Venomous Jellyfish Database (sting events and specimen samples – November 2018) (NESP 2.2.3, CSIRO)

Brief description

This dataset contains records of sting events and specimen samples of jellyfish (Irukanji, Halo irukanji, Box jellyfish and Morbakka) from the Venomous Jellyfish Database. This dataset contains an extract of 1081 sting events (in CSV format) from along the north Queensland coast between December 1883 to March 2017. The full database contains approximately 3000 sting events from around Australia and includes records from sources that have not yet been cleared for release.

This extract from the Venomous Jellyfish Database was made for eAtlas as part of the 2.2.3 NESP Irukandji forecasting system project. It contains jellyfish sting and specimen information. Data were compiled from numerous sources (noted in each record), including Lisa-ann Gershwin and media reports. These data will be used as part of the Irukandji forecasting model. The extract data file contains data that is publicly available.

The sting data includes primary information such as date, time of day and locality of stings, as well as secondary details such as age and gender of the sting victim, where on the body they were stung, their activity at the time of the sting and their general medical condition.


Limitations:
This data shows the occurrence of reported jellyfish stings and specimens along the north Queensland coast. It does NOT provide a prediction of where jellyfish or jellyfish sting events may occur.

These records represent a fraction of known sting events and specimen collections, with more being added to the list of publicly available data as permissions are granted.

Historical data dates may be coarse, showing month and year that the sting occurred in. Some events have date only.


Methods:
This data set contains information on sting events and specimen collections that have occurred around Australia, which involved venomous jellyfish (Irukandji syndrome-producing species in the genera Carukia, Malo, Morbakka).

These data were collected over numerous years by Lisa-ann Gershwin and others from various sources (primarily media). These data were entered into an excel spreadsheet, which formed the basis of the Venomous Jellyfish Database. This database was developed as part of the 2.2.3 NESP Irukandji forecasting system project.

Some data have been standardised, e.g., location information and sting site on the body. Data available to the public have been approved by the data owners, or came from a public source (e.g. newspaper reports, media alerts).


Format:

This dataset consists of one Comma Separated Value (CSV) table containing information on jellyfish events along the north Queensland coast. eAtlas Note: The original database extract was provided as an Excel spreadsheet table. This was converted to a CSV file.


Data Dictionary:

CSIRO_ID: unique id
EVENT_TYPE: type of event – sting or specimen
STATE: state in which event occurred
REGION: broader region of State the event occurred in
LOCAL_GOV_AREA: local government area that the event occurred in – if known
MAIN_LOCALITY: main locality that the event occurred in
SITE_INFO: site details/comments
YEAR: year event occurred
MONTH: month event occurred
DAY: day of the month the event occurred
DATE_RANGE: date range event may have occurred in
EVENT_TIME: time the event occurred HH24:MI. If time is unknown then NULL
EXACT_DATE: if exact date unknown then N. Use with DATE_RANGE
EXACT_TIME: if exact time unknown then N.
TIME_REPORTED: time event reported e.g. early afternoon, morning
EVENT_RECORDED: date event reported e.g. on weekend, in February, Jan-March
EVENT_COMMENTS: comments about the event
LAT: latitude in decimal degrees
LON: longitude in decimal degrees
LOCATION_ACCURACY: How accurate the location is, 0=within a few hundred metres, 1=within a few kilometres, 2=more than a few kilometres
EVENT_OFFSHORE_ONSHORE: where the event occurred (if known) – beach, island, reef
LOCATION_COMMENTS: comments relating to the location of the event
WATER_DEPTH_M: depth of water, in metres, that the event occurred in (if known)
AGE: number: age of patient if known
SEX: gender of patient if known
HOME: home state/county of patient
HOSPITAL: hospital the patient was treated at (if known)
RETRIEVAL: method by which the patient was transported to hospital (if known)
STING_SITE_REPORTED: reported sting site on the body
STING_SITE_BODY: standardised area on body that sting was reported – upper limb, lower limb etc.
NUMBER_STINGS: number of stings recorded, if known
VISIBLE_STING: the nature of visible sting marks, if reported
PPE_WORN: was Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worn?
PATIENT_COMMENTS: comments about the patient
TIME_TO_ONSET: delay between sting and onset of symptoms, if reported
PATIENT_CONDITION: state the patient was in, e.g. distressed, calm, stable
BLOOD_PRESSUREL: comments relating to blood pressure of the patient
NAUSEA: did the patient experience nausea and/or vomiting?
PAIN: location and/or intensity of pain experienced by the patient
SWEATING: did the patient experience sweating?
TREATMENT: what treatment the patient was given
DISCHARGED: when the patient was discharged from hospital
ONGOING_SYMPTOMS: what ongoing symptoms the patient is experiencing
NEMATO_SAMPLES: were nematocyst samples taken?
SPECIES_NAME: species name, if determined
PATROL: was the sting on a patrolled beach
CURATOR: where the data came from e.g. Gershwin = Lisa-ann Gershwin
DATA_CODE: access constraint on data
PUBLIC_REFERENCE: source of the information for event
ENTERED_BY: who entered the data
ENTERED_DATE: when the data was entered


References:

Gershwin, L. (2013). Stung! On Jellyfish Blooms and the Future of the Ocean. Chicago, University of Chicago Press.
Gershwin, L., De Nardi, M., Winkel, K.D., and Fenner, P.J. (2010) Marine Stingers: Review of an Under-Recognized Global Coastal Management Issue. Journal of Coastal Management, 38:1, 22-41, DOI: 10.1080/08920750903345031

Gershwin L, Condie SA, Mansbridge JV, Richardson AJ. 2014 Dangerous jellyfish blooms are predictable. Journal of the Royal Society. Interface 11: 20131168.http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2013.1168

Gershwin, L., Richardson, A.J., Winkel, K.D., Fenner, P.J., Lippmann, J., Hore, R., Avila-Soria, G., Brewer, D., Kloser, R.J., Steven, A. and Condie, S. (2013). Biology and ecology of Irukandji jellyfish (Cnidaria: Cubozoa). Advances in Marine Biology 66: 1-85.


Data Location:

This dataset is filed in the eAtlas enduring data repository at: data\custodian\2016-18-NESP-TWQ-2\2.2.3_Jellyfish-early-warning\AU_NESP-TWQ-2-2-3_CSIRO_Venomous-Jellyfish-DB