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Flats Ecology & Conservation Program

Inshore Predators

Predators such as sharks and barracuda are integral components of shallow water environments. The mosaic of habitat types found in nearshore flats are home to many species of small fishes and invertebrates that provide a steady food source for juvenile sharks and barracuda. Interestingly, coastal flats can also offer protection for small predators who seek refuge from larger conspecifics that inhabit deeper, open waters. When forced from tidal areas during low tides, juvenile sharks and barracuda become vectors for the movement of nutrients and energy from flats to other regions of coastal ecosystems.

Similar to bonefish, inshore predators of the flats have received limited attention from scientists, resource managers, and the public. In general, sharks and barracuda are commonly thought of as aggressive and dangerous to humans, which has invoked an underlying fear of them and made conservation efforts difficult. It is not until recently that the interconnectedness and importance of flats habitats and their associated species has been recognized, including species of sharks and barracuda.

In conjunction with our bonefish research, we are conducting studies at the Cape Eleuthera Institute to examine the role of inshore predators in shallow flats habitats. This work is taking a multi-species approach and combining conventional empirical surveys, experimental manipulations in the field, passive and active telemetry, and studies within the seawater system on our campus.