Do Atlantic Spiny Dogfish Share a Menu?: Exploring Intra-School Diet Variability of Atlantic Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) Through Stable Isotope Analysis

• Amber Ortiz Hernandez, Marine Science, University of Delaware

• Aaron Carlisle, Earth, Ocean, and Environment, University of Delaware

Atlantic Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) are small migratory sharks, but their dietary habits are not well documented. It is unclear whether these sharks share the same diet or forage independently in their schools. This study uses stable isotope analysis of δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C to investigate intra-school dietary trends across various time scales. By analyzing plasma, red blood cell, and muscle samples I aim to access the consistency or variation of individual feeding habits in the observed schools. The presence of variation of isotopic signatures across tissues or individuals may suggest resource partitioning or individual specialization. This research enhances our understanding of the behavioral ecology of schooling predators and contributes to broader insights into marine food web dynamics and species resilience in changing environments.