Data from: Population characteristics of a large whale shark aggregation inferred from seawater environmental DNA
Data files
Oct 13, 2017 version files 18.07 GB
-
Controls.zip
6.27 GB
-
DL1.zip
980.99 MB
-
DL2_run_1.zip
5.38 GB
-
DL2_run_2.zip
5.43 GB
-
README_for_Controls.xlsx
15.66 KB
-
README_for_DL1.xlsx
12.33 KB
-
README_for_DL2_run_1.xlsx
10.71 KB
-
README_for_DL2_run_2.xlsx
10.64 KB
Abstract
Population genetics is essential for understanding and managing marine ecosystems, but sampling remains challenging. We demonstrate that high-throughput sequencing of seawater environmental DNA can provide useful estimates of genetic diversity in a whale shark (Rhincodon typus) aggregation. We recover similar mitochondrial haplotype frequencies in seawater compared to tissue samples, reliably placing the studied aggregation in a global genetic context and expanding the applications of environmental DNA to encompass population genetics of aquatic organisms.