Kloecker, Kimberly A. (ORCID: 0000-0002-2461-968X) Monson, Daniel H. (ORCID: 0000-0002-4593-5673) 20200327 tabular digital data Anchorage, Alaska U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center Suggested Citation: Kloecker, K.A., Monson, D.H., 2020, Sea otter mortality age data from Katmai National Park and Preserve, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Prince William Sound, Alaska, 2006-2017: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7H993CZ. https://doi.org/10.5066/F7H993CZ These data are part of the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA) long term monitoring program, nearshore monitoring component. The dataset is a comma separated file exported from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The data consist of information related to collection of sea otter carcasses. Collectors walked selected shorelines searching for signs of carcasses. Date, location, carcass condition, parts collected, and notes are all recorded. Specimens collected include: complete carcasses, whole skulls, bacula, mandible, teeth, whiskers, tissue. Selected shorelines are in Alaska and include locations in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Prince William Sound. The time interval includes 2006-2017. The purpose of the skull and carcass collections is to gather information on relative abundance and age distributions of dying sea otters in Prince William Sound, Katmai National Park and Preserve, and Kenai Fjords National Park. In 2016 the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center began transferring the sea otter skull collection to the University of Alaska Museum of the North. 20060404 20171007 observed Complete None planned Prince William Sound, Kenai Peninsula, and Katmai Coast. -156.03 -144.41 61.8 57.03 USGS Metadata Identifier USGS:ASC263 ISO 19115 Topic Category Biota Environment NASA GCMD Earth Science Keyword Thesaurus Animals/vertebrates Mammals Carnivores Otters USGS CSA Biocomplexity Thesaurus Marine mammals Animal morphology Age composition USGS Thesaurus Wildlife Coastal ecosystems Marine ecosystems None Tooth cementum layer ages Enhydra lutris kenyoni Northern sea otters USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Alaska Gulf of Alaska Prince William Sound USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) Kenai Fjords National Park Katmai National Park and Preserve None Sea otters Northern sea otters Enhydra lutris kenyoni ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System Unknown online database online ITIS-North America Taxonomic details retrieved March 26, 2020 from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System online database https://www.itis.gov https://doi.org/10.5066/F7KH0KBK Species were identified by skilled observers in the field based on general appearance. Taxonomy is complete for all samples. No voucher specimens were collected. Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrata Class Mammalia Subclass Theria Infraclass Eutheria Order Carnivora Suborder Caniformia Family Mustelidae Subfamily Lutrinae Genus Enhydra Species Enhydra lutris Sea otter TSN: 180547 Subspecies Enhydra lutris kenyoni Northern sea otter TSN: 622038 No access constraints. No use constraints. These data are marked with a Creative Common CC0 1.0 Universal License and are in the public domain. It is requested that this USGS data release be cited for any subsequent publications that reference or utilize these data. Users are advised to read the dataset's metadata thoroughly to understand appropriate use and data limitations. U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center Mailing and Physical

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Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA 907-786-7000 gs-ak_asc_datamanagers@usgs.gov Attribute accuracy was tested by checking all values against a range of possible values for that attribute. Tooth age accuracy is partially dependent on cementum condition and tooth type. A measure of process accuracy from the Matson lab can be found in the Certainty Code (CC) From Matson. Further information on the tooth aging process can be found in the detailed descriptions sections. All attribute values were checked for conformance to standard codes. Where information was unavailable a period (".") was used. These specimens represent a sub sample of sea otter carcasses on beaches in Prince William Sound, Katmai and Kenai Fjords National Parks. Time constraints prevent search of all beaches in these locations. Locations are provided. Otter identification numbers may be out of sequence. Missing numbers exist because specimens were either discovered to not be sea otters or were from sample kits that did not get used. Carcass positions were recorded using a handheld Garmin GPS. The accuracy is dependent on the conditions when recorded, but are typically within plus/minus 15 meters. Exact locations are not a critical component of this data. FIELD: Carcass collection: Mortality patterns, based on relative abundance and age distributions of the dying portion of the population, will be evaluated through recovery of beach-cast sea otter carcasses each spring. Beaches must be surveyed following snow melt. Surveys will consist of crews of two people walking along the selected beaches searching for carcasses between the water line and the storm tide line. At least one member of each crew will have experience in beach surveys from previous field seasons. Generally, the search effort will focus on the high tide line and the storm tide line where skeletal remains are often found, while the lower beach is scanned for fresh carcasses. Efforts will be made to check behind large beached logs and other objects which can easily trap carcasses as waves wash over them. When a skull or carcass is found, the location will be recorded with a GPS, and the sex determined if possible. The skull, whiskers, tissue, and baculum may be collected depending on availability and carcass condition. A tooth will be collected from each specimen for aging of the carcass. Unknown LAB: Tooth age determination: Teeth are sent to the Gary Matson lab for age determination. The teeth are aged by comparing tooth cementum to a standardized model of cementum development. For more information see Matson (1981). Unknown Data was collected in field notebooks and field data sheets and later entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Unknown Location information initially entered as UTM's (Universal Transverse Mercator) were converted to decimal degrees/latitude and longitude. An open source web-based conversion tool was used for this. Unknown LITERATURE CITED: Ballachey, B.E., Monson, D.H., Esslinger, G.G., Kloecker, K., Bodkin, J., Bowen, L., and Miles, A.K., 2014. 2013 update on sea otter studies to assess recovery from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, Prince William Sound, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2014-1030, 40 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141030. Dean, T. A., and J. L. Bodkin, 2011. Protocol narrative for marine nearshore ecosystem monitoring in the Southwest Alaska Network of National Parks: Version 1.0. Natural Resource Report NPS/SWAN/NRR—2011/449. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. Gorbics, C.S., and J.L. Bodkin, 2001. Stock structure of sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in Alaska. Marine Mammal Science 17(3):632-647. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2001.tb01009.x Matson, G.M., 1981. Workbook for cementum analysis. Milltown, Montana. https://matsonslab.com/the-science/cementum-aging/ Monson, D.H., Doak, D.F., Ballachey, B.E. and Bodkin, J.L., 2011. Could residual oil from the Exxon Valdez spill create a long‐term population “sink” for sea otters in Alaska?. Ecological Applications, 21: 2917-2932. https://doi.org/10.1890/11-0152.1 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), 2013. Southwest Alaska Distinct Population Segment of the Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) - Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7, AK, USA. Unknown Regions and locations in this data set are described without coordinates, e.g. Katmai National Park and Preserve, Green Island, etc. Carcass locations are described with coordinates. Point 0.00001 0.0000001 Decimal degrees World Geodetic System of 1984 World Geodetic System of 1984 6378137 298.257223563 NearshoreBenthicSystemsInGOA_SOP01_SeaOtterMortality2006-2017.csv Sea otter carcasses and skulls found while performing beach surveys in Prince William Sound, Katmai National Park and Preserve and Kenai Fjords National Park. Presented in a Comma Separated Value (CSV) formatted table. Author defined Year The year during which the sample was collected. Author defined 2006 2017 Year (YYYY) CollectionDate The date, if recorded, on which the sample was collected. For some specimens only a year was recorded, for others a month and year, while some have month, day, and year. If no collection date was recorded, there will be a "." in this field. Author defined 2006-04-04 2017-10-07 Date (YYYY-MM-DD) OtterNum The unique number assigned to the carcass specimen, usually a skull but can be a portion of a skull or even just a tooth or pup natal pelt. This should be the code marked on any specimens collected from the carcass and is also the code used to keep track of age data from the lab. This code is only semi-consistent and contains an abbreviation SOD for 'sea otter dead', a four digit year, and a sequential number. It may also contain a location code such as KATM for Katmai. Specimens may be marked with a two-digit year rather than four. Specimens may also have the code in different order on labels, KATM-SOD-2007-12 is the same as SOD-KATM-07-12. Also, sometimes the dash '-' was not used, so SOD2007-12 is the same as SOD-2007-12. Author defined Otter identification number usually includes a prefix, SOD (Sea Otter Dead), and/or area information (KATM = Katmai or APD = Alaska Peninsula Dead), then a date code (2 or 4 numbers) then a sequential number. For example KATM-SOD-2013-11 is the eleventh specimen recorded in 2013 from Katmai National Park and Preserve. Numbering schemes were not consistent in inclusion of location codes. Region Broad geographic locations dividing the northern sea otter population stocks in Alaska. Author defined and Gorbic and Bodkin 2001 SC Southcentral Alaska, from Cape Yakataga westward to Cape Douglas including Prince William Sound and the Kenai peninsula coast Author defined and Gorbic and Bodkin 2001 SE Southeast Alaska, from Dixon entrance northward to Cape Yakataga. Author defined and Gorbic and Bodkin 2001 SW Southwest Alaska, including the Alaska Peninsula coast, southward and westward along the Aleutians to Attu Island including Barren Islands, Kodiak Archipelago, Pribilof Islands, and Bristol Bay. Author defined and Gorbic and Bodkin 2001 GulfWatchRegion Broad geographic locations dividing Alaska as part of the Nearshore component of the Gulf Watch Alaska monitoring program. Author defined AKP Alaska Peninsula Author defined KEP Kenai Peninsula Author defined PWS Prince William Sound Author defined Area Broad geographic locations dividing Alaska: Blocks from the Gulf Watch Alaska nearshore monitoring program or Fish and Wildlife Service management units for carcasses from the SW region. Author defined and USFWS 2013 KATM Katmai National Park and Preserve, Block 10 of the Gulf Watch Nearshore Monitoring design Author defined and USFWS 2013 KEFJ Kenai Fjords National Park and Preserve, Block 05 of the Gulf Watch Nearshore Monitoring design Author defined and USFWS 2013 NPWS Northern Prince William Sound, Block 07 of the Gulf Watch Nearshore Monitoring design Author defined and USFWS 2013 WPWS Western Prince William Sound Block 08 of the Gulf Watch Nearshore Monitoring design Author defined and USFWS 2013 Site Narrower geographic location than area. A general description of where a carcass was discovered. When fins scale location information is missing, this field will have a "." Author defined In general sites are names from NOAA charts of the area and may have some directional term attached, for example, Perry Isl south. Age Age of otter from various age estimation methods. A null value "." indicates no data, "L" indicates results not returned from laboratory at the time of data publication. Author defined 0 20 Count HowEstimated What methodology was used to estimate an age for the carcass. A null value "." indicates no data. Author defined E Age estimated by sea otter experts based on tooth wear patterns of all teeth present, development and size of teeth, and overall skull size. This method may only be used by trained experts and if most teeth are present in the carcass. Author defined I Age estimated by lab staff based on tooth morphology and wear. Author defined S Characteristics of the skull and teeth used to identify pups: sutures of the skull not fused and deciduous teeth present. Author defined T Matson's laboratory tooth cementum layer aging Author defined FieldAgeEstimate Age of otter by field observers using tooth wear, tooth eruption patterns, morphometric size, and other clues. May be given as a year, range of years, or an age class such as 'adult' or 'pup', etc. Author defined Field age estimates range from 0-18 years and also include categorical age classes such as pup (P), juvenile (J), subadult (SA), adult (A), aged adult (AA). "." indicates no data. AgeClass Broad category of ages. A null value "." indicates no data available to determine age class. Monson et al. 2011; Ballachey et al. 2014 1 juvenile age class, otter age is less than two years old Monson et al. 2011; Ballachey et al. 2014 2 prime age class, otter age is greater than or equal to two years old and less than or equal to eight years old Monson et al. 2011; Ballachey et al. 2014 3 aged adult age class, otter age is greater than eight years old Monson et al. 2011; Ballachey et al. 2014 ToothCollected Was a tooth collected to be submitted to the lab for cementum age analysis? A null value "." indicates no data. Author defined N No, a tooth was not collected. Author defined U It is unknown whether or not a tooth was collected. Author defined Y Yes, a tooth was collected. Author defined Tooth Which tooth was collected and sent to the laboratory for cementum aging. A null value "." indicates no data. Author defined C Canine tooth, variations include LC = lower canine, LLC = lower left canine, RC = right canine, UC = upper canine, ULC = upper left canine, URC = upper right canine. Lack of upper or lower or right or left indicates those are unknown. Author defined I Incisor tooth, variations include LI = lower incisor, LI2 = lower second incisor, UI = upper incisor, ULI = upper left incisor, ULI2 = upper left second incisor, ULI3 = upper left third incisor, URI2 = upper right second incisor, URI3 = upper right third incisor. Lack of upper or lower or right or left or a number indicates those are unknown. Author defined M Molar tooth, variations include M1 = first molar, LLM = lower left molar, LLM1 = lower left first molar, LLM2 = lower left second molar, ULM = upper left molar, ULM1 = upper left first molar, URM = upper right molar, URM1 = upper right first molar. Lack of upper or lower or right or left or a number indicates those are unknown. Author defined P Premolar tooth, variations include P1 = first premolar, P2 = second premolar, P3 = third premolar, LLP = lower left premolar, LP = lower premolar, LP1 = lower first premolar, LP2 = lower second premolar, LP3 = lower third premolar, LLP2 = lower left second premolar, LLP4 = lower left fourth premolar, LRP = lower right premolar, LRP2 = lower right second premolar, LRP3 = lower right third premolar, LRP4 = lower right fourth premolar, UP = upper premolar, UP2 = upper second premolar, ULP = upper left premolar, ULP1 = upper left first premolar, ULP2 = upper left second premolar, ULP3 = upper left third premolar, URP = upper right premolar, URP1 = upper right first premolar, URP2 = upper right second premolar, URP3 = upper right third premolar, URP4 = upper right fourth premolar. Lack of upper or lower or right or left or a number indicates those are unknown. Author defined NS It is unknown which tooth was collected, but the lab notes it is a non-standard tooth, therefore something other than a first premolar. Author defined UNK It is unknown which tooth was collected. Author defined CertaintyCode Certainty Code is a reliability index for the tooth cementum age. A null value "." indicates no data. Matson 1981 A Reliability ages indicate that the cementum characteristics of the tooth section very nearly match those of the standardized cementum aging model for the species and tooth type. Most certain, within +/- 1 year of reported toothage. Matson 1981 B There is histological evidence to support the result, and the correct age is expected to be within the range given in the “Notes” field. Usually age within +/- 2 years of reported toothage. Matson 1981 C Those for which the match between histological evidence and the standardized model is poor. Error is likely, and may occur within the range given. Matson 1981 MatsonAgeRange Range of tooth age for the otter provided by Matson. The range is larger when the certainty is lower. Matson 1981 Age range is given as a spread of ages, such as 1-2 or 11-13. Values are years. Missing entries in this field indicate certainty in the age and no need to also provide a range or no age was estimated. MatsonNotes Notes from the lab where the cementum aging is performed. Some standardized abbreviations are used in addition to free text. A null value "." indicates no notes from the lab. Matson 1981 Standardized notes are: AH = abnormal histology, usually removal of tooth tissue; BR = broken, with missing cementum; BL = bleached or boiled; CD = cementum damaged; IN = aged by inspection, without sectioning; LI = lateral incisor (nonstandard); M = molar; NA = not applicable, evidence in the cementum is not adequate even for a reasonable age estimate; NE = the sample contained no envelope with this ID number; NG = the tooth is present in the sample but is not given on the biologist's master inventory list; NP = not processed; NS = not a standard tooth type for cementum aging; NTR = no tooth received, container was empty; P or PM = premolar; PF = Matson's Lab process failure; PR = processed. Sex Sex of the sampled otter. Author defined F Female, absence of baculum in a complete carcass or known otter from capture studies. Author defined M Male, baculum present or known otter from capture studies. Author defined U Unknown sex Author defined Latitude Latitude of location where carcass was found. A null value "." indicates no data. Author defined 56.70466 60.9433 decimal degrees Longitude Longitude of location where carcass was found. A null value "." indicates no data. Author defined -157.55983 -147.24904 decimal degrees LocationQuality Indication of how precise the latitude and longitude were for the location of the carcass. A null value "." indicates no data. Note that extremely accurate locations are not essential to use of carcass age at death data for many purposes. Author defined 1 The finder of the carcass also recorded a collection location at the site of collection. This should be accurate to within plus/minus 15 meters based on our handheld GPS technology. Author defined 2 The latitude and longitude refer to a location determined by the carcass collector but not at the time of collection. Assignment of the coordinates was done post field collection, but often during the same field trip. For example, the collector did not have a hand held GPS while collecting the specimen and later used marine charts or any mapping program to estimate the collection coordinates. Collection accuracy is likely plus or minus 1-3 kilometers. Author defined 3 The latitude and longitude refer to a general center point for a named location that was recorded by the carcass collector. Assignment of the coordinates was done post field season. Accuracy is likely plus or minus 5-10 kilometers, more if a named location is large, for example East Ninagiak vs simply Ninagiak. Author defined NotesFromField Additional information from the collectors of the specimen or those who pulled teeth or processed the skull for archiving. This is not for information from the cementum processing lab. Author defined Notes can be about many topics so there is not a set domain for the content of this field. This data set contains collection information and laboratory tooth age determinations for sea otter carcasses found in the Gulf of Alaska marine intertidal. Data includes year found, specimen ID, collection location, parts collected, and tooth age. Dean and Bodkin 2011; Matson 1981 U.S. Geological Survey USGS ScienceBase Team Mailing and Physical

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Denver Colorado 80225 USA 1-888-275-8747 sciencebase@usgs.gov The U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center is the authoritative source of these data, distributed by ScienceBase (a USGS Trusted Digital Repository). Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes or on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. CSV Tabular data in CSV format; FGDC metadata in XML and HTML formats. https://doi.org/10.5066/F7H993CZ None 20250418 U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center Mailing and Physical

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Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA 907-786-7000 gs-ak_asc_datamanagers@usgs.gov FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM) FGDC-STD-001.1-1999