Data from: Population characteristics of a large whale shark aggregation inferred from seawater environmental DNA

Population genetics is essential for understanding and managing marine ecosystems, but sampling remains challenging. We demonstrate that high-throughput sequencing of seawater environmental DNA can provide useful estimates of genetic diversity in a whale shark (Rhincodon typus) aggregation. We recover similar mitochondrial haplotype frequencies in seawater compared to tissue samples, reliably placing the studied aggregation in a global genetic context and expanding the applications of environmental DNA to encompass population genetics of aquatic organisms.种群遗传学（Population genetics）对于理解与管理海洋生态系统至关重要，但样本采集仍颇具挑战。本研究证实，对海水环境DNA（environmental DNA）开展高通量测序，可有效估算鲸鲨（Rhincodon typus）聚集群体的遗传多样性。相较于组织样本，我们在海水样本中检测到了相似的线粒体单倍型频率，能够可靠地将所研究的鲸鲨聚集群体纳入全球遗传框架，并将环境DNA的应用范畴拓展至水生生物种群遗传学领域。