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The Needle in the Haystack: Uncovering the First Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) Aggregation in the Coral Sea.

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Title: The Needle in the Haystack: Uncovering the First Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) Aggregation in the Coral Sea.
Authors: Miller, Ingo B.1,2,3 (AUTHOR) ingo.miller@my.jcu.edu.au, Fitzpatrick, Richard1 (AUTHOR), Abrantes, Kátya G.1 (AUTHOR), Norman, Bradley4,5 (AUTHOR), Pierce, Simon J.6,7 (AUTHOR), Erdmann, Mark V.8 (AUTHOR), Hoopes, Lisa A.9 (AUTHOR), Dudgeon, Christine1,7 (AUTHOR), Dunbabin, Matthew D.1,10 (AUTHOR), Dove, Alistair D. M.9,11 (AUTHOR), Beaman, Robin J.12 (AUTHOR), Reynolds, Samantha D.4,5 (AUTHOR), Rohner, Christopher6 (AUTHOR), Williams, Samuel M.13,14 (AUTHOR), Paton, David15 (AUTHOR), Lewis, Sonny4 (AUTHOR), Barnett, Adam1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Ecology & Evolution (20457758). Jun2025, Vol. 15 Issue 6, p1-23. 23p.
Subject Terms: *Endangered species, Whale shark, Scientific knowledge, Continental shelf, Megafauna, Sharks
Geographic Terms: Great Barrier Reef
Company/Entity: International Union for Conservation of Nature & Natural Resources
Abstract: Aggregations are key events, supporting critical ecological and biological functions in many species. For highly mobile and elusive species, aggregations often provide the only feasible opportunities for research. Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) form at least 30 consistent seasonal aggregation sites globally, yet none have been documented in the Coral Sea, despite sporadic sightings of solitary individuals and groups. This study aimed to identify and characterise the first whale shark aggregation on Australia's east coast by predicting potential sites through a data layering approach and confirming their presence through targeted field expeditions. A combination of historical sightings data, expert and anecdotal knowledge, and scientific knowledge from other whale shark aggregation sites led to the identification of Wreck Bay, situated at the far northern Great Barrier Reef, as potential aggregation habitat. An initial field expedition in 2019 confirmed the aggregation, and three subsequent voyages in 2021–2024 gathered further demographic and movement data. A total of 59 individuals were identified, with a strong male bias (3.5:1) and all classified as immature sharks ranging from 3.5 to 8.0 m in estimated total length. Satellite tracking revealed a mean residence time of approximately 3 weeks (21.6 days ±10.1 SD; range: 7–43 days), with some individuals revisiting the aggregation in subsequent years. The peak aggregation period occurs from late November to late December, with movements concentrated along the continental shelf before dispersing into the Coral Sea. Tracked sharks (n = 18) exhibited wide‐ranging movements, with a mean track duration of 144 days (range: 3–770 days) and a mean total track length of 1463 km (range: 19–11,355 km). This study provides the first evidence of a whale shark aggregation in the Coral Sea and highlights Wreck Bay as key habitat for this iconic and globally endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: The Needle in the Haystack: Uncovering the First Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) Aggregation in the Coral Sea.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Miller%2C+Ingo+B%2E%22">Miller, Ingo B.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> ingo.miller@my.jcu.edu.au</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fitzpatrick%2C+Richard%22">Fitzpatrick, Richard</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Abrantes%2C+Kátya+G%2E%22">Abrantes, Kátya G.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Norman%2C+Bradley%22">Norman, Bradley</searchLink><relatesTo>4,5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pierce%2C+Simon+J%2E%22">Pierce, Simon J.</searchLink><relatesTo>6,7</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Erdmann%2C+Mark+V%2E%22">Erdmann, Mark V.</searchLink><relatesTo>8</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hoopes%2C+Lisa+A%2E%22">Hoopes, Lisa A.</searchLink><relatesTo>9</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dudgeon%2C+Christine%22">Dudgeon, Christine</searchLink><relatesTo>1,7</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dunbabin%2C+Matthew+D%2E%22">Dunbabin, Matthew D.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,10</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dove%2C+Alistair+D%2E+M%2E%22">Dove, Alistair D. M.</searchLink><relatesTo>9,11</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Beaman%2C+Robin+J%2E%22">Beaman, Robin J.</searchLink><relatesTo>12</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Reynolds%2C+Samantha+D%2E%22">Reynolds, Samantha D.</searchLink><relatesTo>4,5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rohner%2C+Christopher%22">Rohner, Christopher</searchLink><relatesTo>6</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Williams%2C+Samuel+M%2E%22">Williams, Samuel M.</searchLink><relatesTo>13,14</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Paton%2C+David%22">Paton, David</searchLink><relatesTo>15</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lewis%2C+Sonny%22">Lewis, Sonny</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Barnett%2C+Adam%22">Barnett, Adam</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Ecology+%26+Evolution+%2820457758%29%22">Ecology & Evolution (20457758)</searchLink>. Jun2025, Vol. 15 Issue 6, p1-23. 23p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Endangered+species%22">Endangered species</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Whale+shark%22">Whale shark</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scientific+knowledge%22">Scientific knowledge</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Continental+shelf%22">Continental shelf</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Megafauna%22">Megafauna</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sharks%22">Sharks</searchLink>
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  Data: Aggregations are key events, supporting critical ecological and biological functions in many species. For highly mobile and elusive species, aggregations often provide the only feasible opportunities for research. Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) form at least 30 consistent seasonal aggregation sites globally, yet none have been documented in the Coral Sea, despite sporadic sightings of solitary individuals and groups. This study aimed to identify and characterise the first whale shark aggregation on Australia's east coast by predicting potential sites through a data layering approach and confirming their presence through targeted field expeditions. A combination of historical sightings data, expert and anecdotal knowledge, and scientific knowledge from other whale shark aggregation sites led to the identification of Wreck Bay, situated at the far northern Great Barrier Reef, as potential aggregation habitat. An initial field expedition in 2019 confirmed the aggregation, and three subsequent voyages in 2021–2024 gathered further demographic and movement data. A total of 59 individuals were identified, with a strong male bias (3.5:1) and all classified as immature sharks ranging from 3.5 to 8.0 m in estimated total length. Satellite tracking revealed a mean residence time of approximately 3 weeks (21.6 days ±10.1 SD; range: 7–43 days), with some individuals revisiting the aggregation in subsequent years. The peak aggregation period occurs from late November to late December, with movements concentrated along the continental shelf before dispersing into the Coral Sea. Tracked sharks (n = 18) exhibited wide‐ranging movements, with a mean track duration of 144 days (range: 3–770 days) and a mean total track length of 1463 km (range: 19–11,355 km). This study provides the first evidence of a whale shark aggregation in the Coral Sea and highlights Wreck Bay as key habitat for this iconic and globally endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=8gh&AN=186223789
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1002/ece3.71552
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 23
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Endangered species
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Whale shark
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Scientific knowledge
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Continental shelf
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Megafauna
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sharks
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Great Barrier Reef
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: International Union for Conservation of Nature & Natural Resources
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      – TitleFull: The Needle in the Haystack: Uncovering the First Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) Aggregation in the Coral Sea.
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              Text: Jun2025
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