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Biography
Dr. Chris Barnhart, Distinguished Professor of Biology at Missouri State University studies a group of animals that have a low profile - they live buried in the bottom of rivers.
His interest in freshwater mussels dates back to childhood experiences in Midwestern rivers, and takes him to the wilds of Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, as well as Europe, China and New Zealand. Dr. Barnhart enjoys learning and teaching at all levels. As volunteer curator of the Roston Native Butterfly House in the Springfield Botanical Center, he promotes nature awareness and urban ecology. His public speaking topics include Freshwater Conservation (Sacrificial Clams - the Conservation Significance of Freshwater Mollusks), Parasitology (Who’s Eating Who, and Why Does It Matter?), Invasive Species (World of Weeds - the Homogenization of Nature), Pollination (Special Delivery: the Beauty of Plant-Pollinator Relationships) and Butterflies (Touched by Butterflies: Opportunities for Ecological Education).
Industry Expertise (2)
Education/Learning
Research
Areas of Expertise (9)
Ecology
Conservation Biology
Biogeography
Endangered Species
Invasive Species
Freshwater Mussels
Native Mussels
Butterflies and Moths
Parasitology
Accomplishments (10)
Missouri Department of Conservation Outreach and Education External Partnership Award (professional)
2017 For significant contributions to conservation that benefit the community, the Department, and Missouri citizens
Faculty Excellence in Research Award (professional)
2016 College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Missouri State University
Faculty Excellence in Community Service Award (professional)
2016 Missouri State University
Board of Governors Faculty Excellence in Public Affairs Award (professional)
2015 Missouri State University
Faculty Excellence in Service Award (professional)
2015 College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Missouri State University
Faculty Excellence in Research Award (professional)
2012 College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Missouri State University
Outstanding Faculty Research Director's Award (professional)
2012 Honor's College, Missouri State University
Lifetime Achievement Award (professional)
2011 Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society
Collaborator of the Year Award (professional)
2010 Missouri Department of Conservation
Conservation Champion Appreciation Award (professional)
2009 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Education (3)
University of California, Los Angeles: PhD, Biology 1984
University of Kansas: MA, Biology 1978
Iowa State University: BS, Zoology 1976
Affiliations (4)
- Missouri State University Biology Department
- Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society
- National Conservation Training Center
- Friends of the Gardens (Springfield Botanical Center)
Links (3)
Media Appearances (6)
How Mussels Fool Fish Into Carrying Their Parasitic Babies
National Geographic online
2017-11-28
For one, glochidia live for mere hours, or two days at most, says M. Christopher Barnhart, a malacologist—or scientist who specializes in mollusks—at Missouri State University.
Volunteerism in the Ozarks: Roston Native Butterfly House
KOLR10 Springfield online
2016-09-12
“The only thing better than watching a butterfly, is watching kids watch butterflies.” Dr. Chris and Debra Barnhart discuss the Dr. Bill Roston Native Butterfly House in the Springfield Botanical Center.
Why Do Some Animals Live Life in the Slow Lane?
National Geographic online
2015-10-17
“Generally animals get fast evolutionarily if they are pursued or if they pursue,” Chris Barnhart, a biologist at Missouri State University, explains via email. “Fast” is a relative term, though. The Rosy Wolf snail follows the mucus trail of other snails and slugs and whizzes along at about 0.001 mile (0.0016 kilometer) per hour. The scent of these predators, Barnhart notes, will make other snails try to “run” and amp up their speed a bit (this poor fellow didn’t make it).
Peoria tribe hopes to help Tar Creek environmental effort with fish hatchery
The Joplin Globe online
2015-10-11
The Neosho mucket has been eliminated from two-thirds of its former range, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; only about half — nine of 16 — of its historic populations survive. And only one of those, a population found in the Spring River, is reproducing at a level that can sustain it, say scientists. The tribe is raising Neosho muckets with help from Chris Barnhart, a biology professor at Missouri State University in Springfield.
Slugs and Bugs: 6 Bizarre Animal Mascots in U.S. Sports
National Geographic online
2015-01-24
Chris Barnhart, a biologist at the University of Missouri in Springfield, said the 7-inch-long (17-centimeter) invertebrates are "defensive specialists." "They find their way into cracks and crevices. Since the age of wooden ships they've been traveling the world," Barnhart said.
Mussels most endangered group of animals in country
The Joplin Globe online
2014-09-03
“There are places I would find mussels 20 years ago that I can’t find (them) now,” said Chris Barnhart, a biology professor at Missouri State University in Springfield and one of the leading experts on mussels in the Midwest. “We also know why they are going extinct. They are being lost because of water pollution, particularly ammonia.”
Event Appearances (10)
Sacrificial Clams: the conservation significance of freshwater mussels
4th Interior Highlands Mollusk Conservation Meeting Tahlequah, OK
2016-01-01
Urban restoration of a native freshwater mussel: collaboration, conservation, and ecological engineering
California Society of Ecological Restoration Annual Meeting Kings Beach, CA
2016-01-01
Special Delivery: The Beauty of Plant Pollinator Relationships
Springfield Conservation Nature Center Springfield, MO
2016-01-01
One hundred years of mussel propagation: what have we learned, and where are we going?
2nd International Seminar: Rearing of Unionoid Mussels Clervaux, Luxembourg
2015-01-01
Touched By Butterflies: Opportunities For Ecological Education
Southwest Regional Volunteer Conference, Missouri Dept. of Conservation Springfield, MO
2014-01-01
Quantitative Habitat Assessment of Mussel Communities in the Lower Pomme de Terre and Sac Rivers
Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society Portland, MA
2014-01-01
Sacrificial Clams: the conservation significance of native freshwater mussels
Kansas Natural Resources Conference Wichita, KS
2014-01-01
Glochidia toxicity testing: the viability endpoint and standardizing test duration
SETAC North America 34th Annual Meeting Nashville, TN
2013-01-01
Propagation of native freshwater mussels for research and restoration
Association of Zoos and Aquariums Annual Conference Kansas City MO
2013-01-01
Metabolomic, behavioral, and reproductive effects of the synthetic estrogen 17 α-ethinylestradiol on the unionid mussel Lampsilis fasciola
Lake Guntersville State Park, AL Lake Guntersville State Park, AL
Research Focus (1)
Freshwater Mussels
Although obscure to most people, native freshwater mussels have unusual significance in ecology and conservation. Healthy mussel populations can outweigh all other animals in rivers. They form an important link in the food chain by filtering algae and bacteria from the water and in turn becoming food for other animals. Although some species are abundant, many others are in danger of extinction because of a wide variety of human impacts on rivers, including dams, erosion, pollution, fisheries management, and introduced invasive species. The combination of ecological significance and protected status has made mussels a nexus of research and conservation actions in rivers. Research on mussels at MSU has been supported by more than $2.5 million in research grants. The work has had national and international impact in endangered species conservation and water quality regulation. On the educational side, mussels have complex life cycles that involve symbiotic relationships, and provide opportunities to illustrate both the value and interconnected nature of native wildlife. The same can be said for butterflies and moths, which have the advantage of being appealing and familiar to everyone.
Articles (6)
Stress-induced variation in host susceptibility to parasitic freshwater mussel larvae
Hydrobiologia
2016 An increasing number of studies demonstrate the critical role of the host–parasite relationship for the persistence and distribution of freshwater mussels. Laboratory experiments are a powerful tool for quantifying the physiological compatibility between parasitic mussel larvae and fish hosts and are clearly applicable to species conservation. Recent findings, however, indicate potential need to control for biases caused by infection intensity and host stress responses.
Evaluation of the short term 12 hour toxicity of 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) (Percina caprodes)
Environmental Toxicology
2015 The present study evaluated the risk of 12-h exposures of the lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) to multiple life stages of the federally endangered snuffbox (Epioblasma triquetra) and its primary host fish the common logperch (Percina caprodes), as well as a surrogate to the snuffbox, the ellipse (Venustaconcha ellipsiformis).
Metabolomic, behavioral, and reproductive effects of the aromatase inhibitor fadrozole hydrochloride on the unionid mussel Lampsilis fasciola
General and Comparative Endocrinology
2014 Androgen-induced masculinization of female aquatic biota poses concerns for natural population stability. This research evaluated the effects of a twelve day exposure of fadrozole hydrochloride on the metabolism and reproductive status of the unionid mussel Lampsilis fasciola.
A comparison of freshwater mussels (Unionidae) from a Late-Archaic archeological excavation with recently sampled Verdigris River, Kansas, populations
The American Midland Naturalist
2014 Excavations at an archeological site adjacent to the Verdigris River in southeast Kansas unearthed a prehistoric mussel shell midden associated with a probable mussel cooking site.
Assessment of toxicity test endpoints for freshwater mussel larvae (glochidia)
Environmental toxicology and chemistry
2014 The objectives of the present study were to determine if the viability of freshwater mussel larvae (glochidia) is an ecologically relevant endpoint for toxicity tests and to define the appropriate duration of those tests.
Fluoxetine alters adult freshwater mussel behavior and larval metamorphosis
Science of the Total Environment
2013 We used acute and partial-lifecycle tests to examine the effects of the pharmaceutical fluoxetine on freshwater mussels (Unionida).
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