PATH Data Sheets

There are defined standards for documenting the detailed information describing affiliated acoustic telemetry projects. The accepted metadata sheet formats are available below, in Excel and printable field-sheet formats. Detection data can be provided in the raw output format the vendor supplies (i.e. for Vemco-branded receivers, a set of .vrl files from the offloaded receivers can be zipped and submitted to path@ucdavis.edu or uploaded via the project repository folders on this portal.)

Project Metadata

When registering your project with the Ocean Tracking Network, you must provide information on the core attributes of your project, including the scientific abstract, associated investigators, geospatial details, temporal and taxonomic range.
Download .txt

Tag Metadata

Information about the deployment of tags (acoustic, PIT, satellite, floy etc.) in or on animals for the purposes of tracking their movements using either listening stations or via mark/recapture. Any biological metrics that were measured at tagging time, i.e. length, weight, population, are recorded for future analysis.
Download .xlsx

Instrument Deployment Metadata (short form)

Information about the deployment of any instruments used to detect tagged subjects or collect related data. This includes stationary test tags, range test instruments, non-acoustic environmental sensors etc. Geographic location, as well as the duration of the deployment for each instrument, is recorded. The locations of these listening stations are used to fix detections geographically.
Download .xlsx

Other Metadata Sheets:

ROV / Glider Metadata

Information about the deployment of ocean-going robots, or gliders, that have had listening stations affixed/installed. Location information collected by the glider/shipboard GPS will be used to fix detections geographically.