Matt Hutchinson

Matthew Hutchinson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Life & Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Merced, affiliated with the School of Natural Sciences. He leads the Hutchinson Lab, which focuses on understanding foraging decisions of animals and their broader ecological consequences. His work integrates behavioral ecology, community ecology, and ecosystem dynamics, with research sites in African savannas and Californian grasslands.

Research interests include:

• Behavioral mechanisms underlying dietary choices
• Effects of herbivory on plant communities
• Ecosystem engineering by large herbivores
• Climate change impacts on species interactions

Recent studies highlight how herbivore foraging shapes plant-pollinator networks, suppresses liana infestation, and mediates community resilience to extreme events like cyclones. His work bridges theoretical and applied ecology, with implications for conservation and rewilding strategies.

Advising includes graduate students Luca Kuziel and Sean Lyon, and undergraduates Geneva Easton and Selina Nguyen. Research grants likely support fieldwork in Africa and California, though specific funding details are not provided here.

The lab collaborates on large-scale projects such as the HERD Lab, exploring trophic interactions and biodiversity dynamics. Future work may expand into parasitism patterns in herbivore communities and long-term climate adaptation strategies.