Matthew Barnes, Ph.D.

Research Interests

My research and teaching interests are rooted in community ecology, predicting and explaining species distributions and dispersal in aquatic systems. I am particularly interested in forecasting biological invasions, the movement of species beyond their historic native ranges, and conducting research that advances methodologies for the study and management of invasive species and the communities they impact. I enjoy utilizing a broad set of tools to address many different types of ecological questions, so my research experiences have included predicting species occurrence with species distribution models and geographic information systems (GIS), detecting rare species through environmental DNA (eDNA) surveillance, and investigating species impacts through field observations and laboratory experiments.

Courses Taught

1. NRM 2305 Introduction to Freshwater Ecology and Fisheries
2. NRM 3308 Quantitative Methods in Natural Resources Management
3. NRM 4320 Natural Resources Policy & NRM 5320 Natural Resource Biopolitics

Recent Publications

• Burks RL, Reynolds C, Rosas E, Bashara C, Dolapchiev L, Jerde CL, and Barnes MA. In press. Snail slime in real time: challenges in predicting the relationship between environmental DNA and apple snail biomass. Management of Biological Invasions.
• Johnson M and Barnes MA. 2024. Macrobial airborne environmental DNA analysis: a review of progress, challenges, and recommendations for an emerging application. Molecular Ecology Resources 24: e13998. [LINK]
• Whitehead AP, Matheus KA, Bunker P, DeShon DL, Steinkraus B, Hall N, and Barnes MA. 2024. Advancing early detection technologies for Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771): comparing mussel detection in environmental samples with environmental DNA (eDNA) and scent detection canines. Management of Biological Invasions 15: 219-238. [LINK] 
• Delaune KD, Pease AA, Patiño R, Brown CL, and Barnes MA. 2024. Gulf Killifish (Fundulus grandis) in the Pecos River: unique ecological traits in a nonnative, inland population. Southwestern Naturalist 68: 1-12. [LINK]
• Roth S, Griffis-Kyle K, and Barnes MA. 2024. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in the arid and thermally extreme Sonoran Desert. EcoHealth 20: 370-380. [LINK]
• Willbanks P, Hays HC, Kabat KL, and Barnes MA. 2023. Preliminary analysis suggests freshwater invertebrate environmental DNA is more concentrated in surface water than in benthic sediments. The Texas Journal of Science 75: Article 5. [LINK]
• DeVleeschower A, Deines AM, Goldberg J, Pasko SR, and Barnes MA. 2023. Developing a recipe for success: commentary on Seaman et al. (2021) "Eating invasives: chefs as an avenue to control through consumption." Food, Culture & Society. [LINK]
• Hays HC, Pease AA, Fleming P, and Barnes MA. 2023. Distribution and habitat use of a rare native crayfish: implications for conserving Data Deficient species. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 33: 751-760. [LINK]
• Johnson MD, Barnes MA, Garrett NR, and Clare EL. 2023. Answers blowing in the wind: detection of birds, mammals, and amphibians with airborne environmental DNA in a natural environment over a yearlong survey. Environmental DNA 5: 375-387. [LINK]