The US_SSL_Sites.csv dataset consists of 8 fields describing the site.

SITENAME (text): A descriptive name specific to site-location. The "sitename" is consistent among NMML data products and publications, and can be used to geolocate those data. These sites may be further grouped into a complex.

COMPLEX (text): A "parent" site that describes a group of multiple closely-located haulouts and/or rookeries that each have a unique "sitename". For example, the Ugamak Complex is comprised of four separate sites.

REGION (text): Area describing larger metapopulation groupings of complexes and sites. Regions are commonly referred to in NMML dataproducts and manuscripts, and in NMFS policy and management documents. Metapopulation structure in Alaska is described by: York AE, Merrick RL, and Loughlin TR (1996). An analysis of the Steller sea lion metapopulation in Alaska. In: Metapopulations and Wildlife Conservation, Island Press, Washington DC 259-292.

Region describes locations as:

CALIF: State of California

OREGON: State of Oregon

WASH: State of Washington

SE AK: Southeast Alaska

E GULF: Eastern Gulf of Alaska

C GULF: Central Gulf of Alaska

W GULF: Western Gulf of Alaska

E ALEU: Eastern Aleutian Islands

C ALEU: Central Aleutian Islands

W ALEU: Western Aleutian Islands

BERING: Bering Sea

REG_NO (numeric): Numerical code assigned to a REGION. Sites in Regions 1-5 are in the range of the eastern stock of Steller sea lions, sites in Regions 6-12 are in range of western stock:

1 = CALIF

2 = OREGON

3 = WASH

5 = SE AK

6 = E GULF

7 = C GULF

8 = W GULF

9 = E ALEU

10 = C ALEU

11 = W ALEU

12 = BERING

RCA (numeric): Rookery Cluster Area for Alaska sites only. RCAs have been used in some data analyses for management actions, range from 1-11, and are related to REGION by:

1 = W ALEU

2-5 = C ALEU

6 = E ALEU

7 = W GULF

8-9 = C GULF

10 = E GULF

ROOKERY (numeric): Numerical code for site type; 1 = Rookery, 2 = Haulout.

LATITUDE (numeric): Latitude (N) in decimal degrees. WGS84 datum.

LONGITUDE (numeric): Longitude in decimal degrees, negative value for western hemisphere locations, positive for eastern hemisphere locations. WGS84 datum.
