Sara Casareto

 

Sara Casareto is a marine biologist and behavioral ecologist, focusing on predator-prey interactions and shark biology. Currently, she is a PhD candidate in biology at Florida International University in the Marine Community and Behavioral Ecology Lab where she is researching the factors that influence the habitat use and decision making of juvenile sharks in Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, The Ten Thousand Islands, Florida. Her work has been funded by NOAA, and as a NOAA Margaret A. Davidson Fellow (‘24-‘26 cohort), Sara’s work has allowed her to partner closely with local stakeholders, state, and federal employees.

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The Ten Thousand Islands, part of the greater Everglades ecosystem, have experienced immense hydrological modification, and Sara’s work aims to look at how juvenile sharks in a multi species nursery may differ in their habitat and prey selection across a gradient of human impact. Her background in biology, marine science, and chemistry allows Sara to use chemical markers and fecal DNA to assess what and how the sharks in this system are foraging. In addition to system influences, she is also studying the degree of impact that larger predatory sharks might play in influencing juvenile sharks. This work will better inform managers of the trophic dynamics in the reserve and provide as a model for other systems given the high degree of both anthropogenic changes and subsequent restoration efforts in coastal ecosystems globally.

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In addition to her research, Sara is actively engaged in outreach and science communication. She has shared her work on both local and global scales with partners such as National Geographic and PBS, as well as working closely with students and educators of all ages as an ambassador for the nonprofit Sharks4Kids.

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