Databases & applications

The Australian Marine Mammal Centre is developing a number of database applications to assist with its role of coordination of marine mammal research expertise and the provision of scientific advice underpinning marine mammal conservation and policy initiatives. Broadly speaking, these databases will achieve this by:

  • facilitating data-driven management and conservation decisions for Australian cetaceans;
  • collating, protecting and archiving data on Australian cetaceans;
  • assisting with reporting obligations such as IWC and EPBC
  • providing ongoing protection of the Intellectual Property Rights;
  • encouraging and facilitating collaboration, analysis and reporting
  • promoting the utilisation of large datasets through streamlining of image analyses and other complex processes; and
  • providing the public with summarised information on the biology of Australian cetaceans.

Catriona Johnson has been working in the Marine Mammal Centre since 2007 to provide the capacity to review existing databases and develop additional databases as required. Currently, there are two main areas of development:

National Marine Mammal Database

Single datasets are extremely valuable and produce information that can guide the conservation and management of Australia's cetaceans. However, the value of disparate datasets can be enhanced greatly through data sharing and collaboration. Extensive collaborative networks already exist but as datasets grow and more parties are involved the infrastructure and technical requirements for consistent data collection, data entry, data sharing, data analysis and reporting become more complex. It is for this reason that the Australian Government has committed funds to develop and maintain a National Whale and Dolphin Database.

The Database will be housed at the Australian Antarctic Division with access via the web. Access to data will be restricted based on the level of data protection requested by those who submit data to the Database. The Database will facilitate complex queries, mapping, data reporting and provide an interface with photo-matching software.

Stand-alone database applications will be available so that data collectors can enter, store and manage their own data with secure data upload to the central Database if the requested to do so by the data owner.
Based on discussions with researchers, industry and other potential users of the Database it is apparent that the architecture of the Database must be able to accommodate at least three different methods of data collection. These are:

  • Survey Data (e.g. from seismic vessels, land-based surveys, aerial surveys);
  • Individual Identification Data (e.g. photo-ID studies and genotyping studies)
  • Opportunistic Sightings Data (e.g. single opportunistic sightings of rarer species)

To ensure that the content and structure of the Database is appropriate and sensible, Steering Committees will guide the development of each Database component. Individuals with the greatest understanding and experience of the various methods of data collection will be invited to become members of the related Steering committee.

Seismic Cetacean Sighting Database

This stand-alone application has been developed to record and report information about seismic surveys, cetacean sightings, survey lines and observer effort in Australian waters to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts in a standardised format. The application creates an export file which is then emailed to SightingsData@aad.gov.au .

More information on these reporting requirements and how to gain access to the application can be found on the Department's page Interaction between offshore seismic exploration and whales.

The first version of this stand-alone application is currently being trialled by industry.

Individual Identification Component

This component will accommodate data from research activities that focus on the collection of data associated with individual whales that can be identified by morphological features (flukes, callosities, dorsal fins, flank patterning etc) or genetic data. Principally this component of the Database will focus on data from studies of Humpback whales, Southern Right whales and Blue whales.

Sample Archive Database

A Microsoft Access database has been built to store curation details of samples provided to the Centre for archiving. The database has functionality to upload individual and sample data and then produce a report of submitted samples to sample owners.