Matt Barrett

Matt Barrett is a Research Fellow at James Cook University, affiliated with the Australian Tropical Herbarium in Cairns, Queensland. His work merges botany and mycology, focusing on taxonomy, systematics, genomics, ecology, and biosecurity of Australian flora and fungi.

His research includes resolving species limits in Triodia hummock grasses using genotyping-by-sequencing, developing the SpiKey app for species identification, and exploring genetic partitioning in landscapes to improve seed collection and rehabilitation practices. He also investigates myrtle rust impacts on Tristaniopsis exiliflora in the Wet Tropics, emphasizing canopy stability and stream margin conservation.

Currently, Barrett leads a project funded by the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) to revise brown-rot bracket fungi in Australia, leveraging genomic data to clarify phylogenetic relationships. His collaborations span institutions and disciplines, addressing challenges in plant conservation, fungal systematics, and ecological restoration.

Notable projects include:

• Expanding SpiKey to a national Triodia identification tool
• Studying genetic diversity in Banded Iron Formation range flora
• Documenting neglected Australian wood-rotting fungi
• Linking germination profiles of threatened plants with rainfall patterns

Contact: matt.barrett@jcu.edu.au