Pamlico Sound Sharks and Rays

Cownose Rays and juvenile Bull Sharks often occupy similar estuarine habitats despite the rays being potential prey of the sharks. Pamlico Sound, North Carolina hosts a significant but relatively understudied population of Cownose Rays, and juvenile Bull Shark numbers have been increasing in the estuary in association with rising water temperatures. In this project, acoustic telemetry is used to identify movement behavior and key habitat areas within the estuary for both species, and to determine whether these species interact and influence each other's habitat use patterns.