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Stomach content analysis of the Blacktip Shark from the coastal waters of Florida from 2008 to 2010 (NCEI Accession 0166766)

Published by Southeast Fisheries Science Center | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Catalog Last Checked: August 02, 2026 at 12:49 PM | Dataset Last Updated: January 01, 2017 at 12:00 AM
Sharks may have an important role in marine ecosystems in relation to populations of fish and invertebrates at lower trophic levels. Fishery management plans stress the need for an ecosystem approach, but few quantitative studies on the foraging ecology of sharks have been published. Stomach contents and catch data of early life stages of blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) taken from fishery independent surveys in Florida, were examined to test for overlap in resource use. This data set also contains stomach contents of blacktip shark that were archived from samples collected in Florida through observer programs and other fishery independent surveys. Young-of-the-year blacktip sharks were found to feed mainly on sciaenids, whereas juveniles fed on clupeids. Compared to relative prey sizes published for teleost piscivores, blacktip sharks consume relatively large prey. Regardless of maturity state and species, diet overlap is high for species-life stage combinations that are similar in size however, species-life stages did not show significant habitat overlap. Prey categories shared by similar-sized species may not be limiting however, shark species may have alleviated competition pressure by partitioning the resource of time or space.

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