Danielle Dyson is a graduate researcher at Rutgers University focused on the movement ecology and habitat use of coastal shark species. Danielle’s work centers on sandbar sharks (Carcharhinus plumbeus) in New Jersey estuaries, with an emphasis on understanding how these animals use smaller, non-principal estuarine systems. She deploys acoustic tags in individual sharks to track their movements across space and time. This approach allows her to examine patterns in residency, site fidelity, and seasonal habitat use.

A key goal of Danielle’s research is to evaluate whether these understudied estuaries function as nursery habitats, which are critical for the early life stages of many shark species. By identifying the environmental and spatial characteristics that support juvenile sharks, her work contributes to a broader understanding of habitat connectivity and the role of estuarine systems in shark population dynamics. Ultimately, this research aims to inform conservation and management by identifying essential habitats and improving our understanding of how sandbar sharks use coastal ecosystems in New Jersey. Danielle will be presenting this research at the Ocean Tracking Network Symposium in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Danielle has a master’s degree in Ecology and Evolution and will be expanding on the spatial scope and ecological drivers at Rutgers University as a PhD student starting fall 2026.