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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

Research

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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. 

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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.

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Media

Media Interest

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Publications

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 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.07.003

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See Google Scholar for more details

Publications

Contact

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