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Dr Matt Barrett

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Dr Matt Barrett
Position:
Conservation Geneticist
Phone:
(+61 8) 9480 3631
Fax:
(+61 8) 9480 3641
Email:
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Research themes:

  • Conservation Genetics
  • Phylogenetic systematics
  • Plant and fungal taxonomy
  • Conservation of rare species.

Academic background:

I completed my PhD (awarded May 2006) through the University of Western Australia entitled: 'Molecular ecology of Chamelaucium uncinatum (Myrtaceae) and related species, and applications to plant breeding and conservation'.

My undergraduate courses included a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) completed in 1995, and a Bachelor of Engineering (Materials) completed in 1997.

Major funded projects:

  • (2009 - ): Molecular systematics of the genus Lepidosperma (Cyperaceae) (in collaboration with Dr Jeremy Bruhl, University of New England and Dr Karen Wilson, Sydney Botanic Garden, and Russell Barrett, BGPA).
  • (2006-2010): An integrated research program into practical outcomes for the ex situ and in situ conservation, restoration and translocation of Darwinia masonii and Lepidosperma sp. ‘Mt Gibson’.
  • (2004 - 2005): An integrated research program into practical outcomes for the ex situ and in situ conservation, restoration and translocation of Darwinia masonii.
  • (2002 – 2005): Interspecific hybridisation of waxflower (Chamelaucium uncinatum) in Bold Park, an urban bushland in Perth, Western Australia.
  • (1998 – 2001): Control of Buffel Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) on Airlie Island, Western Australia.

Major unfunded projects:

  • (2009-2010) Review of Kimberley rare and priority flora - in collaboration with Russell Barrett and WA Herbarium.
  • (1998 - ) Taxonomy of Kimberley Plants and Fungi (with various collaborators)
  • (2005 - ): Molecular systematics of Chamelaucium, Verticordia, Darwinia and related genera (Myrtaceae: Chamelaucieae) (in collaboration with Dr Peter Wilson, Sydney Botanic Garden).

Publications:

Refereed publications:

  • Phillips, RD, Barrett, MD, Dixon, KW & Hopper SD. 2010. Do mycorrhizal symbioses cause rarity in orchids? An experimental test with two communities of hammer orchid (Drakaea spp.). Journal of Ecology (in press)
  • Barrett RL & Barrett MD 2010. Two new species of Triodia (Poaceae: Triodieae) from the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Telopea (in press)
  • George AS & Barrett MD. 2010. Two new taxa of Verticordia (Myrtaceae: Chamelaucieae) from south-western Australia. Nuytsia 20: 309-318.
  • Cusimano N, Barrett, MD, Hetterscheid WLA & Renner SS. 2010. A phylogeny of the Areae (Araceae) implies that Typhonium, Sauromatum, and the Australian species of Typhonium are distinct clades. Taxon 59(2): 439-447.
  • Sinclair EA, Anthony J, Coupland GT, Waycott M, Barrett MD, Barrett RL, Cambridge ML, Wallace, MJ, Dixon KW, Krauss SL & Kendrick GA. 2009. Characterisation of polymorphic microsatellite markers in the widespread Australian seagrass, Posidonia australis Hook. f. (Posidoniaceae), with cross-amplification in the sympatric P. sinuosa. Conservation Genetic Resources 1: 273-276.
  • Barrett MD, Craven LA & Barrett RL. 2009. Calytrix gomphrenoides (Myrtaceae), a new species from the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. Nuytsia 19(1): 1–8.
  • Barrett MD, Barrett RL, Shivas RG, McTaggart AR. 2009. Tilletia micrairae. Fungal Planet 33. Persoonia 22, 170–171.
  • Petersen RH & Barrett MD. 2008. Xerula flavo-olivacea var. kimberleyana R.H.Petersen and M.D.Barrett. In: Petersen, R.H. 2008. The genus Xerula (Agaricales; Fungi) in Australia and New Zealand. - Nova Hedwigia 87: 1-67.
  • Barrett, R.L., Barrett, M.D. & Dixon, K.W. 2005. Ecology and conservation status of Orchidaceae from the Kimberley region, tropical Western Australia. Selbyana (submitted)
  • Barrett, M.D. & Craven, L.A. 2005. Calytrix gomphrenoides (Myrtaceae), a new species from the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. Nuytsia (submitted).
  • Descriptions of Micraira brevis M.D. Barrett & R.L. Barrett and M. sp. A In: M. Lazarides, 2005. Micraira, Flora of Australia Vol. 44B, Poaceae 3.
  • Dixon, I.R., Dixon, K.D. & Barrett, M.D. 2002. Eradication of Buffel Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) on Airlie Island, off the Pilbara coast, Western Australia. In: C.R. Veitch & M.N. Clout (Eds), Turning the Tide: The eradication of invasive species. Proceedings of the International Conference on Eradication of Island Invasives, Auckland, NZ, February 2001.
  • Krauss SL, Dixon K, Hood P, Barrett M. 2001. Practical outcomes in conservation genetics of Australian plants. In: 'Promotion, Practise and Partnerships'. Proceedings of the Fourth National Conference of the Australian Network for Plant Conservation. ANPC, Canberra
  • Description of Goodenia psammophila Sage & M.D. Barrett In: Sage, L. 2001. Three new species of Goodenia from the Kimberley. Nuytsia 13(3): 351-357.
  • Descriptions of Grevillea microstyla M.D. Barrett & Makinson and G. maherae Makinson & M.D. Barrett In: R.O. Makinson, 2000. Grevillea, Flora of Australia Vol. 17A, Proteaceae 2, Grevillea. Melbourne: ABRS/CSIRO Australia.
  • Hay, A., Barrett, M.D. & Barrett, R.L. 1999. A new Species of Typhonium from the Kimberley Region. Nuytsia 13(1): 243-245.

Unrefereed publications and reports:

  • Barrett, M.D. 2005. Research benchmarks for conservation of Darwinia masonii at Mt Gibson: Stage 1 Report. Report to Mt Gibson Mining Ltd.
  • Barrett, R.L., Barrett, M.D., Start, A.N. and Dixon, K.W. 2001. Flora survey of the Yampi Sound Defence Training Area, Derby, Western Australia. Report to the Australian Heritage Commission.
  • Barrett, M.D. 2000. AFLP fingerprinting for Chamelaucium and Verticordia cultivar discrimination and parental identification. Report to Western Australian Dept. of Agriculture.
Bossiaea barrettiorum Kimberley region
Bossiaea barrettiorum J.H. Ross, a rare newly described species of pea from the Kimberley Region, named after my brother Russell and I who discovered the species, and (right) the mesa on which it grows.