Movement, Behavior, and Habitat Use of Whale Sharks (Rhincodon typus) in the Tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean

Whale sharks ( Rhincodon typus ) are found circumglobally in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate waters, their known seasonal aggregations migratory movements influenced by factors such as ocean currents, thermobiological systems, patterns of productivity. Several locations the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean habitats for R. ; Although it has long been that whale aggregate along Panama coast, little is relation to movement patterns, behavior, habitat use. In this study, we investigated behaviors tagged oceanographic variables examined overlap foraging routes with marine protected areas (MPAs), industrial fishing areas, traffic. Satellite tracks from 30 coastal waters were examined, including nine tags suspicious earlier detachment. A hidden Markov model was then used identify different behavioral states (foraging migrating) relationships environmental (sea surface temperature, primary productivity, chlorophyll- a concentrations, eddy location/speed) Tracks also superimposed on maps MPAs, regional vessel traffic degree overlap. foraged mainly within Panamanian exclusive economic zone but moved north south coast out open ocean. Significant differences conditions between sites which migrating recorded. Higher productivity chlorophyl concentration associated while higher speeds observed when migrated. MPAs; however, there high Our results highlight use Panama, oceanic seamounts, ridges, MPAs migration. Additionally, our findings importance satellite tracking studies understanding behavior highly mobile species, .