Muhamed Muneeb Muahmed Musthafa
@seu.ac.lk
Department of Biosystems Technology
South Eastern University of Sri Lanka
Dr. Muneeb M. Musthafa is a senior lecturer and head of Biosystems Technology, Faculty of Technology, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka. He has been active researcher in the field of ecology, biodiversity, conservation, animal genetics and animal science. He completed my bachelor’s degree from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and MSc in Animal Science from King Saud University, Saudi Arabia under scholarship, where he have worked on number of projects related to genetic diversity of goat and sheep of Saudi Arabia. Then he extended his research expertise at China (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing) on fecundity gene and Ege University, Turkey. He has completed PhD from University of Malaya, Malaysia under the International Graduate Research Scholarship, where he carried his research on beetle diversity across elevational gradients. He has produced number of peer reviewed, indexed journal research articles.
EDUCATION
2014-2018 PhD in Ecology & Biodiversity University of Malaya, Malaysia,
2008-2011 MSc in Animal Production King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2004-2007 B.Sc. (Sp) (Hons) University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ecology, Biodiversity, Animal Science, Conservation
Scopus Publications
Scholar Citations
Scholar h-index
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Tuba Noreen, Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Mansha, Zinnia Mansoor, Abdul Wajid, Muhammad Rizwan Ashraf, Goher Ayub, Muneeb M. M. Musthafa, and Faiz M. M. T. Marikar
Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb
The main focus of this research is to determine the molecular phylogeny and characterization of Mundri Sheep (Ovis aries) through sequencing of mitochondrial Cytochrome b and Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I (COI). This sheep breed appears morphologically different from other local sheep breeds of Pakistan. The current research is carried out to appraise the status of Mundri sheep whether it is aa different breed from other breeds or not. Blood samples of Mundri sheep were collected from Livestock Experiment Station, (LES) Fazilpur in district Rajanpur (Punjab). DNA was isolated and subjected to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for amplification of Cytochrome b and COI genes using appropriate primers. PCR products were sequenced and analyzed by MEGA X software. The phylogeny analysis categorized Ovis aries including Mundri sheep into three and two groups for Cytochrome b and COI genes respectively. It showed Mundri sheep as a separate group and thus as a separate breed from all other local sheep breeds. Hence the study validates based on Cytochrome b and COI that Mundri sheep is a distinctive breed from the rest of the local sheep breed.
Tanveer Hussain, Masroor Ellahi Babar, Muneeb Musthafa, Abdul Wajid, Hassan Ali Sukhera, Jamshed Iqbal Chaudhry, Muhammad Rizwan Khan, and Faiz M. M. T. Marikar
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Abstract Vultures are among nature’s most successful scavengers, providing tractable models for ecological, economic, and cultural studies. Asian vultures have undergone dramatic declines of 90–99% in the subcontinent due to consequences of poisoning drugs, thereby being at a high risk of extinction. In Pakistan, surveys conducted previously focused mostly the cause of decline and breeding strategies only. Genetic profiling of vultures was still unmapped that could play a particular role in conservation endeavors and let researchers to genetically label individuals of threatened or endangered species. In this study, we examined genetic diversity and molecular phylogeny of Oriental White-backed Vultures by analyzing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences. Genetic polymorphism was detected among individuals, and, on that basis, phylogenetic analysis was conducted through Bayesian analysis of DNA sequences using MCMC. Using multiple sequence alignment, two mutations, transversion T>G and transition G>A, were observed at nucleotide positions 1 and 2, respectively. Similarly, T/C heterozygosity at two positions, 53 and 110, and one heterozygous T/G locus at 130 position were also observed. The reference sequence, along with other samples of V1, V6, V7 and V9, was placed into a clade, while V2, V5, V11, V3, V4 and V10 samples were grouped into a two clade.
Muneeb M. Musthafa and Fauziah Abdullah
ResearchersLinks Ltd
Muneeb M. Musthafa, Fauziah Abdullah, and Matti J. Koivula
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Biodiversity research relies largely on knowledge about species responses to environmental gradients, assessed using some commonly applied sampling method. However, the consistency of detected responses using different sampling methods, and thus the generality of findings, has seldom been assessed in tropical ecosystems. Hence, we studied the response consistency and indicator functioning of beetle assemblages in altitudinal gradients from two mountains in Malaysia, using Malaise, light, and pitfall traps. The data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed-effects models (GLMM), non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), multivariate regression trees (MRT), and indicator species analysis (IndVal). We collected 198 morpho-species of beetles representing 32 families, with a total number of 3,052 individual beetles. The richness measures generally declined with increasing altitude. The mountains differed little in terms of light and Malaise trap data but differed remarkably in pitfall-trap data. Only light traps (but not the other trap types) distinguished high from middle or low altitudes in terms of beetle richness and assemblage composition. The lower altitudes hosted about twice as many indicators as middle or high altitudes, and many species were trap-type specific in our data. These results suggest that the three sampling methods reflected the altitudinal gradient in different ways and the detection of community variation in the environment thus depends on the chosen sampling method. However, also the analytical approach appeared important, further underlining the need to use multiple methods in environmental assessments.
Mohamed Mujithaba Mohamed Najim, V. Sujirtha, Muneeb M. Musthafa, Mirza Barjees Baig, and Gary S. Straquadine
Springer International Publishing
Nazrim Marikkar and Muneeb M. Musthafa
Springer International Publishing
Muneeb M. Musthafa, Fauziah Abdullah, Ana Paola Martínez-Falcón, and Mark de Bruyn
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractThis study was conducted to assess the spatial distribution of beetles in mountain ecosystems and their elevational diversity. Malaise, pitfall and light traps were used to collect beetles from nine different mountains in Malaysia from September 2014 to September 2016, where from Gunung Angsi, Gunung Belumut, Gunung Basor and Gunung Tebu samples were collected at 500 m and 1000 m (above sea level) elevations, while beetles were sampled at 500 m, 1000 m and 1500 masl from Gunung Benom, Gunung Inas, Cameron Highland, Gunung Besar Hantu and Gunung Basor. In this study, 9628 beetles belonging to 879 different species were collected with highest representation from family Staphylinidae and Carabidae. Chamah Highland had the highest beetle diversity followed by Gunung Benom, Gunung Inas, Cameron Highland, Gunung Belumut, and Gunung Basor. Chamah Highland was different to all mountains on abundance and species richness. The highest species richness was observed at 1000 m, followed by 500 m and 1500 m. We identified characteristic species associated with habitat conditions at Gunung Benoum and Gunung Inas mountains, according to INDVAL values. The beetle diversity of the sampled mountains showed multiple alpha and beta patterns according to type of mountain ecosystem and elevation, providing guidelines for the scientific community to underpin conservation efforts in Malaysia.
Dinuke S. N. Munasinghe, Mohamed M. M. Najim, Silvia Quadroni, and Muneeb M. Musthafa
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractOur study focused on quantifying the alterations of streamflow at a weir site due to the construction of a mini-hydropower plant in the Gurugoda Oya (Sri Lanka), and evaluating the spatial responses of benthic macroinvertebrates to altered flow regime. The HEC–HMS 3.5 model was applied to the Gurugoda Oya sub-catchment to generate streamflows for the time period 1991–2013. Pre-weir flows were compared to post-weir flows with 32 Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration using the range of variability approach (RVA). Concurrently, six study sites were established upstream and downstream of the weir, and benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled monthly from May to November 2013 (during the wet season). The key water physico-chemical parameters were also determined. RVA analysis showed that environmental flow was not maintained below the weir. The mean rate of non-attainment was ~ 45% suggesting a moderate level of hydrologic alteration. Benthic macroinvertebrate communities significantly differed between the study sites located above and below the weir, with a richness reduction due to water diversion. The spatial distribution of zoobenthic fauna was governed by water depth, dissolved oxygen content and volume flow rate. Our work provides first evidence on the effects of small hydropower on river ecosystem in a largely understudied region. Studies like this are important to setting-up adequate e-flows.
Syeda Maria Fiaz Bukhari, Ghazanfar Ali, Syed Rizwan Abbas, Zeeshan Anjum, Nasim Ahmed, Ammara Munir, Abdul Wali, Muhammad Ayub, Kafaitullah Khan, Ahmed Khames,et al.
Hindawi Limited
Berberis lycium Royle has a long history of medicinal uses to treat different diseases. It naturally grows on the mountains of Indian subcontinent. Its ethnobotanical and biochemical study from the state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) was not previously explored. So, the objective of the current study was to explore the ethnobotanical and biochemical properties of the B. lycium Royle population of AJ&K. For this purpose, samples of B. lycium Royle were randomly collected from five districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including thirty-five locations. Demographic features of informants such as plant part used, methods of preparation, modes of administration, conservation status, and ethnomedicinal uses were documented. It was used for treating different diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, joint pain, and stomach ulcer. This plant is very famous for providing medicinal roots, leaves, and fruits which are extensively used in many parts of the world. The biochemical analysis was conducted for total phenolic contents (TPC), chlorophyll contents, and antioxidant activity. The highest level of TPC found was 88.66 ± 1.07 µg/g of gallic acid equivalent phenolic (GAE) from leaves collected from Patikka (Chanjhal), Muzaffarabad District, AJ&K. The highest total chlorophyll contents (3.75 ± 0.53 µg/ml) were found in samples collected from Sathrian, Neelum District. The highest antioxidant activity with lowest IC50 value (33.26 µg/ml) was obtained from the root of sample collected from Bakreyali, Muzaffarabad District, as compared with other districts. The concentration of berberine was found to be 4.76 percent in the root bark of B. lycium Royle, estimated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In syrup composition, 0.95 mg/5 ml of berberine was used. Hence, it is concluded that amongst the five districts, the plant parts (stem, fruits, and root) collected from Muzaffarabad District, AJ&K, showed the highest medicinal potential due to its unique climatic conditions.
Masroor Ellahi Babar, Anam Aftab, Muneeb Mohamed Musthafa, Faiz Mohideen Mohamed Thassim Marikar, Abdul Wajid, Qurat ul-Ain, Mastan Ali, Mudassir Sohail, Akhtar Ali, and Tanveer Hussain
Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb
Among the various species of livestock, the domestic yak (Bos grunniens) belongs to the class Bovidae and is specially adapted for survival at high altitudes under extreme climatic conditions. Yak is a very useful species due to the multiple products it provides, such as meat, hide, milk and other dairy products. Like other livestock species, domestic yak is also in danger of infection by microbial infections. However, multiple immunity genes encode special protein products to fight infection. One of these immunity genes is interferon-α-A (IFN-α-A), which encodes proteins that belongs to cytokines and fights viral infections. The current study analysed the genetic variation and phylogenetic analysis of the IFN-α-A gene in domestic yak, with comparisons to other mammalian species to investigate immune diversity level, with the aim of designing molecular selection strategies for better disease resistant animals.
Tanveer Hussain, Mudassir Soail, Ellahi Babar, Muneeb M. Musthafa, Faiz M. M. T. Marikar, Kamran Abbas, Akhtar Ali, and Abdul Wajid
Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb
The complete Cytchrome b gene and partial mtDNA control region were sequenced for the Pakistani domestic yak (Bos grunniens) within the Bovidae family. A total of 300 samples were genotyped using 27 bovine microsatellite markers from the Gilgit-Baltistan and Skardu regions of Pakistan. We identified a total of 35 mutations and 9 haplotypes based on D-loop sequences, with a haplotype and nucleotide diversity of 0.9640±0.051 and 0.02172±0.00224, respectively. For the Cyt b gene, a total of 23 variable sites and six different haplotypes were observed with 0.885±0.067 haplotype and 0.00989±0.003 nucleotide diversity. Phylogenetic analysis of D-loop and Cyt b gene suggested that domestic yak sequences cluster into two highly divergent maternal lineages (lineages I and II), while three haplogroups A, C, and D were identified of the six previously known haplogroups. Haplogroups A and C were dominant and widely distributed among all investigated yak samples. All microsatellites were polymorphic and a total of 138 alleles were observed, with average polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.56 indicating their effectiveness. The average heterozygosity was observed at 0.6071 with allele diversity of 5.1111 and gene diversity of 0.4830. The implications of these findings can be applied for yak conservation.
Abdul Wajid, Masroor E. Babar, Akhtar Ali, Kamran Abbas, Muneeb M. Musthafa, Faiz M. M. T. Marikar, and Tanveer Hussain
Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb
The mitochondrial DNA sequences of DNA-D loops (mtDNA) from 105 individuals (11 Beetal goat Rajanpuri strains and 94 sequences extracted from GenBank) from 19 geographically and phenotypically defined domestic goat breeds in Pakistan were analysed in this experiment. In this study, we examined variability and molecular phylogeny of breeds. A total of 81 haplotypes were observed in 105 individuals, with a haplotype diversity of 0.984±0.006 and nucleotide diversity of 0.03953±0.00843. Phylogenetic analysis based on the mtDNA hyper variable segment (HVI) of the control region (481 bp), showed four mtDNA haplogroups (A, B1, C, and D) identified in Pakistani domestic goats, in which haplogroup A (84.11%) was dominant and widely distributed among all investigated breeds. The study revealed that all Rajanpuri strain haplotypes belonged to haplogroup A. The Rajanpuri is a rare local strain of Beetal goat breed located in western Punjab province of Pakistan. The results of genetic diversity based on 11 microsatellite loci revealed allelic diversity (3.6363) and high genetic diversity (0.8342) in the examined Rajanpuri goat breeds. The analysis for signature bottleneck events, using three models, revealed significant deviation of Rajanpuri goats from mutation drift equilibrium. The qualitative test of mode shift analysis also supported the results obtained under three models, indicating the presence of a recent genetic bottleneck in the Rajanpuri strain. This study provides the first information on the mtDNA architecture, genetic diversity and bottleneck analysis, which will be useful in the conservation and management of the highly valued Rajanpuri goat.
Tanveer Hussain, Fiaz Hussain, Abdul Wajid, Masroor Ellahi Babar, Muneeb M. Mustafa, and Faiz M. M. T. Marikar
Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb
The genetic diversity of Pakistani dromedary camels is poorly documented. The present study evaluated the genetic variations of two well-known Pakistani camel breeds, Mareecha and Barela, that are well-adapted to the Cholistan desert climate. Camel can serve as a beneficial participant in the food supply chain by providing milk, meat and other food products for the livelihood of pastoral peoples. To explore a new world of resources, greater attention to needed to create standard procedures to genetically characterize, classify and identify camel breeds in the country. For this purpose, 66 unrelated animals of the Mareecha (n=35) and Barela (n=31) breeds were genotyped using a set of 12 labelled microsatellite loci. DNA fragment sizes were determined in an ABI 3130 Genetic Analyzer. All microsatellite markers were successfully amplified and exhibited a polymorphic nature, with an average Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) of 0.72 and 0.70 in Mareecha and Barela, respectively. A total of 107 alleles with an average of 8.91 alleles per locus were identified by these markers in both breeds. CMS15 was highly polymorphic with 13 alleles, while VOLP-032 was the lowest with two loci. The Fit and Fis values were low but high population differentiation (17%) was observed in both breeds, due to the migrations of pastoral people to different remote areas during climate fluctuations.
T. Hussain, F. Manzoor, M. M. Musthafa, F. M. Marikar, and M. E. Babar
Universidad Nacional del Nordeste
<p>La gacela india es oriunda de la zona silvestre del norte de Pendjab (Pakistán). De acuerdo a las categorías de la lista roja de la Unión Internacional de Conservación de la Naturaleza y los Recursos Naturales, constituye una especie en peligro. El entendimiento de la genética de la respuesta inmune en esta especie puede ser útil para diseñar efectivas estrategias de conservación. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la diversidad genética molecular en la interleukina 2 (IL-2), secuencias de genes que ponen en peligro a G. bennetti como un gen que codifica una citokina involucrada en algunas actividades vitales de regulación de la respuesta inmune. El gen IL-2 (492 bp) fue amplificado y secuenciado en muestras de ADN colectadas de la naturaleza, así como de ejemplares cautivos de gacela india, seguidos por la alineación y el análisis filogenético. Los vecinos que unen el árbol construido de MEGA6 mostraron que G. bennetti es distinto de otros y forma un clado diferente. El análisis de los resultados del estudio mostró que las gacelas indias constituyen una única población aislada encontrada en Pakistán, la cual es endémica y está expuesta al peligro. Por consiguiente, las técnicas de conservación in-situ y ex-situ para G. bennetti constituyen una buena alternativa para evitar el peligro de extinción de la especie.</p>
Muneeb M. Musthafa and Fauziah Abdullah
Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM Press)
This study measures beetle diversity and distribution pattern along elevations at Fraser’s Hill, a pristine tropical forest in Malaysia. Sites were sampled at 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m and 1800 m a.s.l. using two light traps, two Malaise traps and 25 pitfall traps at each elevation. Sampling was carried out at three months’ intervals in 2015. Altogether, 1981 beetles representing 32 families and 116 species were collected, with proportion of obtained species above 70% at all elevations. Species richness was not significant among elevations, thus forming no discernible pattern of species distribution. Higher Shannon diversity increased steadily with elevation and dominance was lowest at the two highest elevations, while beetle abundance decreases significantly with elevation. There was no significant difference between the diversity values at 500 m and 1000 m, and 1500 m and 1800 m, whereas there was significant difference between 500 m and 1500 m, and 1000 m and 1800 m. The results highlight the importance of different microhabitats for different beetle species and their own responses to environmental parameters that differ with altitudinal clines. These findings also highlight the importance of Fraser’s Hill as a key location for biological conservation and as protected area.
M. M. Musthafa and F. Abdullah
Consorci del Museu de Ciencies Naturals de Barcelona
The objective of this study was to measure beetle richness and diversity in Genting Highland at four major elevations (500 m, 1,000 m, 1,500 m and 1,800 m). Beetles were collected using light traps, malaise traps and pitfall traps. Altogether, 1,499 beetle samples representing 156 morphospecies were collected. Light trap and pitfall traps were more effective than Malaise trap. The 500 m elevation band displayed high species richness, abundance and diversity with all indices showing a decreasing pattern. The species accumulation curve displayed a progressive asymptote for all the altitudinal transects, showing the sampling effort was sufficient for this study. A long-term monitoring program of beetle diversity and distribution is useful to test abiotic factors that might influence biodiversity. This study also serves as a benchmark for further studies on this highly disturbed montane cloud forest in Peninsular Malaysia and will be useful to implement effective conservation management, particularly under the threat of climate change.
T Hussain, M M. Musthafa, M E. Babar, M Shaheen, and F M. Marikar
Universidad Nacional del Nordeste
<p>En Pakistán los recursos genéticos ovinos son abundantes, disponiéndose de varias diferentes castas extendidas en todo el país. No obstante, la diversidad molecular de las razas de ovejas es poco conocida en la región. Por ello, en el presente estudio se investigaron 16 marcadores microsatelitales de las razas indígenas Buchi y Hashtnagri, en las provincias de Pendjab y Balochistan respectivamente. Para indagar la diversidad genética se obtuvieron muestras de sangre de 25 animales de cada raza. El promedio del número de alelos en Buchi y Hashtnagri fue de 3,375±1,455 y 3,50±1,591 respectivamente. Los promedios de heterocigosis registradas fueron de 0,878±0,204 para la raza Buchi y 0,885±0,218 para Hashtnagri. Los índices de Shannon fueron 1,032±0,371 para Buchi y 1,070±0,412 para Hashtnagri, respectivamente. La estimación de los coeficientes de endogamia (FIS y FIT) mostró valores negativos, en tanto que el flujo genético (migración) fue de 10,09 y el promedio de la diferencia poblacional (FST) resultó de 2,4%. En ambas razas, el índice de información polimórfica fue 0,56, indicando el valor del marcador del tablero. Entre las ovejas Buchi y Hashtnagri, la distancia genética estándar de Nei (Ds) fue 0,0218. Según estos resultados, ambas razas mostraron considerable diversidad genética. Los datos obtenidos permiten vislumbrar una promisoria mejoría en el área de la conservación y en el diseño de las estrategias para la cría de ovejas en el futuro cercano.</p>
Muneeb M. Musthafa, Fauziah Abdullah, and Uriel Jeshua Sánchez-Reyes
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
T. HUSSAIN, M. SHAHEEN, M. E. BABAR, M. M. MUSTHAFA, A. NADEEM, A. NAWAZ, M. M. JAVED, and F. MARIKAR
National Documentation Centre (EKT)
This paper evaluates the genetic diversity of goat breeds in Pakistan, a country blessed with a wide range of goats spread throughout with distinct features contributing to a rich Animal Genetic Resource. The genetic diversity of two goat breeds (Jattal and Dera Din Panah) was assessed with 25 animals representing the two breeds using 16 microsatellite markers. The mean observed and expected heterozygosity of both goat breed populations were observed as 0.83+0.21. The average number of observed alleles was 3.6+1.6 for all loci. The mean polymorphic information content for a goat breed was 0.45, indicating the usefulness of markers panel. Highest Nei’s standard genetic distance (Ds) value of 0.0612 was observed between Jattal and Dera Din Panah goats, and the mean Fst value was 0.013. The measures of genetic variation revealed a good scope for effective improvement, conservation, and designing national breeding policies, in future, for Pakistan goat breeds.