Intraspecific variability in diet and implied foraging ranges of whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, from signature fatty acid analysis

Whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef exhibit significant intraspecific variability in diet and foraging ranges, as revealed by signature fatty acid analysis of their sub-dermal tissue. The study identified four to five distinct groups based on fatty acid profiles, suggesting diverse feeding habitats used by these animals, independent of sex or size. Temporal changes in dietary patterns were also observed, likely due to shifts in primary and secondary producers. The research demonstrates that whale sharks feed across a wide range of habitats, including deep waters, and that signature fatty acids can effectively trace broad trophic pathways and spatial-temporal dietary changes in these large, wide-ranging species.

Marcus, L., Virtue, P., Pethybridge, H., Meekan, M., Thums, M., & Nichols, P. (2016). Intraspecific variability in diet and implied foraging ranges of whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, from signature fatty acid analysis. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 554, 115–128. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11807