{{Short description|Shark photo identification database}} {{Infobox organization | former_name = whaleshark.org, wildbook for whale sharks | status = nonprofit | purpose = Online citizen science database to identify and track sharks, in particular whale sharks | parent_organization = Marine Megafauna Foundation, WildMe | num_volunteers = 9445 citizen scientists, 313 researchers | website = https://www.sharkbook.ai }}
'''Sharkbook''' is a global database for identifying and tracking sharks, particularly whale sharks, using uploaded photos and videos.In addition to identifying and tracking sharks, the site allows people to "adopt a shark" and get updates on specific animals.
==Creation== Sharkbook is the result of collaboration between Simon J Pierce of the Marine Megafauna Foundation and Jason Holmberg of Wild Me. The software is Open Source and is now being used by other biology projects.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Jessica |date=2021-06-29 |title=How a Wildlife AI Platform Solved its Data Challenge |url=https://www.informationweek.com/big-data/how-a-wildlife-ai-platform-solved-its-data-challenge-/d/d-id/1341410 |access-date={{TODAY}} |website=InformationWeek}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=How A.I. is helping to protect the endangered whale sharks of the Galapagos |url=https://fortune.com/2022/11/01/tech-forward-everyday-ai-galapagos-islands/ |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=Fortune |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2018-11-13 |title=How artificial intelligence is changing wildlife research |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/artificial-intelligence-counts-wild-animals |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223201909/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/artificial-intelligence-counts-wild-animals |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 23, 2021 |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=National Geographic |language=en}}</ref> alt=Whale shark with divers|thumb|Whale shark with divers
==Identification of individual sharks== Whale sharks have unique spot patterning on their sides, similar to a human fingerprint, which allows for individual identification. Scuba divers around the world can photograph sharks and upload their identification photographs to the Sharkbook website, supporting global research and conservation efforts.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Marshall |first1=A. D. |last2=Pierce |first2=S. J. |date=April 2012 |title=The use and abuse of photographic identification in sharks and rays |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2012.03244.x |journal=Journal of Fish Biology |language=en |volume=80 |issue=5 |pages=1361–1379 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8649.2012.03244.x|pmid=22497388 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Weintraub |first=Karen |date=2017-11-29 |title=Tracking the Elusive Whale Shark |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/science/whale-sharks.html |access-date=2023-02-10 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-11-11 |title=Tracking the Sea's Gentle Giants |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/brad-norman-explorer-moments-identification-system-helps-protect-whale-sharks |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528005650/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/brad-norman-explorer-moments-identification-system-helps-protect-whale-sharks |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 28, 2022 |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=National Geographic |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nature up close: Whale sharks |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nature-up-close-whale-sharks/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=CBS News |date=21 October 2016 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=McCoy |first1=Emer |last2=Burce |first2=Raul |last3=David |first3=David |last4=Aca |first4=Elson Q. |last5=Hardy |first5=Jennifer |last6=Labaja |first6=Jessica |last7=Snow |first7=Sally J. |last8=Ponzo |first8=Alessandro |last9=Araujo |first9=Gonzalo |date=2018 |title=Long-Term Photo-Identification Reveals the Population Dynamics and Strong Site Fidelity of Adult Whale Sharks to the Coastal Waters of Donsol, Philippines |journal=Frontiers in Marine Science |volume=5 |doi=10.3389/fmars.2018.00271 |issn=2296-7745|doi-access=free }}</ref> Additionally, the software automatically searches social media sites like YouTube and Instagram to look for images of whale sharks and adds them to the database.<ref name=":1" />
Sharkbook software uses special pattern-matching software to identify the unique spots on each shark. This software and algorithms were originally adapted from NASA star tracking software<ref name=":1" /> used on the Hubble Space Telescope.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-01 |title=🔭 The Hubble Telescope could help save the world's largest fish |url=https://www.warpnews.org/space/the-hubble-telescope-could-help-save-the-worlds-largest-fish/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Warp News |language=en}}</ref> This software uses a scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithm, which can cope with complications presented by highly variable spot patterns and low contrast photographs.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Scientists are using cloud computing and AI to track these mysterious, beautiful whale sharks |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/scientists-are-using-cloud-computing-and-ai-to-track-these-mysterious-beautiful-whale-sharks/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=ZDNET |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Russell |first=Mark 'Crowley' |date=2022-03-21 |title=Study shows need for whale shark population monitoring |url=https://divemagazine.com/scuba-diving-news/mmf-study-whale-shark-population-monitoring |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=DIVE Magazine |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Purpose== This citizen science tool is free to use by researchers worldwide. Sharkbook represents a global initiative to centralize shark sightings and facilitate research on these vulnerable species.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stacey |first=Adrian |date=2020-05-20 |title=Dive Photos Needed {{!}} Scuba Diver Mag |url=https://www.scubadivermag.com/dive-photos-needed/ |access-date=2023-02-09 |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Whale shark sightings increase in Tampa Bay area (w/video) |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/outdoors/whale-shark-sightings-increase-in-tampa-bay-area/2279530/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-12 |title=22 years and counting – the two whale sharks calling Ningaloo home |url=https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2016/10/ningaloos-stumpy-and-zorro-are-the-two-longest-studied-wild-sharks-in-the-world/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=Australian Geographic |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Araujo |first1=Gonzalo |last2=Agustines |first2=Ariana |last3=Tracey |first3=Brian |last4=Snow |first4=Sally |last5=Labaja |first5=Jessica |last6=Ponzo |first6=Alessandro |date=2019-11-20 |title=Photo-ID and telemetry highlight a global whale shark hotspot in Palawan, Philippines |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=17209 |doi=10.1038/s41598-019-53718-w |pmid=31748588 |pmc=6868279 |bibcode=2019NatSR...917209A |issn=2045-2322}}</ref>
== See also == * Manta Matcher - For Manta Rays * Flukebook - For whales and dolphins
== References == <references />
Category:Marine biology Category:Citizen science Category:Shark conservation