Data

Stable Isotope Analysis of Dermis and the Foraging Behavior of Whale Sharks at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Name: Stable Isotope Analysis of Dermis and the Foraging Behavior of Whale Sharks at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
Published: 2026

Australian Institute of Marine Science

Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)

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ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2FANDS&rft_id=https://apps.aims.gov.au/metadata/view/888d9675-0307-4e28-b9a2-4159ba991e6f&rft.title=Stable Isotope Analysis of Dermis and the Foraging Behavior of Whale Sharks at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia&rft.identifier=https://apps.aims.gov.au/metadata/view/888d9675-0307-4e28-b9a2-4159ba991e6f&rft.publisher=Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)&rft.description=This study used Stable Isotope analysis to investigate the foraging behaviour of sharks through the analysis of δ 13C and δ 15N values in the dermis.Field trips occured during May 2013 and May 2014 to Ningaloo Reef for the collection of biopsies from 50 Whale Sharks. Biopsies were taken by snorklers using a hand spear fitted with a biopsy probe tip.Samples of zooplankton, stomatopod and decapod larvae were collected in both 2013 and 2014, and other nekton were collected only in 2014. Zooplankton samples were collected by horizontal or oblique tows using 200 and 300 µm mesh nets for 10 min at a speed of ∼2 knots from a boat. Other nekton were collected using light traps deployed on the surface at night. All datasets generated for this study are included in the manuscript and/or the Supplementary Files.Maintenance and Update Frequency: asNeededStatement: To remove both lipids and urea from the whale shark samples, a combination of a standard chloroform:methanol:water extraction followed by deionized water rinsing was used, following protocols of Marcus et al. (2017).&rft.creator=Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) &rft.date=2026&rft.coverage=westlimit=113.44757080078126; southlimit=-22.819225765913323; eastlimit=113.73870849609376; northlimit=-22.3424548401465&rft.coverage=westlimit=113.44757080078126; southlimit=-22.819225765913323; eastlimit=113.73870849609376; northlimit=-22.3424548401465&rft_rights=Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/&rft_rights=Use Limitation: All AIMS data, products and services are provided as is and AIMS does not warrant their fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. While AIMS has made every reasonable effort to ensure high quality of the data, products and services, to the extent permitted by law the data, products and services are provided without any warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of title, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. AIMS make no representation or warranty that the data, products and services are accurate, complete, reliable or current. To the extent permitted by law, AIMS exclude all liability to any person arising directly or indirectly from the use of the data, products and services.&rft_rights=Attribution: Format for citation of metadata sourced from Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in a list of reference is as follows: Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). (2019). Stable Isotope Analysis of Dermis and the Foraging Behavior of Whale Sharks at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. https://apps.aims.gov.au/metadata/view/888d9675-0307-4e28-b9a2-4159ba991e6f, accessed[date-of-access].&rft_subject=oceans&rft.type=dataset&rft.language=English Access the data

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Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/

Use Limitation: All AIMS data, products and services are provided "as is" and AIMS does not warrant their fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. While AIMS has made every reasonable effort to ensure high quality of the data, products and services, to the extent permitted by law the data, products and services are provided without any warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of title, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. AIMS make no representation or warranty that the data, products and services are accurate, complete, reliable or current. To the extent permitted by law, AIMS exclude all liability to any person arising directly or indirectly from the use of the data, products and services.

Attribution: Format for citation of metadata sourced from Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in a list of reference is as follows: "Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). (2019). Stable Isotope Analysis of Dermis and the Foraging Behavior of Whale Sharks at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. https://apps.aims.gov.au/metadata/view/888d9675-0307-4e28-b9a2-4159ba991e6f, accessed[date-of-access]".

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Full description

This study used Stable Isotope analysis to investigate the foraging behaviour of sharks through the analysis of δ 13C and δ 15N values in the dermis.

Field trips occured during May 2013 and May 2014 to Ningaloo Reef for the collection of biopsies from 50 Whale Sharks. Biopsies were taken by snorklers using a hand spear fitted with a biopsy probe tip.

Samples of zooplankton, stomatopod and decapod larvae were collected in both 2013 and 2014, and other nekton were collected only in 2014. Zooplankton samples were collected by horizontal or oblique tows using 200 and 300 µm mesh nets for 10 min at a speed of ∼2 knots from a boat. Other nekton were collected using light traps deployed on the surface at night.

All datasets generated for this study are included in the manuscript and/or the Supplementary Files.

Lineage

Maintenance and Update Frequency: asNeeded

Statement: To remove both lipids and urea from the whale shark samples, a combination of a standard chloroform:methanol:water extraction followed by deionized water rinsing was used, following protocols of Marcus et al. (2017).

Notes

Credit
Ferreira, L C (AIMS)

Credit
Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF241)

Credit
Meekan, M. Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)

Credit
Winifred Violet Scott Charitable Trust

Credit
Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment Grants (V0021438)

Modified: 25 09 2026

This dataset is part of a larger collection

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text: westlimit=113.44757080078126; southlimit=-22.819225765913323; eastlimit=113.73870849609376; northlimit=-22.3424548401465

Subjects

oceans |

User Contributed Tags

Other Information

Marcus L, Virtue P, Nichols PD, Ferreira LC, Pethybridge H, Meekan MG (2019) Stable isotope analysis of dermis and the foraging behavior of whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Frontiers in Marine Science 6: 546

local : 11068/15238

Identifiers

global : 888d9675-0307-4e28-b9a2-4159ba991e6f