Web-based data management and sharing of bottlenose dolphin photographic identification information

The photo identification of bottlenose dolphins is a non-invasive technique of tracking individual animals. It can provide data on the social affiliations, habitat usage, population structure, behavior, and birth/death rates of bottlenose dolphin in a study area. The Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) has been conducting a long-term photo-ID program in Biscayne Bay, Florida. Previously, the data were managed in a desktop database, which was limited in capability in terms of data backup, security (e.g., computer virus), access to multiple users within the organization, and information sharing among peers with data from adjacent study areas. Information sharing can enhance our knowledge on the migration, habitat association, and population structure of the animals in a larger geographic area. To improve data management and access of bottlenose dolphin photo-ID information in the SEFSC database, and to facilitate efficient data sharing with other photo-ID research groups, we have developed an Oracle database application to enable data entry, update, categorization, search, and download of dolphin photo-ID information collected by SEFSC and our partners in south Florida. The data include scanned digital photos and associated attributes. The system has multiple levels of access rights: system administrator, partners, and the general public. These users access the system through Web browsers. Routine tasks such as data backup and virus protection are managed by the Oracle database administrator, thus allowing the fisheries researchers to focus on data quality control and analysis. The system also minimizes the effort experienced by fisheries researchers to maintain the Web site because information (images and attributes) submitted to the system can be shared instantly by the designated user community.