Matthew Jew

My interests focus mainly on biological statistics, community ecology, behavior of elasmobranchs and behavioral responses of prey to those elasmobranchs. I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in the field of ecology.

I earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and Mathematics at California State University, Monterey Bay. I worked with Dr. Dave Ebert as an undergraduate research assistant prior to attending Moss Landing MarineLaboratories for my Master’s work. My undergraduate capstone project was the redescription of the Bigeye Chimaera, Hydrolagus macrophthalmus. I also worked with Dr. James Lindholm analyzing deep water ecosystems as an undergraduate.

I will be conducting my Master’s Thesis on studying the trophic ecology of a deepwater community of elasmobranchs. This study will be done by analyzing the diet of the Brown Catshark, Apristurus brunneus, and the Filetail Catshark, Parmaturus xaniurus. Samples were collected from the Monterey Bay Area by NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service). These diets will be analyzed through two traditional methods: Stomach Content Analysis and Stable Isotope Analysis. I am interested in quantifying the diet of these organisms to influence fishery management practices on the Central Coast of California.