Data from: A global perspective on the trophic geography of sharks

Sharks are a diverse group of mobile predators that forage across varied

spatial scales and have the potential to influence food web dynamics. The

ecological consequences of recent declines in shark biomass may extend

across broader geographic ranges if shark taxa display common behavioural

traits. By tracking the original site of photosynthetic fixation of carbon

atoms that were ultimately assimilated into muscle tissues of 5,394 sharks

from 114 species, we identify globally consistent biogeographic traits in

trophic interactions between sharks found in different habitats. We show

that populations of shelf-dwelling sharks derive a substantial proportion

of their carbon from regional pelagic sources, but contain individuals

that forage within additional isotopically diverse local food webs, such

as those supported by terrestrial plant sources, benthic production and

macrophytes. In contrast, oceanic sharks seem to use carbon derived from

between 30° and 50° of latitude. Global-scale compilations of stable

isotope data combined with biogeochemical modelling generate hypotheses

regarding animal behaviours that can be tested with other methodological

approaches.