The whale shark is not only the largest fish in the world, but also little researched until today and a mystery for science. Researchers have now discovered and evaluated the soft giant's DNA in seawater to find out more about the mysterious whale shark.

The whale shark is the largest fish in the world, but also one of the most mysterious. It has hardly been researched and holds many puzzles for science. To learn more about this gentle sea creature, researchers used a new method: They analyzed the whale sharks' DNA traces in the water. They presented their results in a study.

The whale shark is an endangered giant that captivates many people. Many divers and snorkelers dream of swimming with a whale shark and admiring its majestic beauty. But this chance is becoming increasingly rare because the whale shark is hunted for its fins, which are considered a delicacy in Asia. A dead whale shark can fetch up to $23.760.

Because whale sharks are very shy and difficult to observe, scientists found another way to learn more about them: They examined the seawater for whale shark DNA fragments. These can provide information about the number, relationships and health of the animals. In this way, the researchers hope to better protect and preserve the whale shark.

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Researchers find genetic material of polling sharks in seawater

Whale sharks are difficult to study because they often stay at great depths and travel long distances. But now scientists have developed a new method to find out more about these fascinating animals: They have isolated and analyzed their genetic material from seawater.

The researchers only needed a small amount of water from the Persian Gulf off the coast of Qatar, where whale sharks regularly visit. They found traces of whale shark DNA in the water, which came from urine or skin flakes. Using a special technique, they were able to extract and sequence this DNA. For example, they were able to determine how many whale sharks were in the area, what gender they were and how related they were.

This method is useful not only for researching whale sharks, but also for other sea creatures. This allows scientists to study the biodiversity and population dynamics of various fish and marine mammals without directly disturbing or endangering them. The technique is also cheaper and faster than traditional methods based on visual observations or markings. The results of the study are in the scientific journal Nature Ecology & Evolution been published.

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Evaluation allows conclusion on life style and existence of the whale sharks

Just as spectacular as the research method is its evaluation, which allows completely new information about the whale sharks. By looking at the whale shark DNA, the researchers were able to determine that the genetic makeup of the whale sharks in the Persian Gulf hardly differed from that in the Atlantic, Indo-Pacific and Pacific. The genome of whale sharks is therefore very identical worldwide.

But the scientists were also able to gain a serious insight from the seawater samples: it was previously assumed that there were around 138.000 female whale sharks in all seas worldwide. However, through the seawater samples, the researchers were able to conclude that there are only just under 71.600 female whale sharks left in the world's oceans. That's just half of the population previously assumed by scientists. Research shows that the whale shark is even more threatened than previously thought.

The researchers themselves hope that their estimate of the whale shark population is not correct, because otherwise the result would be very shocking and sad. The method itself is still in its infancy, but has a great future. It has already been tried on the ice sharks or Greenland sharks and will also be used more frequently in the future. If the results are similar to those of other species, as in the case of whale shark, the results could eventually lead to better protection of some species because they put pressure on governments and organizations.

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Whale sharks – the largest fish in the world

The whale shark is not only the largest fish in the world, but also one of the most mysterious. It can grow up to 20 meters long and weigh 34 tons, but it grows very slowly and does not reach sexual maturity until it is 30 years old. It is a peaceful herbivore that feeds primarily on plankton, which it filters out of the water with its huge mouth. The whale shark is at home in all tropical and warm seas, where it usually swims near the surface. It is a solitary animal that rarely interacts with other whale sharks. It has a distinctive white spot pattern on its dark gray body that helps it camouflage itself from predators.

Unfortunately, the whale shark is critically endangered. In the last 75 years, its population has decreased by more than half. It is hunted primarily in China and Oman for its fins, which are considered a delicacy. But illegal fishing, by-catch in nets and collisions with ships also endanger its survival. Nobody knows exactly how many whale sharks there are left in the world. It is estimated that there are only a few 10.000 left. In order to protect these majestic animals, more research and education is urgently needed. Some countries, such as the Philippines and Taiwan, already have laws protecting the whale shark. But we can also do something, for example by not eating shark fin soup or only booking responsible diving tours with whale sharks.

Whale sharks are unique and beautiful creatures that deserve our admiration and respect. They are an important part of the marine ecosystem and a symbol of the diversity of life on our planet.

Sources

• https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/whale-shark
• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/facts/whale-shark
• https://www.sharktrust.org/en/whale_shark

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