Matt Carter
@mattidcarter.bsky.social
Marine biologist @seamammalresearch.bsky.social working on seal ecology. Interested in marine predators, juvenile behaviour, biologging, spatial stuff 🤙🏼🦭 he/him
Pinned
Our recent paper on grey and harbour seal transboundary distribution made the cover of @jappliedecology.bsky.social! 😀🦭Thanks to Dr Kelly Robinson of @seamammalresearch.bsky.social for the photo!
Check the paper here: doi.org/10.1111/1365...
Check the paper here: doi.org/10.1111/1365...
Reposted by Matt Carter
Another new paper led by SMRU's @izzylangley.bsky.social: First observations of grey seal cannibalism at Sable Island, inc. a comparison of carcass pathology to cases in Scotland. Collab between SMRU, DFO and @dalhousie.bsky.social with support from @oceanfrontier.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1111/mms....
doi.org/10.1111/mms....
Gray Seal Cannibalism at the Largest Colony in the World, Sable Island
Click on the article title to read more.
doi.org
February 6, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Another new paper led by SMRU's @izzylangley.bsky.social: First observations of grey seal cannibalism at Sable Island, inc. a comparison of carcass pathology to cases in Scotland. Collab between SMRU, DFO and @dalhousie.bsky.social with support from @oceanfrontier.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1111/mms....
doi.org/10.1111/mms....
Reposted by Matt Carter
🦭 We have a new paper out! We developed an accessible framework for assessing the risk of collision between seals and operating tidal turbines.
⏭️ We found that most seal tracks moved near the turbine without collision.
Read it here: doi.org/10.1002/aqc....
@seamammalresearch.bsky.social
⏭️ We found that most seal tracks moved near the turbine without collision.
Read it here: doi.org/10.1002/aqc....
@seamammalresearch.bsky.social
February 5, 2026 at 8:24 AM
🦭 We have a new paper out! We developed an accessible framework for assessing the risk of collision between seals and operating tidal turbines.
⏭️ We found that most seal tracks moved near the turbine without collision.
Read it here: doi.org/10.1002/aqc....
@seamammalresearch.bsky.social
⏭️ We found that most seal tracks moved near the turbine without collision.
Read it here: doi.org/10.1002/aqc....
@seamammalresearch.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Carter
New publication led by SMRU's @izzylangley.bsky.social on competition between grey & harbour seals in Scotland using 20+ yrs of diet data. Many thanks to all who collected samples, and collaborators from the Lighthouse Field Station and Institute of Marine Research
#OA Paper: doi.org/10.1002/oik....
#OA Paper: doi.org/10.1002/oik....
Temporal changes in the dietary niche of sympatric seals provides insight into the role of competition in population declines
Competition theory suggests that interspecific prey competition can result in changes to the dietary niche, but obtaining timeseries of data from sympatric species experiencing temporal variation in ...
doi.org
February 5, 2026 at 12:09 PM
New publication led by SMRU's @izzylangley.bsky.social on competition between grey & harbour seals in Scotland using 20+ yrs of diet data. Many thanks to all who collected samples, and collaborators from the Lighthouse Field Station and Institute of Marine Research
#OA Paper: doi.org/10.1002/oik....
#OA Paper: doi.org/10.1002/oik....
Our recent paper on grey and harbour seal transboundary distribution made the cover of @jappliedecology.bsky.social! 😀🦭Thanks to Dr Kelly Robinson of @seamammalresearch.bsky.social for the photo!
Check the paper here: doi.org/10.1111/1365...
Check the paper here: doi.org/10.1111/1365...
February 4, 2026 at 8:47 AM
Our recent paper on grey and harbour seal transboundary distribution made the cover of @jappliedecology.bsky.social! 😀🦭Thanks to Dr Kelly Robinson of @seamammalresearch.bsky.social for the photo!
Check the paper here: doi.org/10.1111/1365...
Check the paper here: doi.org/10.1111/1365...
Reposted by Matt Carter
New paper on SEA TURTLE phenology 🐢 in the Cayman Islands.
Collaborative effort between @exeter.ac.uk and Cayman Islands DoE.
Full paper here - journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
IG reel - www.instagram.com/p/DTz3wiUDKyA/
@brendangodley.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social
🦑🌐🌍🐢🧪 #AcademicSky
Collaborative effort between @exeter.ac.uk and Cayman Islands DoE.
Full paper here - journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
IG reel - www.instagram.com/p/DTz3wiUDKyA/
@brendangodley.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social
🦑🌐🌍🐢🧪 #AcademicSky
Phenology of nesting marine turtles in the Cayman Islands
Climate-driven shifts in the phenology of species are altering ecosystems worldwide and have been documented in many species, including marine turtles. We present a 26 year analysis of population tren...
journals.plos.org
January 22, 2026 at 11:21 AM
New paper on SEA TURTLE phenology 🐢 in the Cayman Islands.
Collaborative effort between @exeter.ac.uk and Cayman Islands DoE.
Full paper here - journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
IG reel - www.instagram.com/p/DTz3wiUDKyA/
@brendangodley.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social
🦑🌐🌍🐢🧪 #AcademicSky
Collaborative effort between @exeter.ac.uk and Cayman Islands DoE.
Full paper here - journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
IG reel - www.instagram.com/p/DTz3wiUDKyA/
@brendangodley.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social
🦑🌐🌍🐢🧪 #AcademicSky
Reposted by Matt Carter
This study provides the first comprehensive, regionally scalable distribution estimates for Seals across the Northwest European Shelf and its constituent countries 🦭 🌍 🌊
🔎 Find out more: besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
🔎 Find out more: besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
January 15, 2026 at 5:15 PM
This study provides the first comprehensive, regionally scalable distribution estimates for Seals across the Northwest European Shelf and its constituent countries 🦭 🌍 🌊
🔎 Find out more: besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
🔎 Find out more: besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Matt Carter
Great to see the use of SMRU Instrumentation tags on grey and harbour seals published in this recent paper by SMRU researchers @mattidcarter.bsky.social and @djfrussell.bsky.social 🦭🛰️
New #OA paper in Landscape Ecology led by SMRU researchers @mattidcarter.bsky.social and @djfrussell.bsky.social reveals scale-dependent foraging behaviour and habitat associations of grey and harbour seals across the North Sea 🦭🧭 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Scale-dependent foraging behaviour and habitat associations of two sympatric marine top predators - Landscape Ecology
Context Theoretical research has considered how animals should optimise foraging strategies to maximise fitness, adapting search scale to exploit different habitats and minimise competition. Empirical...
link.springer.com
January 13, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Great to see the use of SMRU Instrumentation tags on grey and harbour seals published in this recent paper by SMRU researchers @mattidcarter.bsky.social and @djfrussell.bsky.social 🦭🛰️
Reposted by Matt Carter
My first research paper, "Can Hematological Biomarkers Indicate Diagnoses and Prognosis in Stranded Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina)?", has been published! Read it here: doi.org/10.1111/mms....
#publishedarticle #marinebiology #marinemammals #research @seamammalresearch.bsky.social
#publishedarticle #marinebiology #marinemammals #research @seamammalresearch.bsky.social
doi.org
January 2, 2026 at 9:57 AM
My first research paper, "Can Hematological Biomarkers Indicate Diagnoses and Prognosis in Stranded Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina)?", has been published! Read it here: doi.org/10.1111/mms....
#publishedarticle #marinebiology #marinemammals #research @seamammalresearch.bsky.social
#publishedarticle #marinebiology #marinemammals #research @seamammalresearch.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Carter
New #OA paper in Landscape Ecology led by SMRU researchers @mattidcarter.bsky.social and @djfrussell.bsky.social reveals scale-dependent foraging behaviour and habitat associations of grey and harbour seals across the North Sea 🦭🧭 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Scale-dependent foraging behaviour and habitat associations of two sympatric marine top predators - Landscape Ecology
Context Theoretical research has considered how animals should optimise foraging strategies to maximise fitness, adapting search scale to exploit different habitats and minimise competition. Empirical...
link.springer.com
December 29, 2025 at 7:49 PM
New #OA paper in Landscape Ecology led by SMRU researchers @mattidcarter.bsky.social and @djfrussell.bsky.social reveals scale-dependent foraging behaviour and habitat associations of grey and harbour seals across the North Sea 🦭🧭 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Great talk by @izzylangley.bsky.social of @seamammalresearch.bsky.social at #BES2025 on intraguild predation and UK seal population trends. Check the paper here: doi.org/10.1111/1365...
December 18, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Great talk by @izzylangley.bsky.social of @seamammalresearch.bsky.social at #BES2025 on intraguild predation and UK seal population trends. Check the paper here: doi.org/10.1111/1365...
Reposted by Matt Carter
Another great SMRU poster at #BES2025 by Dr Faye Moyes. Check out the paper ok UK marine mammal bycatch here: academic.oup.com/icesjms/arti...
December 17, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Another great SMRU poster at #BES2025 by Dr Faye Moyes. Check out the paper ok UK marine mammal bycatch here: academic.oup.com/icesjms/arti...
Reposted by Matt Carter
Thanks @mattidcarter.bsky.social for the fantastic effort in bringing together data from all over the North Sea. This will bring the distribution and habitat use of harbour and grey seals to a whole new level!🦭
+ our Jonas Teilmann, Anders Galatius, Rune Dietz & Jacob Nabe-Nielson contributed 🧪🌐🌱🌊
+ our Jonas Teilmann, Anders Galatius, Rune Dietz & Jacob Nabe-Nielson contributed 🧪🌐🌱🌊
New @jappliedecology.bsky.social paper: SMRU researchers @mattidcarter.bsky.social & @djfrussell.bsky.social led a large collaborative team to map the distribution of grey and harbour seals at sea across the Northwest European Shelf 🦭 besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
At‐sea distribution of seals on the Northwest European Shelf: Towards transboundary conservation and management
This study provides the first comprehensive, regionally scalable distribution estimates for pinnipeds across the NWES and its constituent countries. The modelling framework is adaptable to other cent....
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Thanks @mattidcarter.bsky.social for the fantastic effort in bringing together data from all over the North Sea. This will bring the distribution and habitat use of harbour and grey seals to a whole new level!🦭
+ our Jonas Teilmann, Anders Galatius, Rune Dietz & Jacob Nabe-Nielson contributed 🧪🌐🌱🌊
+ our Jonas Teilmann, Anders Galatius, Rune Dietz & Jacob Nabe-Nielson contributed 🧪🌐🌱🌊
Reposted by Matt Carter
If you are attending the @britishecologicalsociety.org conference #BES2025 in Edinburgh, look out for exciting seal research from SMRU folk @izzylangley.bsky.social @mattidcarter.bsky.social @eva-mariab.bsky.social and Mia Goldman
December 16, 2025 at 10:11 AM
If you are attending the @britishecologicalsociety.org conference #BES2025 in Edinburgh, look out for exciting seal research from SMRU folk @izzylangley.bsky.social @mattidcarter.bsky.social @eva-mariab.bsky.social and Mia Goldman
Reposted by Matt Carter
New @jappliedecology.bsky.social paper: SMRU researchers @mattidcarter.bsky.social & @djfrussell.bsky.social led a large collaborative team to map the distribution of grey and harbour seals at sea across the Northwest European Shelf 🦭 besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
At‐sea distribution of seals on the Northwest European Shelf: Towards transboundary conservation and management
This study provides the first comprehensive, regionally scalable distribution estimates for pinnipeds across the NWES and its constituent countries. The modelling framework is adaptable to other cent....
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:02 AM
New @jappliedecology.bsky.social paper: SMRU researchers @mattidcarter.bsky.social & @djfrussell.bsky.social led a large collaborative team to map the distribution of grey and harbour seals at sea across the Northwest European Shelf 🦭 besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Matt Carter
My first PhD paper is now out! We calculate overlap intensity between African penguins and the local purse seine fishery 🐧🐟
Check it out in @jappliedecology.bsky.social
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Check it out in @jappliedecology.bsky.social
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Spatial overlap alone downplays the level of interaction between a central place forager and the local fishery
While spatial overlap is commonly used to quantify interactions, it may underestimate the true degree of competition between foraging predators and fishing vessels. Our alternative population-level m...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:46 AM
My first PhD paper is now out! We calculate overlap intensity between African penguins and the local purse seine fishery 🐧🐟
Check it out in @jappliedecology.bsky.social
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Check it out in @jappliedecology.bsky.social
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Matt Carter
Bird Flu Ravaged the World’s Largest Elephant Seal Population, Study Finds www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/s...
Bird Flu Ravaged the World’s Largest Elephant Seal Population, Study Finds
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Bird Flu Ravaged the World’s Largest Elephant Seal Population, Study Finds www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/s...
Reposted by Matt Carter
NEW PAPER: Survival and recovery of three shark species in North-East Atlantic recreational fisheries.
academic.oup.com/icesjms/arti...
@garzonfrancesco.bsky.social @drmjwitt.bsky.social
🦑🐟🧪🌐🌊🎣
academic.oup.com/icesjms/arti...
@garzonfrancesco.bsky.social @drmjwitt.bsky.social
🦑🐟🧪🌐🌊🎣
Survival and recovery of three shark species in North-East Atlantic recreational fisheries
Abstract. Understanding how sharks respond to catch and release (C&R) recreational fisheries is an important requirement for effective management. Post
academic.oup.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:58 PM
NEW PAPER: Survival and recovery of three shark species in North-East Atlantic recreational fisheries.
academic.oup.com/icesjms/arti...
@garzonfrancesco.bsky.social @drmjwitt.bsky.social
🦑🐟🧪🌐🌊🎣
academic.oup.com/icesjms/arti...
@garzonfrancesco.bsky.social @drmjwitt.bsky.social
🦑🐟🧪🌐🌊🎣
Reposted by Matt Carter
New study, collab with @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social: reduced adult survival for harbour seals in areas of pop. decline in Scotland. tinyurl.com/ys4hc3jw Mark-recapture models applied to photo-ID data from 3 sites with contrasting pop. trajectories to generate concurrent survival and fecundity rates.
October 29, 2025 at 2:57 PM
New study, collab with @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social: reduced adult survival for harbour seals in areas of pop. decline in Scotland. tinyurl.com/ys4hc3jw Mark-recapture models applied to photo-ID data from 3 sites with contrasting pop. trajectories to generate concurrent survival and fecundity rates.
Reposted by Matt Carter
Great Masters by Research opportunity working with Prof @darrencroft.bsky.social and collaborative team on killer whales!
More info in Darren's original post. ⬇️
🦑🌍🐬🧪🦤🌐
#AcademicSky
More info in Darren's original post. ⬇️
🦑🌍🐬🧪🦤🌐
#AcademicSky
MSc by Res opportunity - developing behavioural indicators to inform killer whale conservation with
@exeter.ac.uk @whaleresearch.bsky.social @seadocsociety.bsky.social
People from underrepresented groups in marine science encouraged to apply.
Deadline 19Dec
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
@exeter.ac.uk @whaleresearch.bsky.social @seadocsociety.bsky.social
People from underrepresented groups in marine science encouraged to apply.
Deadline 19Dec
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
October 23, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Great Masters by Research opportunity working with Prof @darrencroft.bsky.social and collaborative team on killer whales!
More info in Darren's original post. ⬇️
🦑🌍🐬🧪🦤🌐
#AcademicSky
More info in Darren's original post. ⬇️
🦑🌍🐬🧪🦤🌐
#AcademicSky
Reposted by Matt Carter
Our new publication with @strandings.bsky.social & #SMRUsealpred contributors. A first attempt at quantifying grey seal predation of marine mammals and the potential impact on declining harbour seal populatons. Check it out! doi.org/10.1111/1365...
October 13, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Our new publication with @strandings.bsky.social & #SMRUsealpred contributors. A first attempt at quantifying grey seal predation of marine mammals and the potential impact on declining harbour seal populatons. Check it out! doi.org/10.1111/1365...
Reposted by Matt Carter
New study led by SMRU's @izzylangley.bsky.social in collaboration with @strandings.bsky.social: evidence for grey seal predation of grey seals, harbour seals and harbour porpoises across Scotland, at levels that could prevent recovery of depleted populations. tinyurl.com/4r3wka6a
Intraguild predation in sympatric seals and the effect on a declining population
This study examined the prevalence, spatial extent, and temporal trends of grey seal intraguild predation (IGP). We demonstrated the utility of integrating disparate datasets to address conservation ....
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 13, 2025 at 10:25 AM
New study led by SMRU's @izzylangley.bsky.social in collaboration with @strandings.bsky.social: evidence for grey seal predation of grey seals, harbour seals and harbour porpoises across Scotland, at levels that could prevent recovery of depleted populations. tinyurl.com/4r3wka6a
Reposted by Matt Carter
What can strandings of cetaceans tell us about the impact of marine pollution? 🐬
This @zslofficial.bsky.social and CSIP event, brings together experts (including our @sarahenelms.bsky.social) to explore major forms of marine pollution in our waters.
Free, online/in-person - lnkd.in/eEUiEbdH
🦑🐬🌊🌍🧪🌐
This @zslofficial.bsky.social and CSIP event, brings together experts (including our @sarahenelms.bsky.social) to explore major forms of marine pollution in our waters.
Free, online/in-person - lnkd.in/eEUiEbdH
🦑🐬🌊🌍🧪🌐
October 1, 2025 at 10:55 AM
What can strandings of cetaceans tell us about the impact of marine pollution? 🐬
This @zslofficial.bsky.social and CSIP event, brings together experts (including our @sarahenelms.bsky.social) to explore major forms of marine pollution in our waters.
Free, online/in-person - lnkd.in/eEUiEbdH
🦑🐬🌊🌍🧪🌐
This @zslofficial.bsky.social and CSIP event, brings together experts (including our @sarahenelms.bsky.social) to explore major forms of marine pollution in our waters.
Free, online/in-person - lnkd.in/eEUiEbdH
🦑🐬🌊🌍🧪🌐
Reposted by Matt Carter
NEW RESEARCH
Application of spatially robust stereo-BRUV sampling for quantifying fish assemblages in UK marine protected areas
Watch the video to learn more, and find the paper here - esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@owenexeter.bsky.social @kristianmetcalfe.bsky.social
🦑🧪🌍🐟
Application of spatially robust stereo-BRUV sampling for quantifying fish assemblages in UK marine protected areas
Watch the video to learn more, and find the paper here - esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@owenexeter.bsky.social @kristianmetcalfe.bsky.social
🦑🧪🌍🐟
September 12, 2025 at 2:16 PM
NEW RESEARCH
Application of spatially robust stereo-BRUV sampling for quantifying fish assemblages in UK marine protected areas
Watch the video to learn more, and find the paper here - esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@owenexeter.bsky.social @kristianmetcalfe.bsky.social
🦑🧪🌍🐟
Application of spatially robust stereo-BRUV sampling for quantifying fish assemblages in UK marine protected areas
Watch the video to learn more, and find the paper here - esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@owenexeter.bsky.social @kristianmetcalfe.bsky.social
🦑🧪🌍🐟