Dr Numair Masud
Post-Doctoral Researcher
- masudn@cardiff.ac.uk
- Adeilad Syr Martin Evans, Rhodfa'r Amgueddfa, Caerdydd, CF10 3AX
Trosolwg
In my current role as a research investigator, I focus on fish welfare with an emphasis on host-pathogen dynamics. Understanding and potentially improving fish welfare has been a slow endeavour, with the knowledge that fish can neurologically respond to pain only being discovered in 2003. This neglect of fish welfare has contributed to the ‘silent extinction’ of many fish species, with freshwater species in particular facing higher extinction rates than any other group of vertebrates on the planet. Pathogens are one of the key factors implicated in the demise of wild fish populations and also the major factor preventing the sustainable expansion of aquaculture. Therefore, my research has relevance to ecosystems and the fish trade.
Key research interests:
- - Impact of stressors on fish behaviour, physiology and disease resistance
- - Developing infectious disease prevention and control strategies
Cyhoeddiadau
2022
- Masud, N., Davies-Jones, A., Griffin, B. and Cable, J. 2022. Differential effects of two prevalent environmental pollutants on host-pathogen dynamics. Chemosphere 295, article number: 133879. (10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133879)
2020
- Jackson, J. A., Friberg, I. M., Hablützel, P. I., Masud, N., Stewart, A., Synnott, R. and Cable, J. 2020. Partitioning the environmental drivers of immunocompetence. Science of the Total Environment 747, article number: 141152. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141152)
- Masud, N. 2020. A fishy tale: the impact of multiple stressors on host behaviour, physiology, and susceptibility to infectious disease. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
- Masud, N., Ellison, A., Pope, E. C. and Cable, J. 2020. Cost of a deprived environment - increased intraspecific aggression and susceptibility to pathogen infections. Journal of Experimental Biology 223(20), article number: jeb229450. (10.1242/jeb.229450)
- Masud, N., Hayes, L., Crivelli, D., Grigg, S. and Cable, J. 2020. Noise pollution: acute noise exposure increases susceptibility to disease and chronic exposure reduces host survival. Royal Society Open Science 7(9), article number: 200172. (10.1098/rsos.200172)
2019
- Masud, N., Synnott, R., Hablutzel, P. I., Friberg, I. M., Cable, J. and Jackson, J. A. 2019. Not going with the flow: locomotor activity does not constrain immunity in a wild fish. Ecology and Evolution 9(21), pp. 12089-12098. (10.1002/ece3.5658)
- Masud, N., Ellison, A. and Cable, J. 2019. A neglected fish stressor: mechanical disturbance during transportation impacts susceptibility to disease in a globally important ornamental fish. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 134(1), pp. 25-32. (10.3354/dao03362)
My research can broadly be divided into three key areas:
Aquaculture: with our industry partner Adisseo-Nutriad, I investigate how fortified feeds impact disease resistance and mortality in fish. In developing and testing fortified feeds, aquaculture is addressing preventative and control strategies that replaces the traditional approach of chemical treatments.
Ornamental trade: my research has focussed on how various stressors including, transport stress, enrichment deprivation and noise pollution impact fish physiology, behaviour, and disease resistance. With fish being the most populous pets in western households, such primary research offers insights into how neglected stressors might be impacting fish welfare. Techniques used include behavioural analysis, respirometry and experimental parasitology.
Ecosystems: using an interdisciplinary approach, I investigate how various ecosystem pollutants such as microplastics and herbicides impact freshwater fish welfare. Here, I have drawn on various techniques including NMR spectroscopy, transcriptomic analysis, and experimental parasitology.
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