Matthew Barnes, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Email: matthew.a.barnes@ttu.edu
Phone: (806) 834-2122
Office Location
Agricultural Sciences 102-A
Education
Ph.D. | University of Notre Dame | 2013
B.A. Biology | Southwestern University | 2006
Areas of Expertise
Aquatic Ecology
Conservation
Environmental DNA
Invasion Science
Professional Summary
As a child, Dr. Barnes enjoyed flipping over rocks to catch bugs in the creeks of
his hometown in Plano, Texas. He later discovered a more scholarly approach to aquatic
ecology and studying human interactions with their environment as an undergraduate
at Southwestern University, earning a B.A. in biology with a minor in sociology. Barnes
earned his PhD from The University of Notre Dame, then he returned to Texas in 2014
to begin a position within The Department of Natural Resources Management at Texas
Tech University. Now an Associate Professor at Texas Tech, Barnes’ research program
focuses on the ecology of environmental DNA (eDNA) and eDNA applications to improve
fundamental ecological understanding about the distribution and dispersal of species,
primarily in freshwater ecosystems.
Dr. Barnes is a member of the Teaching Academy and enjoys sharing his research with
students in the classroom, and his recently taught courses include Introduction to
Freshwater Ecology, Quantitative Methods in Natural Resources Management, and Natural
Resources Policy for both undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. Barnes is a TrUE
Faculty Fellow and welcomes enthusiastic undergraduate and graduate student to contact
him about research opportunities.
Publications
Rosas EG, Bashara C, Christie D, Barnes MA, Burks RL. 2025. Winning the shell game:
environmental DNA (eDNA) confirms local control of the invasive apple snail, Pomacea
maculata. Mangagement of Biological Invasions 16: 397-410.
Orton G, Barnes MA, Syed SB, Reid JW, Smith AC. 2025. Challenges for activating undergraduate
research: a summary from the 2021 American Society for Microbiology Conference for
Undergraduate Educators. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education 26: e00099-24.
Yilmaz EC and Barnes MA. 2025. Comparative study of rates of environmental DNA (eDNA)
accumulation and degradation in water and sediment from model plant (Egeria densa)
and animal (Daphnia magna) species. Science of the Total Environment 971: 179057.
Merson Z, Jahn E, Barnes MA, Spurgeon E, Rex P, Elstner J, Chacon Y, Anderson J, Jones
W, and Lowe C. 2025. eDNA metabarcoding detection of nearshore juvenile white sharks
(Carcharodon carcharias) and prey fish communities. Journal of Experimental Marine
Biology and Ecology 583: 152084.
Burks RL, Reynolds C, Rosas E, Bashara C, Dolapchiev L, Jerde CL, and Barnes MA. 2024.
Snail slime in real time: challenges in predicting the relationship between environmental
DNA and apple snail biomass. Management of Biological Invasions 15: 415-435.
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.
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.
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.
Roth S, Griffis-Kyle K, and Barnes MA. 2024. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in the
arid and thermally extreme Sonoran Desert. EcoHealth 20: 370-380.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Department of Natural Resources Management
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Address
Goddard Building, Texas Tech University, Box 42125, Lubbock TX 79409 -
Phone
806.742.2841 -
Email
nrm@ttu.edu