period.
Information Warning: any published outputs or research based on these data should use the citation for NRW Evidence Report 280 in references: Langley I, Rosas da Costa Oliver T, Hiby L, Morris CW, Stringell TB, Pomeroy P 2018. EIRPHOT: A critical assessment of Wales’ grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) photo-identification database. NRW Evidence Report Series Report No: 280, 94pp, Natural Resources Wales, Bangor. NRW cannot provide advice or support for use or installation of the database.
- Additional Information
-
Langley I, Rosas da Costa Oliver T, Hiby L, Morris CW, Stringell TB, Pomeroy P 2018. EIRPHOT: A critical assessment of Wales’ grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) photo-identification database. NRW Evidence Report Series Report No: 280, 94pp, Natural Resources Wales, Bangor. Further information about photo-identification software used can be found at http://conservationresearch.org.uk/
- Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
- 2019-10-30
Temporal Extent
- Begin date
- 1992-07-01
- End date
- 2016-11-30
- Topic category
-
- Biota
Extent
Extent
- Geographic Extent
- Wales (WLS)
))
Distribution
Distribution
- Format Type and Description
-
-
Database
(
)
- Specification
-
[A] EIRPHOT database [B] Software: ExtractCompare.exe for use with the database
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Delimited
(
)
- Specification
-
Capture history data in the form of Excel spreadsheets
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Text or Plaintext
(
)
- Specification
-
Capture history data in the form of MARK compatible text files
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Documents
(
)
- Specification
-
The final report in Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF formats
-
Database
(
)
- Resource Locator
- View and Download Data ( WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link )
Quality
Data quality
- Quality Scope
- Dataset
- Lineage
-
The EIRPHOT database consists of 35,724 pattern extracts, from 17,056 images across 3,273 sampling occasions collected between 1992 and 2016 at 280 locations around the British Isles, with a focus on the Irish and Celtic Seas.
The EIRPHOT database uses Microsoft Access to store photo-ID data. The Sightings table stores metadata on each sampling occasion including the date and location. This is linked to the Encounter table which lists each encounter with a seal, its age, sex, whether it was with a pup, any scars or injuries, and here it is assigned an ID. This table is linked to the Image table which records the names of images taken for each encounter. And finally this is linked to the Cells table, which lists the details of the pattern extracts that are available from the images. Pattern extracts from images entered into EIRPHOT were compared using ExtractCompare software. Capture histories were produced using Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture software. Outputs in the form of Excel spreadsheets where each row represents a uniquely identifiable seal, each column represents a time period during which the individual has been photographed and matched to a previous image, and values in each spreadsheet cell are the location code in which the animal was seen first during that period.
Information Warning: any published outputs or research based on these data should use the citation for NRW Evidence Report 280 in references: Langley I, Rosas da Costa Oliver T, Hiby L, Morris CW, Stringell TB, Pomeroy P 2018. EIRPHOT: A critical assessment of Wales’ grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) photo-identification database. NRW Evidence Report Series Report No: 280, 94pp, Natural Resources Wales, Bangor. NRW cannot provide advice or support for use or installation of the database.
Keywords
Keywords
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2008-06-01
Keywords
-
NRW Thesaurus
-
- halichoerus grypus
- pinnipedia (pinnipeds)
- grey seals
- seals (see also specific species)
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2024-06-19
Keywords
-
SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary
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- Seal morphology and physiology
- Seal abundance
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2024-06-19
Spatial Reference System
Content
Content Information
NRW Profile
Custom Elements
- NRW Related Title
-
EIRPHOT : A critical assessment of Wales' grey seal (halichoerus grypus) photo-identification database
Constraints
Constraints
Limitations on Public Access and Use
- Restriction type
- Other restrictions
Access Constraints Directive
- Limitations
- no limitations
Access Constraints Text
- Other constraints
-
There are no access restrictions on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely.
Use Constraints
- Use constraints type
- Other restrictions
- Other constraints
-
© CNC/NRW Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose. Those wishing to publish papers and academic research based on the data, should cite the report as per the information warning
Attribution Statement
- Other constraints
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Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved.
Metadata
Metadata
- File Identifier
- 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313232323032 XML
- Metadata Language
- English
- Resource type
- Dataset
- Metadata Date
- 2024-09-06T12:10:01.003Z
- Metadata Standard Name
- NRW
- Metadata Standard Version
-
1.0