Dr Sam Matchette Behavioural Ecologist
![matchette(reduced).png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d17fe5_c163afbea4044c04b79c07fa613442ae~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_75,y_134,w_1200,h_797/fill/w_672,h_446,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/matchette(reduced).png)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d17fe5_4c372915b4d14114b589020a0bee41e6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_223,h_223,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/d17fe5_4c372915b4d14114b589020a0bee41e6~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d17fe5_56af0b5311fc4f1a8bd901c7544726e9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_223,h_223,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/d17fe5_56af0b5311fc4f1a8bd901c7544726e9~mv2.jpg)
I'm currently working as a Research Associate in the Marine Behavioural Ecology Group at the University of Cambridge, UK.
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My research interests broadly concern the interactions between predators and prey, particularly in fishes.
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I combine manipulative behavioural experiments, both in the laboratory and the field, with state-of-the-art computational techniques, including 3D modelling, augmented reality, photogrammetry, and machine learning.
Research
![boat](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d17fe5_ddd47317048a42cc8b1fb65689ade1da~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_1199,w_6000,h_2363/fill/w_876,h_345,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Sam_Boat%20(2)_JPG.jpg)
Trumpetfish
One of my primary research projects involves investigting the behaviour and broader ecology of the trumpetfish, Aulostomus maculatus - a predatory fish that is common across Caribbean coral reefs. I am particularly interested in their foraging behaviour and their interactions with other species, and how these may relate to their colouration.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d17fe5_e4c8eeeb221e4d23a1d015fb8c59ec00~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_0,y_77,w_669,h_421/fill/w_442,h_278,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/d17fe5_e4c8eeeb221e4d23a1d015fb8c59ec00~mv2.png)
![WhatsApp Image 2022-05-22 at 7.41_edited](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d17fe5_2d679c0fddd54759bc1f274cff8ad755~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_417,h_278,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-05-22%20at%207_41_edited.jpg)
Visual noise
The basis to my PhD emerged from the juncture between traditional camouflage strategies and motion. Specifically, I was interested in how the presence of visual noise, in particular rapidly-changing illumination (e.g., water caustics or dappled light), can reduce the detectability of moving objects. I have continued studying the influence of visual noise in my current role. Here, I assess how fish optimise their ability to acquire information in "noisy" habitats, both individually and as a shoal.
![WhatsApp Image 2020-05-29 at 12.16.52.jp](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d17fe5_d7c7b665ac564220985800bcd2ab95a1~mv2.jpeg/v1/crop/x_0,y_200,w_1200,h_1200/fill/w_200,h_200,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/WhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-29%20at%2012_16_52_jp.jpeg)
![picasso triggerfish](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d17fe5_e714169cc6784dd2991ecda382cc13ff~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_185,y_12,w_571,h_570/fill/w_200,h_200,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/triggerfish.jpg)
![Caustic_Screenshot_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d17fe5_3c3d464d284c44c88ea23cb214555b6d~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_192,y_186,w_228,h_228/fill/w_200,h_200,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Caustic_Screenshot_edited.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d17fe5_6e165097d1c94253aa12ae6eade1edde~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_200,h_200,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/d17fe5_6e165097d1c94253aa12ae6eade1edde~mv2.png)
Media Interest
Publications
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d17fe5_4860a98a24c54df89efbcc93a8f6554c~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_0,y_128,w_1920,h_671/fill/w_542,h_189,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/d17fe5_4860a98a24c54df89efbcc93a8f6554c~mv2.png)
Matchette SR, Drerup C, Davison IK, Simpson SD, Radford AN, Herbert-Read JE. Predatory trumpetfish conceal themselves from their prey by swimming alongside other fish. Current Biology. 2023; 33(15): R801-R802
hhtps://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.075
Scott-Samuel NE, Caro T, Matchette SR, Cuthill IC. Dazzle: surface patterns that impede interception. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 2023; blad075
https//doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blad075
Matchette SR, Mitchell EG, Herbert-Read JE. Spatial clustering of trumpetfish shadowing behaviour
in the Caribbean Sea revealed by citizen science. Marine Biology. 2022; 169: 71
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-022-04057-4
Matchette SR, Herbert-Read JE. Dynamic visual noise promotes social attraction, but does not affect group size preference, in a shoaling fish. Animal Behaviour. 2021; 177: 39-48
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.04.017
Matchette SR, Cuthill IC, Cheney KL, Marshall NJ, Scott-Samuel NE. Underwater caustics disrupts prey detection by a reef fish. Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences. 2020; 287: 20192453
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.2453
Cuthill IC, Matchette SR, Scott-Samuel NE. Camouflage in a dynamic world. Current Opinion in Behavioural Sciences. 2019; 30: 109-115
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2019.07.007
Matchette SR, Cuthill IC, Scott-Samuel NE. Dappled light disrupts prey detection by masking movement. Animal Behaviour. 2019; 155: 89-95
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.07.006
Matchette SR, Cuthill IC, Scott-Samuel NE. Concealment in a dynamic world: dappled light and caustics mask movement. Animal Behaviour. 2018; 143: 51–57
See Google Scholar for more details