Marine Wildlife Behavior Database
Metadata

Section 12: Movement
This section includes fields that describe the overall movement characteristics of the animal(s). Overall swim speed is a summary statistic of how fast the animal(s) traveled during the given behavior (i.e., speed relative to the horizontal).

Fields:

• Overall Swim Speed Minimum
  M_OverallSwimSpeedMin(m/s): The minimum speed relative to the horizontal (overall swim speed)(meters/second).
  
  
• Overall Swim Speed Maximum
  M_OverallSwimSpeedMax(m/s): The maximum overall swim speed (meters/second).
  
  
• Overall Swim Speed Mean
  M_OverallSwimSpeedMean(m/s): The mean or average swim speed (meters/second). If both the surface and bottom swim speeds are reported, they should be averaged together.
  
  
• Overall Swim Speed Median
  M_OverallSwimSpeedMedian(m/s): The middle value in the distribution of the overall swim speed (meters/second). If there is an even number of swim speed values, it is the average of the two middle values.
  
  
• Overall Swim Speed Mode
  M_OverallSwimSpeedMode(m/s): The most common swim speed value; in the frequency distribution, the swim speed with the greatest number of frequencies (meters/second).
  
  
• Gamma Distribution Alpha
  M_GammaDistAlpha: The shape parameter of the gamma distribution of swim speeds, determined by submitting data and fitting the raw data in a statistical package.
  
  
• Gamma Distribution Beta
  M_GammaDistBeta: The rate parameter, equal to 1/Θ (the scale parameter), of the gamma distribution of swim speeds, determined by submitting data and fitting the raw data in a statistical package.
  
  
• Overall Swim Speed Standard Deviation
  M_OverallSwimSpeedStdDev: To express the degree of dispersion in the swim speed data, the standard deviation (square root of the variance) should be entered (meters/second).
  
  
• Residency
  M_Residency: Free-form field that allows input of any information about the residency pattern of the study animal(s). Suggested questions to address: Did the subject animal(s) display residency behaviors (i.e., remain within a limited spatial extent for a specified period of time)? What was the time period that the animals remained in the restricted area (length of residency?)
  
  
• Heading Variance
  M_HeadingVariance(deg/min): The rate of change in heading (the direction the subject animal(s) are traveling) (degrees/minute).
  
  
• Aversions/Attractions
  M_AversionAttractions: This is a free-form entry where reactions of subject animal(s) to any feature (e.g., received level, sea depth) can be documented. The necessary information is the values at which animals react and the reaction angle. For example, sperm whales are found foraging at depths greater than 200 m with a 90 degree reaction angle.
  
  
• Comments
  M_Comments: Free-form field to note complications with data entry, information to review at a later date, etc.