Mohamed Nisin K M N
Hey! I'm Nisin
A doctoral researcher trained zoologist and environmentalist and presently pursuing research on invasive species in aquatic ecosystems.
Senior Research Fellow
ICAR Central Marine Fisheries Research Insitute
Cochin University of Science & Technology
About
My name is Mohamed Nisin K M N
I am a marine biology researcher with a focus on invasive species in aquatic environments. With a deep passion for the ocean, my research aims to understand and mitigate the impact of invasive species on marine ecosystems. My work has taken me to various parts of the world, where I have conducted field research and collaborated with other researchers and organizations. I believe in the power of science to make a positive impact on the world, and I am committed to using my skills and knowledge to contribute to this goal.
EDUCATION
MSc in Environmental Science
BSc in Zoology
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Distribution Modelling
Remote Sensing & GIS
Scuba Diver
Latest Publication
Muscling mussels: Understanding the invasive potential of the South American bivalve Mytella strigata (Hanley, 1843) in the Northern Indian Ocean
In past decades, non-native species invasion has emerged as one of the leading drivers of biodiversity loss in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems globally. In aquatic ecosystems, invasion by bivalve species has increased substantially due to their evolutionary resilience and adaptability. This study aimed to determine the habitat suitability of the South American bivalve Mytella strigata in the northern Indian Ocean using Species distribution modelling. The species occurrence and environmental data for model building were extracted from GBIF, Bio-ORACLE, The World Bank Data Catalogue and GMED. Pearson's correlation (<0.7) and Variance inflation factor (<10) analyses were used to select the environmental covariates. Individual models were built by combining the native range occurrence data of Mytella strigata with the bioclimatic data under the current climatic setting. Ten individual models were built and ensembled to create the final model using the biomod2 package. The variable importance score and the response curve plot were used to identify the most crucial variable and its influence on the models. Distance to port had the highest influence on predicting the distribution of Mytella strigata. The results indicated that the western coast of India as more susceptible to invasion. Our predictions indicate that the species has the potential to become highly invasive in the region, given the vast habitat suitability and documented introduction and presence of the species in the region. This research generated baseline information on the habitat suitability of M. strigata that will aid in managing and restricting its spread in the region. Considering the substantial impact of the species in other introduced ranges worldwide, immediate action should be initiated for the swift management of M. strigata from the Indian coast.