Links between the three-dimensional movements of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) and the biophysical environment of a coral reef

Whale Shark research, including collection of ID photos, stereo video for size measurements, biopsies for tissue sampling, and deployment of short term video tags.

A number of whale sharks were surveyed during the small boat phase of the field work. Paired ID photos taken for 72 of these animals, tissue samples collected for genetic and isotope analysis from 26 individuals, and stereo-video footage to obtain accurate measurements were obtained from 63 animals. Accelerometer tags were deployed on three whale sharks, as well as four camera tags (accelerometer combined with cameras) on whale sharks to track short term movement and behaviour over 24 to 48 hour periods. Sonar tags were deployed to record the prey field of the whale sharks, with 4 successful deployments during the study period. By concurrently recording the prey field and shark movements the response of whale sharks relative to prey density can be recorded for the first time.

本数据集围绕鲸鲨研究展开，涵盖身份识别照片采集、用于体型测量的立体影像（stereo video）拍摄、用于组织采样的活体组织切片（biopsy）采集，以及短期影像标签部署等工作。
本研究在小型船野外作业阶段共调查了多头鲸鲨。其中，为72头个体拍摄了配对式身份识别照片，为26头个体采集了用于遗传与同位素分析的组织样本，并为63头个体获取了用于精准体型测量的立体影像素材。研究团队为3头鲸鲨部署了加速度计标签（accelerometer tag），同时为4头鲸鲨部署了集成加速度计与摄像头的影像标签（camera tag），以追踪其24至48小时内的短期活动与行为模式。此外，为记录鲸鲨的猎物场，团队部署了声呐标签（sonar tag），研究期间共完成4次成功部署。通过同步记录猎物场与鲸鲨活动数据，本研究首次实现了鲸鲨对猎物密度响应的量化记录。