Whale sharks, the largest fish on the planet, have been discovered making unexpected pit stops at oil and gas rigs during their extensive migrations across the oceans. These gentle giants can grow up to 18 meters long and consume as much as 20 kilograms of plankton daily. Researchers, led by marine ecologist Ben D’Antonio, conducted a comprehensive study over 14 years, tagging 78 whale sharks off the coast of western Australia to understand how these structures influence their movements.
The research, published in the journal Diversity and Distributions, aimed to shed light on the behavior and ecology of whale sharks by tracking their interactions with the environment. The study was a collaborative effort between the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and the University of Western Australia in Perth. It revealed that whale sharks migrate thousands of kilometers across the ocean, utilizing oil and gas platforms as convenient stops along their journey.
"Think of seafloor features like a truck stop on a highway," said D’Antonio.
Whale sharks appear to pause at these structures, moving between various geomorphological features to grab an easy meal before continuing with their migration. The researchers meticulously cross-checked these features' locations to observe their influence on the sharks' routes.
"As they migrate across the ocean, they are stopping over and moving between features to presumably grab an easy meal before continuing with their migration," D’Antonio explained.
This study provides valuable insights into the interaction between marine life and man-made structures. It also highlights the potential impact of future developments in renewable energy on marine ecosystems.
"This will become more relevant as developments for renewable energy begin to add additional structure to many areas along continental margins," D’Antonio noted.
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