Research interests
My research focuses on the importance of river flow regimes for aquatic biota and spans across freshwater, estuarine and marine ecosystems. This work began by describing the influence of high (i.e. flooding) and low flows (induced by drought) on the population dynamics of estuarine, benthic invertebrates. This then expanded into freshwater ecosystems, and has involved testing the influence of varying flow regimes on benthic algae, macroinvertebrates and fish. These tests have involved comparisons of plant and animal assemblages in unregulated and regulated streams, together with perennial and intermittent streams. I have supervised PhD research that assessed the importance of estuarine outflow on the productivity of near-shore coastal environments. Another major theme of my research includes assessing the importance of drought refuges for the persistence of biota in aquatic ecosystems. These projects test important ecological theory and are also strongly applied, so this research is providing new ecological knowledge and guiding environmental management.
Teaching interests
My teaching focuses on the ecology or marine, estuarine and freshwater ecosystems. I teach across all three levels of the Bachelor of Environmental Science (Marine Biology) and Bachelor of Fisheries and Aquaculture degrees at Warrnambool. I have supervised 23 Honours students working in a range of aquatic ecosystems, including lakes, rivers, estuaries and the open coast.
Units taught
1st Year
SLE103 Ecology and the Environment
SLE144 Aquatic Life
2nd Year
SLE255 Marine Biology
SLE244 Aquatic Ecology
SLE263 Marine and Coastal Ecosystems
3rd Year
SLE334 Temperate Marine Ecology
SLE314 Environmental Research Project
Honours coordinator on the Warrnambool campus (2013 - current)
Conferences
Recent Conference/Workshop Contributions
Halliday, BT, Lester, RE and Matthews, TG (2013). Water resource infrastructure and its potential as an anthropogenic refuge. Australian Society for Limnology, 52nd Annual Congress, Canberra, ACT.
Dodemaide, DT, Matthews, TG and Lester, RE (2013). Anthropogenic water storages as refuge for macroinvertebrates in South-West Victoria. Australian Society for Limnology, 52nd Annual Congress, Canberra, ACT.
Matthews, TG, Howson, T and Lautenschlager, A (2013). Assessment of riparian restoration efforts in the Gellibrand River Catchment. Victorian Waterways Conference, Lorne, Vic.
Matthews, TG, Lester RE and Cummings, C (2012). Evaluating the utility of cold-water releases (“shandying”) for enhancing the resilience of riverine species. Final Presentation to End Users. Murdoch University, Perth, WA.
Matthews, TG, Lester RE and Cummings, C (2011). Evaluating the utility of cold-water releases (“shandying”) for enhancing the resilience of riverine species. End Users Workshop. Murdoch University, Perth, WA.
Publications
Anti-predatory responses of two native gastropods to an invasive predator
M Ellis, C Sherman, T Matthews
(2023), Vol. 564, pp. 1-12, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
James Malcher, Kay Critchell, Ty Matthews, Rebecca Lester
(2023), Vol. 897, pp. 165342-165342, Science of The Total Environment, Netherlands, C1
H Coleman, T Matthews, C Sherman, O Holland, Z Clark, L Farrington, G Prentice, A Miller
(2023), Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, C1
Detecting marine pests using environmental DNA and biophysical models
M Ellis, Z Clark, E Treml, M Brown, T Matthews, J Pocklington, R Stafford-Bell, N Bott, Y Nai, A Miller, C Sherman
(2022), Vol. 816, pp. 1-11, Science of the Total Environment, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Characteristics and consequences of a disease outbreak in aquatic insects
G Holt, G Dwyer, C Bourke, T Matthews, A Macqueen, R Lester
(2021), Vol. 66, pp. 1267-1281, Freshwater Biology, C1
Dumpster diving for diatom plastid 16S rRNA genes
K Bonfantine, S Trevathan-Tackett, T Matthews, A Neckovic, H Gan
(2021), Vol. 9, PeerJ, United States, C1
Z Liu, P Tai, X Li, L Kong, T Matthews, R Lester, J Mondon
(2021), Vol. 40, pp. 2899-2911, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, United States, C1
O Holland, M Young, C Sherman, M Tan, H Gorfine, T Matthews, A Miller
(2021), Vol. 27, pp. 6498-6511, Global Change Biology, C1
E Cumming, T Matthews, J Sanderson, B Ingram, A Bellgrove
(2020), Vol. 523, Aquaculture, C1
Stewards of Swan Bay: Curriculum diversity in place-based environmental science education
Julianne Lynch, Nicole Sadler, Prudence Francis, Ty Matthews, Julie Mondon, Alecia Bellgrove
(2020), pp. 1-10, AERA 2020 : The power and possibilities for the public good: When researchers and organizational stakeholders collaborate : Proceedings of the 2020 American Educational Research Association Meeting, Online from San Francisco, California, E1
Z Liu, P Tai, X Li, L Kong, T Matthews, R Lester, J Mondon
(2019), Vol. 171, pp. 665-676, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Netherlands, C1
Optimal spawning conditions of Phyllospora comosa (Phaeophyceae, Fucales) for mariculture
E Cumming, T Matthews, C Sanderson, B Ingram, A Bellgrove
(2019), Vol. 31, pp. 3041-3050, Journal of applied phycology, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, C1
Anthropogenic water bodies as drought refuge for aquatic macroinvertebrates and macrophytes
D Dodemaide, T Matthews, D Iervasi, R Lester
(2018), Vol. 616-617, pp. 543-553, Science of the Total Environment, Netherlands, C1
Post-wildfire recovery of invertebrate diversity in drought-affected headwater streams
B Robson, E Chester, T Matthews, K Johnston
(2018), Vol. 80, Aquatic Sciences, C1
T Matthews, R Lester, C Cummings, A Lautenschlager
(2015), Vol. 54, pp. 331-339, Environmental science and policy, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Potential for water-resource infrastructure to act as refuge habitat
B Halliday, T Matthews, D Iervasi, D Dodemaide, P Pickett, M Linn, A Burns, I Bail, R Lester
(2015), Vol. 84, pp. 136-148, Ecological engineering, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
A Lautenschlager, T Matthews, G Quinn
(2014), Vol. 149, pp. 232-243, Estuarine, coastal and shelf science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
S Wickson, E Chester, I Valenzuela, B Halliday, R Lester, T Matthews, A Miller
(2014), Vol. 18, pp. 1037-1046, Journal of insect conservation, Berlin, Germany, C1
E Chester, T Matthews, T Howson, K Johnston, J Mackie, S Strachan, B Robson
(2014), Vol. 9, pp. 1-10, PLoS One, San Francisco, Calif., C1
Impacts of extreme events on southeastern Australian freshwater crayfish
K Johnston, T Matthews, B Robson, E Chester
(2014), Vol. 20, pp. 61-71, Freshwater crayfish, [Hinterthal, Austria], C1-1
B Robson, E Chester, M Allen, S Beatty, J Chambers, P Close, B Cook, C Cummings, P Davies, R Lester, A Lymbery, T Matthews, D Morgan, M Stock
(2013), Perth, W.A., A1-1
C Cummings, T Matthews, R Lester
(2013), Gold Coast, Qld., A1
Conservation value of waterfalls as habitat for lotic insects of Western Victoria, Australia
S Rackemann, B Robson, T Matthews
(2013), Vol. 23, pp. 171-178, Aquatic conservation : marine and freshwater ecosystems, Chichester, England, C1
Disturbance and the role of refuges in mediterranean climate streams
B Robson, E Chester, B Mitchell, T Matthews
(2013), Vol. 719, pp. 77-91, Hydrobiologia, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
J Mackie, E Chester, T Matthews, B Robson
(2013), Vol. 53, pp. 100-105, Ecological engineering, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
A Miller, V Versace, T Matthews, S Montgomery, K Bowie
(2013), Vol. 3, pp. 1248-1261, Ecology and evolution, London, England, C1
A Wallis, M Graymore, T Matthews, S Byrne
(2012), pp. 73-86, Biology education for social and sustainable development, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, B1
A Miller, V Versace, T Matthews, K Bowie
(2012), Vol. 4, pp. 257-260, Conservation genetics resources, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, C1
Size and quantity of woody debris affects fish assemblages in a sediment-disturbed lowland river
T Howson, B Robson, T Matthews, B Mitchell
(2012), Vol. 40, pp. 144-152, Ecological engineering, Netherlands, C1
Influence of intermittent estuary outflow on coastal sediments of adjacent sandy beaches
J McKenzie, G Quinn, T Matthews, J Barton, A Bellgrove
(2011), Vol. 92, pp. 59-69, Estuarine, coastal and shelf science, London, U. K., C1
P Lind, B Robson, B Mitchell, T Matthews
(2009), Vol. 60, pp. 426-434, Marine and freshwater research, Collingwood, Vic., C1
T Matthews, P Fairweather
(2008), Vol. 78, pp. 145-154, Estuarine, coastal and shelf science, Oxford, England, C1
Pathways for algal recolonization in seasonally-flowing streams
B Robson, T Matthews, P Lind, N Thomas
(2008), Vol. 53, pp. 2385-2401, Freshwater biology, Oxford, England, C1
T Matthews, P Fairweather
(2006), Vol. 334, pp. 206-218, Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology, Amsterdam, Netherlands, C1
T Matthews
(2006), Vol. 66, pp. 13-20, Estuarine coastal and shelf science, New York, N.Y., C1
Effect of fire on Benthic Algal Assemblage structure and recolonisation in intermittent streams
A Cowell, T Matthews, P Lind
(2006), Vol. 31, pp. 696-707, Austral ecology, Carlton, Vic., C1
Drought refuges affect algal recolonization in intermittent streams
B Robson, T Matthews
(2004), Vol. 20, pp. 753-763, River research and applications, Malden, Mass., C1
T Matthews, A Constable
(2004), Vol. 84, pp. 633-639, Journal of the marine biological association of the United Kingdom, Cambridge, England, C1
T Matthews, P Fairweather
(2004), Vol. 29, pp. 250-257, Austral ecology, Carlton, Vic., C1
T Matthews, P Fairweather
(2003), Vol. 58, pp. 873-885, Estuarine coastal and shelf science, Oxford, England, C1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Other Public Sector Funding
Passing flows for Victoria Range streams
Dr Ty Matthews, Dr Ed Chester, A/Prof Belinda Robson
Wannon Water - Wannon Region Water Corporation, GHCMA Grant - Research - Glenelg - Hopkins Catchment Management Authority
- 2009: $27,200
- 2008: $72,000
Viability of using wastewater for environmental flows in intermittent streams
Dr Ty Matthews, A/Prof John Sherwood, A/Prof Belinda Robson, Prof Frank Stagnitti
WW Grant - Research - Wannon Region Water Corporation (Wannon Water)
- 2010: $1,200
- 2009: $22,810
A monitoring regime for the ecological state of Mount Emu Creek.
Dr Ty Matthews, Dr Ed Chester
GHCMA Grant - Research - Glenelg - Hopkins Catchment Management Authority
- 2009: $37,304
Evaluation of the ecological response to large scale river restoration in the Gellibrand and Carlisle Rivers, Western Victoria
Dr Ty Matthews
CCMA Corangamite Catchment Management Authority
- 2010: $45,000
Student Agreement. Influence of Landscape Change and Stock Exclusion on the Biodiversity of Aquatic Fauna and Flora.
Dr Ty Matthews, Miss Sarah Rackemann
GHCMA Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority
- 2012: $1,700
- 2010: $7,000
Gellibrand Catchment Fish Study
Dr Ty Matthews, Mr Travis Howson, A/Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou
CCMA Grant - Research Corangamite Catchment Management Authority
- 2013: $16,000
- 2012: $25,000
- 2011: $55,000
Support for Research on Genetic Variability in Donax Deltoides
Prof Vincent Versace, Dr Adam Miller, Dr Ty Matthews, Miss k Bowie
NSW Industry and Investment
- 2011: $10,000
Management of the Northen Pacific Seastar (Asterias amurensis) in Tidal River estuary, Wilsons Promontory National Park
Dr Ty Matthews, Dr Adam Pope, Dr Jan Barton
Parks Victoria Grant - Research
- 2013: $1,000
- 2012: $11,200
Grampians National Park Post Flood Recovery of Aquatic Values
Dr Ty Matthews, Prof Rebecca Lester
Parks Victoria Grant - Research
- 2013: $65,000
Assessment of aquatic fauna and flora occurring in water supply and sewerage treatment infrastructure
Dr Ty Matthews, Prof Rebecca Lester
WW Grant - Research - Wannon Region Water Corporation (Wannon Water)
- 2013: $25,000
Estimates of relative growth, abundance and diet of stocked estuary perch from six Victorian Lakes
Dr Paul Jones, Dr Ty Matthews, A/Prof Laurie Laurenson
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transports and Resources
- 2016: $3,302
- 2015: $8,118
Assessment of Estuary Perch Stocking in Victorian Lakes
Dr Ty Matthews, Dr Dion Iervasi, Dr Paul Jones, A/Prof Laurie Laurenson
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transports and Resources
- 2015: $5,000
SS019 - Environmental drivers of spawning migration in Australian bass in the Hunter River, NSW
Dr Paul Jones, Dr Ty Matthews
DPI-NSW - Department of Primary Industries - New South Wales
- 2017: $750
- 2016: $9,000
Proposal to Undertake Continued Monitoring of Riparian Restoration efforts in the Gellibrand River Catchment
Dr Ty Matthews
CCMA Grant - Research Corangamite Catchment Management Authority
- 2017: $11,100
Floating Reed Beds for Nutrient Reduction
Dr Tim Tutt, Dr Ty Matthews
WW Grant - Research - Wannon Region Water Corporation (Wannon Water)
- 2017: $14,000
Establishing a Southern River Blackfish spawning and recruitment monitoring network
Dr Ty Matthews, Mr Travis Howson
DPI Grant - Victoria Fisheries Authority
- 2022: $3,134
- 2019: $4,156
- 2018: $24,054
Inspiring Young Marine Science Experts - Stewards of Swan Bay
Ms Nicole Sadler, Dr Alecia Bellgrove, A/Prof Julianne Lynch, Dr Ty Matthews, Dr Prue Francis, A/Prof Julie Mondon
DELWP Port Phillip Bay Fund
- 2019: $13,356
- 2018: $18,115
Invasive Species Ecology of the Northern Pacific Seastar (Asterias amurensis)
Dr Ty Matthews, A/Prof Craig Sherman, Mr Morgan Ellis
Parks Victoria Grant - Research CAT2-4
- 2021: $5,000
- 2020: $5,000
Evaluating Riparian Buffer Zones in Temperate Streams.
Dr Ty Matthews, Mr David Dodemaide
Barwon Water
- 2020: $16,500
Evaluating Riparian Buffer Zones in Temperate Streams (HDR component).
Dr Ty Matthews, Mr David Dodemaide, Ms Mariah Jane Sampson, Prof Rebecca Lester
Barwon Water
- 2023: $20,000
- 2021: $20,000
- 2020: $29,000
The Living Moorabool: Evaluating the effects of Human-Driven Change on River Health.
Dr Ty Matthews, Prof Rebecca Lester
Corangamite Catchment Management Authority
- 2023: $19,000
- 2022: $19,000
- 2021: $19,000
Marine Pest Diagnostics Review
A/Prof Craig Sherman, A/Prof Adam Miller, Dr Ty Matthews
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
- 2021: $15,465
Understanding residency and movement of Yellowtail Kingfish (Seriola lalandi) in Victorian waters using acoustic and satellite tracking
A/Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou, Dr Ty Matthews
Victorian Fisheries Authority
- 2023: $69,269
- 2022: $87,924
Movement patterns of Port Phillip Bay's sharks and rays
Dr Ty Matthews, Dr Samantha Sherman, A/Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou
DELWP Port Phillip Bay Fund
- 2022: $100,000
NCCMA River Blackfish Translocation Study.
Prof Rebecca Lester, Dr Ty Matthews, Mr Benjamin Woolcock
NCCMA Grant - Research - North Central Catchment Management Authority
- 2023: $30,000
- 2022: $14,040
Investigating chemical cues as a potential management option for the northern Pacific seastar.
A/Prof Craig Sherman, Prof Xavier Conlan, Dr Lawrence Webb, Dr Ty Matthews, A/Prof Adam Miller
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry
- 2023: $10,000
- 2022: $101,030
Optimising eDNA sampling protocols for the early detection of marine pests and hydrodynamic modelling to determine point sources of eDNA - Phase 2.
A/Prof Craig Sherman, Dr Eric Treml, A/Prof Adam Miller, Dr Ty Matthews
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry
- 2024: $7,450
- 2023: $125,000
- 2022: $80,000
Interim sampling for riparian electromagnetic frequencies
Prof Rebecca Lester, Dr Emily Armstrong, Dr George Cunningham, Dr Ty Matthews
Barwon Water
- 2023: $18,200
Effect of EMF on Platypus.
Prof Rebecca Lester, Dr Emily Armstrong, Dr George Cunningham, Dr Ty Matthews
Barwon Region Water Corporation
- 2023: $8,066
Investigating chemical cues as a potential management option for the Northern Pacific seastar - Phase 2.
A/Prof Craig Sherman, Prof Xavier Conlan, Dr Lawrence Webb, Dr Ty Matthews, A/Prof Adam Miller
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry
- 2024: $33,741
Industry and Other Funding
Natural abundances of carbon and nitrogen stable istopes in the Hopkins Estuary and corresponding implications for benthic invertebrate food webs.
Prof Gerry Quinn, Dr Ty Matthews, Ms Agnes Lautenschlager
ANZCT Grant - Holsworth Wildlife Research Fund - closed
- 2007: $4,700
Diseased blue copepods in intermittent estuaries in southern Australia.
Dr Paul Jones, Dr Ty Matthews, Dr Alex Hyatt, Dr Kerry Swadling, Mr Ben Roennfeldt
Aust & Pacific Science Foundation Grant - Research CAT3
- 2011: $5,000
- 2010: $2,346
- 2009: $7,346
The Ecology of Larval Ichthyofauna in Intermittent Estuaries
Dr Paul Jones, A/Prof Laurie Laurenson, Dr Ty Matthews, A/Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou, Mr Ben Roennfeldt
ANZCT Grant - Holsworth Wildlife Research Fund - closed
- 2009: $7,500
- 2008: $5,000
- 2007: $5,000
Input of allochthonous and autochthonous primary production into the estuarine benthic macroinvertebrate foodweb along an estuarine gradient - an example from Australia
Prof Gerry Quinn, Dr Ty Matthews, Ms Agnes Lautenschlager
ANZCT Grant - Holsworth Wildlife Research Fund - closed
- 2010: $2,000
Population genetics and movement patterns of small bodied native fish in intermittent streams
Dr Ty Matthews, A/Prof Belinda Robson, Mr Jonathan Mackie
ANZCT Grant - Holsworth Wildlife Research Fund - closed
- 2010: $4,000
Dune vegetation change and hooded plover habitat monitoring coastal ecology drones
A/Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou, A/Prof Mike Weston, Dr Alexandre Schimel, Dr Ty Matthews
Birds Australia Grant - Research
- 2015: $2,545
- 2014: $2,545
Environmental drivers of spawning migration in Australian bass in the Hunter River, NSW
Dr Paul Jones, Dr Ty Matthews
Iervasi Investments Pty Ltd
- 2016: $27,830
How do primary producers respond to small environmental flow releases?
Prof Rebecca Lester, Ms Krista Lynn Bonfantine, Dr Ty Matthews
ESA - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - 20 571 098 795
- 2020: $7,500
- 2019: $6,705
Evaluating Riparian Buffer Zones in Temperate Streams (HDR component).
Dr Ty Matthews, Mr David Dodemaide, Ms Mariah Jane Sampson, Prof Rebecca Lester
Water Research Australia Limited
- 2023: $7,500
- 2022: $7,500
Student application - Conservation genomics of the short-finned eel (Anguilla australis)
Mr Harrison Coleman, Dr Ty Matthews, A/Prof Adam Miller
ESA - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - 20 571 098 795
- 2022: $6,620
Evaluating Riparian Buffer Zones in Temperate Streams
Ms Mariah Jane Sampson, Prof Rebecca Lester, Dr Ty Matthews
ESA - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - 20 571 098 795
- 2022: $6,665
STUDENT APPLICATION - Evaluating Riparian Buffer Zones in Temperate Streams
Prof Rebecca Lester, Ms Mariah Jane Sampson, Dr Ty Matthews, Dr Kay Critchell
ESA - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - 20 571 098 795
- 2023: $7,500
Other Funding Sources
Novel methods for managing freshwater refuges against climate change in southern Australia - Evaluating the utility of cold water releases
Dr Ty Matthews, Prof Rebecca Lester
Murdoch University
- 2013: $6,184
- 2012: $7,000
- 2011: $20,000
Supervisions
Morgan Ellis
Thesis entitled: Invasive Species Ecology of the Northern Pacific Seastar (Asterias amurensis)
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Steven John Wickson
Thesis entitled: Life History of a Leptocerid Caddisfly in a Drying Environment
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Erin Cumming
Thesis entitled: Developing seaweed production techniques for Phyllospora comosa
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Thomas Andrew Hurst
Thesis entitled: Restoration of Temperate Mangrove Ecosystems
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Jessica Ann Conlan
Thesis entitled: Nutritional Health of Captive Corals
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Zhi Hong Liu
Thesis entitled: Deriving applicable ammonia Water Quality Criteria for Liao River China
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Wayne Michael Koster
Thesis entitled: Determinants of movement in freshwater fishes
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Travis Howson
Thesis entitled: Fish Assemblage Response to Experimental Rehabilitation in the Glenelg River
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Ruben-lee Roennfeldt
Thesis entitled: Iridoviruses of copepods: their identification, estuarine ecology and host histopathology
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Jessica McKenzie
Thesis entitled: Coastal Responses to Estuarine Discharge from Intermittently Open System
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Agnes Lautenschlager
Thesis entitled: Feeding Ecology of Benthic Invertebrates in an Intermittently Open Estuary
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Ivor Stuart
Thesis entitled: Fishways in Australia: Native Fish Passage and Introduced Species
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences