title: Population Structure, Abundance and Movement of Whale Sharks in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
abstract: Data on the occurrence of whale sharks, Rhincodon typus, in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman were collected by dedicated boat surveys and via a public-sightings scheme during the period from 2011 to 2014. A total of 422 individual whale sharks were photo-identified from the Arabian Gulf and the northern Gulf of Oman during that period. The majority of sharks (81%, n = 341) were encountered at the Al Shaheen area of Qatar, 90 km off the coast, with the Musandam region of Oman a secondary area of interest. At Al Shaheen, there were significantly more male sharks (n = 171) than females (n = 78; X2 = 17.52, P < 0.05). Mean estimated total length (TL) for sharks was 6.90 m ± 1.24 (median = 7 m; n = 296). Males (7.25 m ± 1.34; median = 8 m, n = 171) were larger than females (6.44 m ±1.09; median = 7 m, n = 78; Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.01). Of the male sharks assessed for maturity 63% were mature (n = 81), with 50% attaining maturity by 7.29 m and 100% by 9.00 m. Two female sharks of >9 m individuals were visually assessed as pregnant. Connectivity among sharks sighted in Qatari, Omani and UAE waters was confirmed by individual spot pattern matches. A total of 13 identified sharks were re-sighted at locations other than that at which they were first sighted, including movements into and out of the Arabian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. Maximum likelihood techniques were used to model an estimated combined population for the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman of 2837 sharks ± 1243.91 S.E. (95% C.I. 1720-6295). The Al Shaheen aggregation is thus the first site described as being dominated by mature males while the free-swimming pregnant females are the first reported from the Indian Ocean.
authors.affiliation: Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.|Sharkwatch Arabia, Dubai, UAE.
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Qatar Ministry of Environment, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Mohammed Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Jaidah
authors.affiliation: Maersk Oil Research and Technology Centre, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.affiliation: Environment Department, University of York, York, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Gulf Elasmo Project, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Rima W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Jabado
authors.affiliation: Marine Megafauna Foundation, Truckee, CA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Christoph A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rohner
authors.affiliation: Environment Department, University of York, York, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Abi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: March
authors.affiliation: Sharkwatch Arabia, Dubai, UAE.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caprodossi
authors.affiliation: School of Field Studies, Turks & Caicos Islands, South Caicos.
authors.forename: Aaron C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mair
authors.affiliation: Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.|Marine Conservation International, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ormond
authors.affiliation: Marine Megafauna Foundation, Truckee, CA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Pierce
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution / Q000502:physiology*; D025041:Animal Migration / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D019156:Indian Ocean; D008297:Male; D009850:Oman; D011156:Population Density; D012754:Sharks / Q000502:physiology*