1. Title of Dataset: Data from: Spatio-temporal dynamics of ringed seal density and habitat use in the Arctic’s Last Ice Area

2. Author Information A. Principal Investigator Contact Information Name: David Yurkowski Institution: Fisheries and Oceans Canada Email: David.Yurkowski@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

   B. Associate or Co-investigator Contact Information Name: Roxanne MacLean Institution: Fisheries and Oceans Canada Email: Roxanne.maclean2@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

3. Date of data collection (single date, range, approximate date): 2018-2024

4. Geographic location of data collection: Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada

5. Information about funding sources that supported the collection of the data: Research funding provided under the ArcticCORE (Conservation, Observation, Research, and Engagement) program at Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

SHARING/ACCESS INFORMATION

1. Licenses/restrictions placed on the data:
2. Links to publications that cite or use the data: 
   MacLean, R.D., Thiemann, G.W., Ferguson, S.H., Florko, K.R.N., Carlyle, C.G., Johnson, K.F., Matthes, L.C., Michel, C., Young, B.G., and Yurkowksi, D.J. (In Press). Spatio-temporal dynamics of ringed seal density and habitat use in the Arctic’s Last Ice Area. Ecography.
3. Links/relationships to ancillary data sets or software packages: 
   N/A
4. Was data derived from another source? no
   A. If yes, list source(s):
5. Recommended citation for this dataset:

MacLean, R.D., Thiemann, G.W., Ferguson, S.H., Florko, K.R.N., Carlyle, C.G., Johnson, K.F., Matthes, L.C., Michel, C., Young, B.G., and Yurkowksi, D.J. (2026). Data from: Spatio-temporal dynamics of ringed seal density and habitat use in the Arctic’s Last Ice Area. Dyrad. DOI:10.5061/dryad.ncjsxktc6

DATA & FILE OVERVIEW

1. File List

   A. Filename: RingedSeal_Density_2018_2024_LIA.csv
   Short description: Table of ringed seal density per transect estimated from aerial survey observations around Ellesmere Island in spring and summer from 2018-2024.

B. Filename: RingedSeal_HabitatCharacteristics_2018_2024_LIA.csv
Short description: Table of ringed seal observations and habitat characteristics extracted along 6.25 kilometer segments of transects flown during aerial surveys around Ellesmere Island in spring and summer from 2018-2024.

METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION

1. Description of methods used for collection/generation of data:

Aerial surveys were carried out using a fixed-wing aircraft fitted with a forward-looking infrared (Teledyne FLIR T1020SC) video camera and a Nikon D810 DSLR camera. The DSLR was linked to a Bad Elf Pro+ GPS, which recorded the aircraft’s altitude, speed, position, and the time of each photo.

Density estimates were calculated using the standard ratio of number of seals per square kilometer. All data collection methods and formulas are outlined in the publication cited above.

1. Methods for processing the data:

Infrared videos were reviewed to find bright spots showing the body heat of ringed seals. The time of each hot spot was compared with the time stamps from the DSLR photos to match which image showed the same sighting; then the image was used to count the number of animals and identify the species.

1. Instrument- or software-specific information needed to interpret the data:

No specific software required; data can be viewed using standard spreadsheet software (e.g., Excel).

DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: RingedSeal_Density_2018_2024_LIA.csv

1. Number of variables:10

2. Number of cases/rows:337

3. Variable List:

   A. Name: ID Description: Unique identifier

   B. Name: Trans_ID
   Description: The transect name in the format of "stratum_number".

   C. Name: Date Description: The date the transect was flown in the format "YYYYMMDD.

   D. Name: Stratum
   Description: The area where the transect was flown within the survey area.

   E. Name: Count
   Description: Number of ringed seals observed along the transect.

   F. Name: Density_Per_km
   Description: The density of ringed seals per square kilometer for the transect.

   G. Name: Season Description: Whether the transect was flown in spring (June) or summer (August/September).

   H. Name: Year
   Description: The survey year.

   I. Name: Length_km
   Description: The length of the transect in kilometers.

   J. Name: Area_km2
   Description: The area of the transect in square kilometers, calculated by multiplying the length of the transect by the infrared camera detection swath width of 0.25 kilometers.

DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: RingedSeal_HabitatCharacteristics_2018_2024_LIA.csv

1. Number of variables:10

2. Number of cases/rows:3858

3. Variable List:

   A. Name: ID Description: Unique identifier

   B. Name: Trans_ID
   Description: The transect name in the format of "stratum_number".

   C. Name: Date Description: The date the transect was flown in the format "YYYYMMDD".

   D. Name: Stratum Description: The area where the transect was flown within the survey area.

   E. Name: Count Description: Number of ringed seals observed in the transect segment.

   F. Name: Season Description: Whether the transect was flown in spring (June) or summer (August/September).

   G. Name: Year
   Description: The survey year.

   H. Name: SeaIce_Mean
   Description: The mean percent sea ice concentration for the transect segment.

   I. Name: Bathymetry_m
   Description: The water depth in meters.

   J. Name: Dist_to_Glacier
   Description: The distance in kilometers from the transect segment to the nearest marine-terminating glacier.