Dr. Shahin Islam - Postdoctoral Scholar
Research Interests
I am interested in using integrative molecular (population, quantitative, and functional) genomic approaches, my research broadly focuses on Evolution, Ecology, Physiology, and Conservation Biology, primarily in aquatic systems. Specifically, my research focuses on three major themes: (1) Animal interactions (genetic & ecological) and coexistence; (2) Genomic/transcriptomic basis of physiological adaptation to changing
environments; and (3) genomics for biodiversity monitoring, assessment, and
conservation. Currently, I am working in a synergistic project with the Genomic
Variation Lab (GVL) and Genetic Monitoring Lab (GeM) at the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) on developing molecular methods to monitor fish species of conservation concern, with an emphasis on using eDNA metabarcoding to infer abundance.
More information about my work can be found at my personal website.
Ph.D., Marine Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada (2022)
(1) Species Interactions (genetic and ecological) & Coexistence
Using field and controlled laboratory studies, involving ecological, phenotypic and
molecular genomic analyses, I investigate intra- and interspecific interactions and
examine potential fitness consequences, at different life stages (from developmental to
adult stage). My research emphasizes on breeding system evolution, life history
diversity, phenotypic plasticity, maternal effects on fitness traits between domesticated
and wild species in the context of fisheries management and conservation.
(2) Genomic Basis of Physiological Adaptation
Accelerated climate change is profoundly altering biodiversity at local, regional, and
global scales. Despite huge biodiversity losses, an understanding of how most taxa will
respond to future climate change is lacking. Developing advanced genomic tools
provide a novel opportunity to predict how populations will respond to climate change,
identify genomic trajectories underlying these changes, and evaluate the adaptive
potential and vulnerability of populations in the future. I develop different genomic tools
and conduct multi-scale validations (both controlled laboratory and field settings) across
different fish species in North America across stressors (both single and multiple
stressors). I develop and calibrate genomic/transcriptional profiling tool to quantify the
ability of fish to adapt and acclimate to stressors, such as climate change, aquatic
invasive species, pollution, and altered environments. Under controlled laboratory
conditions, I investigate species-specific organismal responses to various environmental
stressors such as increased water temperature, acidification, anoxia, heavy metal
toxicity, food deprivation etc. I also conduct field trials to quantify genomic/transcriptional
responses under longer-term chronic stress, and more real-world environmental
conditions (i.e., where fish live under natural selection).
(3) Genomics for fish biodiversity monitoring, assessment and conservation
Lastly, my research focuses on developing genomic methods to monitor fish population
of conservation concern, with an emphasis on using eDNA and eDNA metabarcoding to
infer abundance and eRNA to monitor the physiological status of organisms. In this
theme, my research encompasses both conceptual and applied research – by designing
novel theoretical approaches in molecular ecology, my research foster the effectiveness
of evidence-based approaches to the conservation and management of freshwater fish
biodiversity.
S. S. Islam, D. D. Heath, B. Dixon, P. Karpowicz, Kelvin Vuu, J. Lablanc, N. J.
Bernier, and K. M. Jeffries, 2024. Development of multi-species qPCR assays for
designing a stress transcriptional profiling (STP) chip for assessing the resilience of
salmonids to changing environments. (Submitted- Canadian Journal of Fisheries &
Aquatic Sciences). doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.09.25.615083
G. Banousse, S. Christina, G. Dany, J. Jennifer, S. S. Islam, B. Nicholas, J. Kenneth
and A. Céline, 2024. Genetic and environmental basis of transcriptional thermal
plasticity of Brook Charr fry. (Submitted- Canadian Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic
Sciences).
V. A. Felicia, K. W. Wellband, S. S. Islam, O. P. Love and D. D. Heath, 2024. Great
Lakes invasive round goby gene transcription profiles: Adaptive acclimation to thermal
stress in range-edge populations. (Submitted- Scientific Reports)
S. S. Islam, M. C. Yates, and D. J. Fraser. Single generation exposure to a captive
diet: a primer for domestication selection in a Salmonid fish? (bioRxiv:
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.01.24.919175)
E. H. Ignatz, X. Xue, J. R. Hall, S. S. Islam, M. L. Rise and I. A. Fleming, 2024.
Defense-relevant gene expression differences in hatchling Atlantic salmon among wild
Newfoundland and farmed European and North American populations and their hybrids.
(Accepted- Molecular Ecology) doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17535
I. C. San Roman, I. R. Bradbury, S. E. Crowley, S. J. Duffy, S. S. Islam, and I. A.
Fleming 2023. Experimental comparisons of changes in relative survival and fitness-
related traits of wild, farm and hybrid Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar in
nature. Aquaculture Environment Interactions, 15: 323-337
S. E. Crowley, I. R. Bradbury, A. M. Messmer, S. J. Duffy, C. C. Parrish, S. S. Islam,
and I. A. Fleming, 2023. Differences in energy acquisition and storage of farm, wild and
hybrid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) competing in the wild. Canadian Journal of
Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences, 80: 43-56
S. S. Islam, B. F. Wringe, C. M. Conway, I. R. Bradbury and I. A. Fleming 2022.
Fitness consequences of hybridization between wild Newfoundland and farmed
European and North American Atlantic salmon. Aquaculture Environment
Interactions, 14: 243-262
B. M. Perriman, P. Bentzen, B. F. Wringe, S. Duffy, S. S. Islam, I. A. Fleming, M. F.
Solberg and I. R. Bradbury, 2022. Morphological consequences of hybridization
between farm and wild Atlantic salmon, under both wild and experimental
conditions. Aquaculture Environment Interactions, 14: 85-96
S. S. Islam, X. Xue, A. Caballero-Solares, I. R. Bradbury, M. L. Rise and I. A. Fleming
2022. Distinct early-life stage gene expression effects of hybridization among European
and North American farmed and wild Atlantic salmon populations. Molecular Ecology,
31 (9): 2712-2729
S. E. Crowley, I. R. Bradbury, A. M. Messmer, S. J. Duffy, S. S. Islam, and I. A.
Fleming, 2022. Common-garden comparison of relative survival and fitness-related
traits of wild, farmed, and hybrid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr in
nature. Aquaculture Environment Interactions, 14: 35-52
S. S. Islam, B. F. Wringe, K. Boe, I. R. Bradbury and I. A. Fleming 2021. Early-life
fitness trait variation among divergent European and North American farmed and wild
Atlantic salmon populations. Aquaculture Environment Interactions, 13: 323-337
S. S. Islam, B. F. Wringe, I. R. Bradbury and I. A. Fleming 2020. Behavioural
variation among divergent European and North American farmed and wild Atlantic
salmon (Salmo salar) populations. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 230: 105029
S.M.B. Rahaman, S.K. Biswas, M.S. Rahaman, A.K. Ghosh, L. Sarder, S.M.S. Siraj
and S. S. Islam, 2014. Seasonal nutrient distribution in the Rupsha-Passur tidal river
system of the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest, Bangladesh. Ecological Processes, 3
(18): 1-11.
S. S. Islam, M. S. Shah and M. L. Rahi, 2014. Assessment of genetic variability of
Prawn (Macrobrachiumrosenbergii) post larvae (PL) from the broods stocked under
different sex ratios. Int. Journal of Aquaculture, 4(9): 55-63.
S. S. Islam, M. S. Shah and M. L. Rahi, 2011. Study of Fecundity and Induced
Breeding of Mystus vittatus. Bangladesh Journal of Zoology, 39(2): 205-212.