Whale sharks migration, ecology movements and behaviour of whale sharks were measured with the use of acoustic, satellite, PAT, crittercam genetic tagging technology.

Design of aerial surveys to determine the distribution and abundance of Whale Sharks in the Ningaloo Marine Park.

Baseline data collection on Whale Sharks by photo-identification, Whale Shark sex & size and collection of plankton samples to determine Whale Shark prey items.

To determine Whale Shark numbers at Ningaloo Marine Park by working with whale shark industry videographers to collect footage - part of the Whale Shark Management Program.

A review of behavioural ecology of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus).

Water samples were collected over two weeks directly behind individual whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef, Australia in May, 2019. A total of 56 seawater samples were collected, filtered immediately through sterile 0.22 μm filters, and stored at -80°C. Tissue biopsy samples were then taken from the same animal using a hand spear with a dart head, totalling 77 individual samples. Individual whale sharks were identified by their unique spot and stipe patters through photographs analysed by I³S Classic Software. Re-sightings of the same individual were removed from the dataset. Following photo-identification, a total of 48 unique individuals were confirmed, of which 42 consisted of both tissue and seawater samples. Additional samples were later discarded from the study, resulting in libraries for 28 seawater samples, and whale shark d-loop haplotypes. DNA extractions of the tissue samples were carried out and PCR amplification of the mitochondrial control region and reaction protocol verified. Seawater samples were processed and environmental DNA was extracted. Statistical analysis was performed with R Studio.

The ECOCEAN Whale Shark Photo-identification Library is a visual database of whale shark (Rhincodon typus) encounters and of individually catalogued whale sharks.

The Gulf of Mexico Shark Pupping and Nursery (GULFSPAN) survey is a fishery-independent survey that began in 1994 to examine the distribution and abundance of juvenile sharks in coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico. The data describes coastal shark abundance and environmental data from St. Andrews Bay to Apalachicola Bay in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico.

Stomach contents from tiger sharks, Galeocerdo cuvier, caught on lines off the central coast of Western Australia were analysed to investigate variations in the diet due to sex, size and geographic location. Stomachs from 84 specimens contained food, while 26 had empty stomachs and 66 had regurgitated. Twelve prey groups were identified, the most common being turtles, sea snakes, teleost fishes, dugongs and sea birds. Dietary overlap was high between males and females. An ontogenetic shift was observed in the diet. Smaller prey (e.g. cephalopods, teleosts and sea snakes) were more common in small individuals, while the occurrence of larger prey (e.g. turtles, dugongs and elasmobranchs) increased with increasing shark size. Differences in the diet were observed between four regions along the central Western Australian coast. The ability to catch and consume large prey, prey availability, prey density, and prey profitability were identified as factors influencing the diet. The high level of occurrence of dugongs and turtles in the diet of G. cuvier, relative to their abundance, suggests that shark predation may play an important role in regulating populations of these species. [References: 24]

SRKW have several data gaps regarding their ecology. Diet of killer whales is being determined by analyses of predation events and feces and from stomach content of harbor porpoises. The potential impact of Chinook predators is being evaluated through models. Information on killer whale prey samples.