Professor

The broad focus of my research is to understand the patterns and impacts of plant invasions, both in terrestrial and aquatic systems, from a biogeographic perspective. We use molecular ecological approaches to unravel the genetic variations of invasive species across native and non-native regions and understand interactions of plant invaders with native species and rhizosphere biota. Though most of our research is carried out in Kashmir Himalaya, we ask large scale questions to understand the ecological drivers and evolutionary processes underlying invasions through a vibrant global network of collaborators and multilateral international projects, including Indo-US, Indo-German and Indo-Canadian projects. Predicting potential invaders on the basis of native range size and in the context of climate change is our endeavour to inform management models and policy decisions for biodiversity conservation. The current research in the lab is woven around the broad themes of biomonitoring of freshwater ecosystems vis-a-vis the growing spread of invasive species, bioprospection and alternative uses of invasive species and their phytoremediation potential, macroecological patterns and population genetic variations of invasive species across ranges. For comparative purposes we also study some rare endemic plant species at the level of genes, molecules, poulations and ecosystems with the fundamental aim to understand the underlying causes of their rarity, as against invasiveness, and eventually use them for bioprospection and restoration purposes. 

Faculty Details

  • Citations 2872
  • HIndex 32
  • i10 Index 67
  • Mobile 7780806013
  • Email mashah@uok.edu.in mashah75@yahoo.com
  • Administrative position Held Director DIQA / Coordinator RUSA
  • Resume View



Research Papers Published

  • "Conyza canadensis suppresses plant diversity in its non-native ranges but not at home: a transcontinental approach." New Phytologist, 202(4): 1286 -1296 {ISSN: 1469-8137} Impact Factor= 6.73
  • "Invasive species: reality or myth?" Biodiversity and Conservation., 23(6): 1425 -1426 {ISSN: 0960-3115} Impact Factor= 2.26
  • "Delimiting invasive Myriophyllum aquaticum in Kashmir Himalaya using molecular phylogenetic approach" Genetics and Molecular Research, 13(3): 7564 -7570 {ISSN: 1676-5680} Impact Factor= 1.1
  • "Characterization of alien aquatic flora of Kashmir Himalaya: implications for invasion management" Tropical Ecology, 55(2): 143 -157 {ISSN: 0564-3295} Impact Factor= 0.7
  • "Effect of butachlor on soil enzyme activity." European Journal of Soil Science, 61(3): 94 -100 {ISSN: 1365-2389} Impact Factor= 2.0
  • "CpDNA polymorphic microsatellite markers for Lemna minor: phylogeographic implications." Applications in Plant Sciences, 10(3732): 00 -00 Impact Factor=
  • "Evaluation of anthraquinones from Himalayan rhubarb (Rheum emodi Wall. ex Meissn.) as antiproliferative agents" South African Journal of Botany 1–8, 95(3): 1 -8 Impact Factor= 1.676
  • "A cross-city molecular biogeographic investigation of arbuscular mycorrhizas in Conyza canadensis rhizosphere across native and non-native regions" Ecological Processes, 4(1): DOI No. DOI 10.11 {ISSN: 2192-1709} Impact Factor=
  • "Roads act as corridors for the spread of alien plant species in the mountainous regions: A case study of Kashmir Valley, India." Tropical Ecology, 56(2): 183 -190 {ISSN: 0564-3295} Impact Factor= 0.7
  • "Studying the patterns of alien and native floras of some habitats in Srinagar city, Kashmir, India." Ecological Processes, 4(2): DOI No. DOI 10.11 {ISSN: 2192-1709} Impact Factor=
  • "Perceptions of priority issues in the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems in India." Biological Conservation, 187(4): 201 -211 {ISSN: 0006-3207} Impact Factor= 4.5
  • "Isolation, Identification and Distribution of Culturable Bacteria in Manasbal Lake, Kashmir Himalaya." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences, 1(6): DOI No. DOI: 10.1 {ISSN: 0369-8211} Impact Factor= 0.43
  • "Heavy metal accumulation in the leaves of Potamogeton natans and Ceratophyllum demersum in a Himalayan RAMSAR site: management implications" Heavy metal accumulation in the leaves of Potamogeton natans and Ceratophyllum demersum in a Himalayan RAMSAR site: management implications, 1(7): DOI No. DOI 10.10 Impact Factor= 1.27
  • "Characterization and functional promiscuity of two divergent paralogs of Type III plant polyketide synthases from Rheum emodi Wall ex. Meissn." Plant physiology, 171(6): 2599 -2619 {ISSN: 1532-2548} Impact Factor= 8.03
  • "Invasion by Conyza sumatrensis alters soil microbial community structure in urban ecosystems" Ecological Processes, 5(10): DOI No. 10.1186/s13717-016-0054-4 {ISSN: 2192-1709} Impact Factor=
  • "A New Record of an Invasive Aquatic Plant Hydrocharis morsus-ranae (Hydrocharitaceae), Reaching to the Kashmir Himalaya" The Journal of Japanese Botany, 91(8): 100 -104 {ISSN: 0022-2062} Impact Factor=
  • "Heavy metal accumulation in the leaves of Potamogeton natans and Ceratophyllum demersum in a Himalayan RAMSAR site" Wetlands Ecology and Management, 24(4): 469 -475 {ISSN: 0923-4861} Impact Factor= 1.62
  • "Isolation, Identification and Distribution of Culturable Bacteria in Manasbal Lake, Kashmir Himalaya" Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences, 87(1): 115 -120 {ISSN: 0369-8211} Impact Factor=
  • "Dynamics of bacterial class Bacilli in the deepest valley lake of Kashmir-the Manasbal Lake" Microbial Pathogenesis, 104(234): 78 -83 {ISSN: 0882-4010} Impact Factor= 1.88
  • "Aquatic bacterial diversity: Magnitude, dynamics, and controlling factors" Microbial Pathogenesis, 104(234): 39 -47 {ISSN: 0882-4010} Impact Factor= 1.88
  • "Heavy Metal Uptake Potential of Aquatic Plants through Phytoremediation Technique - A Review." J Bioremediat Biodegrad, 8(404): DOI No. 10.4172/2155-6199.1000404 {ISSN: 2155-6199} Impact Factor= 2.01
  • "Polyploidy determines the stage of invasion: clues from Kashmir Himalayan aquatic flora." Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 40(3): DOI No. 58 {ISSN: 861-1664} Impact Factor= 1.6
  • "Inventory and characterization of new populations through ecological niche modelling improve threat assessment." CURRENT SCIENCE, 114(3): 519 -531 {ISSN: 0011-3891.} Impact Factor= 0.9

Books Published

  • "Mycorrhizal Symbioses: Changing Dimensions in the Changing World". Springer New Delhi Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London. {ISBN: 978-81-322-1864-7} pp 180

Research Projects Details:

Title of the ProjectFunding AgencyDatedAmount (in Rs.)
Characterization of alien aquatic flora in Kashmir Himalaya for prediction and management of plant invasionsUGC (Major Project)31-12-2015745,000.00
Proactive management models for the effects of climate change on the range expansion of invasive speciesUniversity Grants Commission (Indo-US)15-11-201612,500,000.00
Biomonitoringofwaterqualityinrelationtohuman Healthusingbiosensorsandimprovementsthrough nanoparticle based purification systemsDBT (Indo-Canadian)08-07-20162,121,000.00
Towards a better mechanistic understanding of colonization: Biogeographic analysis and population genetics of two highly invasive Asteraceae speciesDST (Indo-German)31-03-2017723,000.00
Search for novel anticancer bioactives from Kashmir Himalayan mushroomsDBT20-12-20161,260,000.00
Biomonitoring of water quality in relation to human health using biosensors and improvements through nanoparticle based purification systemsIndo-Canadian project sponsored by DBT, Govt. of India and IC-IMPACTS, Canada15-11-201514,856,000.00
Proactive management models for the effects of climate change on the range expansion of invasive speciesIndo-US project sponsored by UGC18-11-201612,500,000.00
Search for novel anticancer bioactives from Kashmir Himalayan mushroomsDBT, Govt. of India15-09-20153,123,000.00
Centre for Kashmir Himalayan Biodiversity (Documentation, Bio-prospection and Conservation)UGC, New Delhi12-04-201652,500,000.00
Preventing extinction and improving conservation status of threatened plants through application of biotechnological toolsDBT, Govt. of India12-02-20186,225,000.00
Characterization of microflora of rhizosphere associated with saffron with a target to develop consortia of beneficial microbesDBT, Govt. of India08-01-20183,250,000.00

Research Scholars:

NameCourseStatusNature
Mudasir Ahmad DarM.Phil Awarded Whole Time
Aashaq Hussain SheikM.Phil Awarded Whole Time
Ayaz BashirM.Phil Awarded Whole Time
Afreen JanM.Phil Awarded Whole Time
Nadim SalamM.Phil Awarded Whole Time
Naiera BhatM.Phil Awarded Whole Time
Uzma ZehraM.Phil Awarded Whole Time
Gowhar A WaniPh.D Awarded Whole Time
Sana ShafiPh.D Awarded Whole Time
Samina WaniPh.D Awarded Whole Time
Ayaz BashirPh.D Awarded Whole Time
Irfan A Sofi (CSIR-NET)Ph.D Awarded Whole Time