Whale Sharks, Rhincodon typus, Aggregate around Offshore Platforms in Qatari Waters of the Arabian Gulf to Feed on Fish Spawn

David P. Robinson; Mohammed Y. Jaidah; Rima W. Jabado; Katie Lee-Brooks; Nehad M. Nour El-Din; Ameena A.Al Malki; Khaled Elmeer; Paul A. McCormick; Aaron C. Henderson; Simon J. Pierce; Rupert F.G. Ormond

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058255

Whale Sharks, Rhincodon typus, Aggregate around Offshore Platforms in Qatari Waters of the Arabian Gulf to Feed on Fish Spawn

David P. Robinson
, Mohammed Y. Jaidah
, Rima W. Jabado
, Katie Lee-Brooks
, Nehad M. Nour El-Din
, Ameena A.Al Malki
, Khaled Elmeer
, Paul A. McCormick
, Aaron C. Henderson
, Simon J. Pierce
, Rupert F.G. Ormond

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

113 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Whale sharks, Rhincodon typus, are known to aggregate to feed in a small number of locations in tropical and subtropical waters. Here we document a newly discovered major aggregation site for whale sharks within the Al Shaheen oil field, 90 km off the coast of Qatar in the Arabian Gulf. Whale sharks were observed between April and September, with peak numbers observed between May and August. Density estimates of up to 100 sharks within an area of 1 km² were recorded. Sharks ranged between four and eight metres' estimated total length (mean 6.92±1.53 m). Most animals observed were actively feeding on surface zooplankton, consisting primarily of mackerel tuna, Euthynnus affinis, eggs.

Original language	English
Article number	e58255
Journal	PLoS ONE
Volume	8
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0058255
Publication status	Published - Mar 13 2013
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
General

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10.1371/journal.pone.0058255

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Robinson, D. P., Jaidah, M. Y., Jabado, R. W., Lee-Brooks, K., Nour El-Din, N. M., Malki, A. A. A., Elmeer, K., McCormick, P. A., Henderson, A. C., Pierce, S. J., & Ormond, R. F. G. (2013). Whale Sharks, Rhincodon typus, Aggregate around Offshore Platforms in Qatari Waters of the Arabian Gulf to Feed on Fish Spawn. PLoS ONE, 8(3), Article e58255. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0058255

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abstract = "Whale sharks, Rhincodon typus, are known to aggregate to feed in a small number of locations in tropical and subtropical waters. Here we document a newly discovered major aggregation site for whale sharks within the Al Shaheen oil field, 90 km off the coast of Qatar in the Arabian Gulf. Whale sharks were observed between April and September, with peak numbers observed between May and August. Density estimates of up to 100 sharks within an area of 1 km2 were recorded. Sharks ranged between four and eight metres' estimated total length (mean 6.92±1.53 m). Most animals observed were actively feeding on surface zooplankton, consisting primarily of mackerel tuna, Euthynnus affinis, eggs.",

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AU - Lee-Brooks, Katie

AU - Nour El-Din, Nehad M.

AU - Malki, Ameena A.Al

AU - Elmeer, Khaled

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AB - Whale sharks, Rhincodon typus, are known to aggregate to feed in a small number of locations in tropical and subtropical waters. Here we document a newly discovered major aggregation site for whale sharks within the Al Shaheen oil field, 90 km off the coast of Qatar in the Arabian Gulf. Whale sharks were observed between April and September, with peak numbers observed between May and August. Density estimates of up to 100 sharks within an area of 1 km2 were recorded. Sharks ranged between four and eight metres' estimated total length (mean 6.92±1.53 m). Most animals observed were actively feeding on surface zooplankton, consisting primarily of mackerel tuna, Euthynnus affinis, eggs.

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Whale Sharks, Rhincodon typus, Aggregate around Offshore Platforms in Qatari Waters of the Arabian Gulf to Feed on Fish Spawn

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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