Feeding ecology study of Smalltooth sawfish using 18S rRNA high-throuput sequencing. fish gut metagenome

An 18S rRNA gene sequencing technique was used to identify prey taxa in sawfish fecal samples. This analysis provided evidence that the smalltooth sawfish feeds primarily on teleost and elasmobranch fishes at all life stages, even though sawfish move from estuarine to coastal habitats during their ontogeny. The result will aid in the development of management decisions regarding these prey species and in improving long-term recovery planning for the smalltooth sawfish.