Tracking whale sharks with citizen science and astronomy software

Scientists have figured out a clever way to distinguish one, individual whale shark from another using computer algorithms originally developed for astronomy. That's because whale sharks are spotted, and individuals have unique spot patterns, just like different parts of the sky have unique star patterns. More than simply a one-time ID system, the method works with a database of whale shark photos so that different people all over the world can upload photos and find out where else "their" whale shark has been.

And it's not just for scientists. This is one of those places where laypeople can participate in helping collect data. The next time you're in an area where whale sharks are present, you can take a photo and contribute it to the growing database. Deep Sea News explains how the system, called ECOCEAN works:

1. You photograph the left flank of a whale shark, in the area above the pectoral fin, level and perpendicular with the animal

2. You upload the image, along with pertinent details, via the ECOCEAN website. An ECOCEAN-affiliated scientist like me processes the image, cropping, straightening and marking the spots and some other important anatomical landmarks.

3. The software compares the photo to a database of over 3,000 different animals using a couple of different similarity algorithms, and then returns a list of possible matches with scores for how good a match each is.

4. An ECOCEAN-affiliated scientist like me then makes the final call on whether the photo matches an existing animal (i.e. is a re-sighting), or whether it's a first timer, in which case it gets assigned a unique ID number that will follow it throughout its days.

5. The submitter gets an email telling them whether their animal is already known to ECOCEAN, or is new.

6. (and this is especially cool) Thereafter, whenever that animal is seen again, any submitter of a picture of that animal also gets an email letting them know that "their" animal has been resighted.