Whale sharks Displaced By Oil Spill?

The gulf oil spill was in a region which is prime feeding grounds for the giant whale shark.  The author mentions that the toxic components of the oil, and the dispersants used to clean it up, both contain toxins which potentially could compromise the endocrine and immune systems of the animals.  A description of how the animal feeds is provided and that the toxins in the water might be caught in their gills.  It provides a lot of quotes from researchers about their concerns for how the spill is affecting their health.  These concerns are posed in question form, though.  It seems as though the author is saying that the researchers just don't have those answers yet and that they need to do some work to figure that out.  No indication of how they plan to do that.

The researchers also wish to determine how the whale sharks' behaviour is being affected by the spill.  Here, the article tells us more about how the researchers are investigating this behaviour.  It mentions that they are tagging them to follow their migration through the gulf.  Visual observations have the sharks, which are usually deep water animals, are being found closer inland.  So clearly, the author has described more in-depth, the researchers method of answering their questions.