Research

Trophic connectivity is at the heart of our research: a combination of minimally-invasive methods — namely stable isotopes and DNA metabarcoding — untangle the predator-prey relationships and foraging ecology of elasmobranchs and other predators.

The resource-use requirements of sharks, rays, and other predatory fish change substantially with age, in ways that management often overlooks. By establishing an ongoing survey of Tampa Bay habitats, we aim to identify critical habitats and monitor how they change over time.

US waters are a refuge for many species threatened by extinction globally, like the Critically Endangered great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran). Yet human activity in Florida — from coastal development to recreational and commercial fishing — still poses significant threats whose impacts on ish populations remain poorly understood.