Matthew Kenworthy
As a lifelong resident of coastal communities in North Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia, I have been exposed to many of the conservation and management challenges associated with regulating marine resources. My interest in these topics led me to pursue an education in the field of marine science. I obtained my undergraduate degree in biological oceanography at North Carolina State University and a master’s degree in marine science from the University of South Alabama. In 2019 I received my doctoral degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH). I am currently a postdoctoral fellow with the NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center located at Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia.
My research interests focus on the behavioral ecology of fish and crustaceans in coastal estuaries. My Ph.D. research in North Carolina focused on identifying linkages between the abundance and characteristics of coastal estuarine habitats and fish populations that rely on these habitats. This research has focused on both natural and restored habitats along the North Carolina Coast and specifically within the Rachel Carson National Estuarine Research Reserve. I utilized acoustic telemetry to monitor spatial and temporal patterns of fish behavior to better understand their dependence on a variety of estuarine habitats. Resources for protecting and restoring coastal estuarine habitats are limited and the research I conduct aims to further our knowledge of the value of individual habitats and their essential role in contributing to healthy fish populations.