CV

Education

• BSc (Honours) in Aquaculture & Fisheries, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, 2006
• MSc in Biostatistics, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2009
• MSc in Biology (Specialization: Aquatic Ecology and Limnology), University of Regina, Canada, 2012
• PhD in Biology (Specialization: Aquatic Ecology and Limnology), University of Regina, Canada, 2019

Work experience

• Sep. 2021 - to date: Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Canada
  • Duties include: Leading the investigation on developing a geospatial assessment model for watershed integrity of the North Saskatchewan River Basin in Canada; Compiling geospatial and field monitoring data sets and performing GIS and statistical analyses; Mentoring graduate students on statistical analyses; Co-writing manuscripts and technical reports based on the project.
  • Supervisors: Drs. Rolf Vinebrooke and Craig Emmerton
• April 2021 - Sep. 2021: Aquatic Science Biologist (Casual Hire)
  • Great Lakes Laboratory for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Burlington ON, Canada
  • Duties included : Leading the analysis on identifying freshwater biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities in Southwestern Ontario; Writing a manuscript.
  • Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Drake
• 2019 - 2021: Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto, Canada
  • Duties included: Leading the investigations on i) environmental, historical and anthropogenic drivers of spatial/temporal variation in freshwater fish biodiversity at regional, national and continental scales, ii) effects of urbanization gradients on freshwater fish invasions across North America (as a part of Global Biological Invasion Consortium [GUBIC]), iii) identifying ichthyofaunal biogeographic regions in Canada and iv) developing an index of biotic integrity based on freshwater fish biodiversity to identify Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) in Canada; Compiling regional/national/continental-scale data sets and performed GIS and statistical analyses; Writing peer-reviewed publications based on the project.
  • Supervisor: Dr. Nicholas Mandrak
• 2018 - 2019: Biologist (Casual Hire)
  • Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon SK, Canada
  • Duties included : Performing data analyses using multivariate, spatial and time-series statistical techniques for projects examining i) effects of atmospheric contaminant deposition from oil sands industry on boreal lakes across northern Alberta and Saskatchewan and ii) mercury bioaccumulation in fish across western Canada in relation to industrial deposition; Writing technical reports and co-writing manuscripts
  • Supervisor: Dr. Marlene Evans
• 2014 - 2016: Research Assistant
  • Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina SK , Canada
  • Duties included : Performing statistical analyses on a large dataset for an epidemiology project investigating the demographic, dietary and physical activity factors related to ‘metabolically healthy but obese’ condition in children and adolescents; Compiling a large database from secondary sources; Producing regular technical reports.
  • Supervisor: Dr. Katya Herman
• 2014 - 2016: Research Assistant
  • Science & Technology Policy Research Division, National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka
  • Duties included : • Co-investigating research projects related to science and technology policy in Sri Lanka including brain drain of the scientific community, national science and technology performance indicators, knowledge exchange in small and medium industrial clusters and role of women in science; Designing, planning and administrating large scale field, mail and online surveys; Supervising a field crew of 3-5 members in national-scale surveys; Analyzing data to produce national science and development performance indicators; Writing peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, newspaper articles and delivering conference presentations.
  • Supervisor: Dr. Seetha I. Wickramasinghe

Skills

• Research in limnology and aquatic ecology
• Quantitative analyses
  • Statistical analysis
  • Data management
  • Computer programming
  • R statistical software applications
• GIS applications in environmental sciences

Publications

Suitability of presence vs. absence indicator species to characterize stress gradients: Lessons from zooplankton species of boreal lakes

Anas, M.U.M., K.A. Scott and B. Wissel (2013). "Suitability of presence vs. absence indicator species to characterize stress gradients: Lessons from zooplankton species of boreal lakes." Ecological Indicators. 30:90-99.

Zooplankton communities are good indicators of potential impacts of Athabasca oil sands operations

Anas, M.U.M., K.A. Scott , R.N. Cooper and B. Wissel (2014). "Zooplankton communities are good indicators of potential impacts of Athabasca oil sands operations." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 71:719-732.

Environmental filtering of crustacean zooplankton communities in fishless boreal lakes: expectations and exceptions

Anas, M.U.M., K.A. Scott and B. Wissel (2015). "Environmental filtering of crustacean zooplankton communities in fishless boreal lakes: expectations and exceptions." Journal of Plankton Research. 37:75-89.

Carbon budgets of boreal lakes: Current state of knowledge, challenges and implications

Anas, M.U.M., K.A. Scott and B. Wissel. (2015). "Carbon budgets of boreal lakes: Current state of knowledge, challenges and implications." Environmental Reviews. 23:275-287.

Species-specific mercury bioaccumulation in a diverse fish community

Donald, D.B., B. Wissel and M.U.M. Anas. (2015). "Species-specific mercury bioaccumulation in a diverse fish community." Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 34:2846-2855.

Scale-dependent effects of natural environmental gradients, industrial emissions and dispersal processes on zooplankton metacommunity structure: Implications for the bioassessment of boreal lakes

Anas, M.U.M., B. J. Meegahage, M. S. Evans, D. S. Jeffries and B. Wissel. (2017). "Scale-dependent effects of natural environmental gradients, industrial emissions and dispersal processes on zooplankton metacommunity structure: Implications for the bioassessment of boreal lakes." Ecological Indicators. 82:484-494.

Taxon-specific variation in δ13C and δ15N of subfossil invertebrate remains: Insights into historical trophodynamics in lake food webs

Anas, M.U.M., G. Simpson, P. Leavitt, B. Cumming, K. Laird, K.A. Scott, B. Das, A. Walker, B. Meegahage, J. Wolfe, B. Hesjedal, G. Mushet and B. Wissel. (2019). "Taxon-specific variation in δ13C and δ15N of subfossil invertebrate remains: Insights into historical trophodynamics in lake food webs." Ecological Indicators. 102:834-847.

Water chemistry, landscape and spatial controls of δ13C and δ15N of zooplankton taxa in boreal lakes: One size does not fit all

Anas, M.U.M., K.A. Scott and B. Wissel (2019). "Water chemistry, landscape and spatial controls of δ13C and δ15N of zooplankton taxa in boreal lakes: One size does not fit all." Freshwater Biology 64. 2006-2025.

Patterns and drivers of native, non-native and at-risk freshwater fish richness in watersheds across Canada

Anas,M.U.M. and N. Mandrak. (2021). "Patterns and drivers of native, non-native and at-risk freshwater fish richness in watersheds across Canada." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 1. (e-first).

Drivers of native and non-native freshwater fish richness across North America: Disentangling the roles of environmental, historical and anthropogenic factors

Anas, M.U.M. and N. Mandrak. (2021). "Drivers of native and non-native freshwater fish richness across North America: Disentangling the roles of environmental, historical and anthropogenic factors." Global Ecology and Biogeography . 39:1232-1244.

Conference Presentations (* Presenting Author)

1. Anas, M.U.M.*, A. Drake, T. Morris and N. Mandrak. 2021. Freshwater fish and mussel biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities in Southwestern Ontario. 4th Biennial Canadian Freshwater Mollusk Research Meeting (virtual). Dec. 7-8th (Oral presentation).
2. C. Emmerton*, M. Nasr, F. Wyatt, C. Buendia, D. Roberts, S. Stenerson, B. Stuparyk, J. Lightbown, V. Van Mierlo, R. Vinebrooke, S. Green, M. Bhatia, M. Poesch, M.U.M. Anas. Using Watershed geospatial data to guide Aquatic Ecosystem Health sampling in the North Saskatchewan River basin. Watershed Wednesday Webinars. Northern Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance. Nov. 3rd (Oral presentation).
3. Meegahage, B.*, M.U.M. Anas, C. Ofosu, E. Hills, K. Hodder, Z. Quiñones-Rivera and B. Wissel. 2021. The roles of local, regional and spatial factors in shaping zooplankton metacommunities: Implications for the bioassessment of lakes in Northern Great Plains. Society for Freshwater Science (SFS) annual meeting (virtual). May 23-27th (Oral presentation).
4. Anas, M.U.M.* and N. Mandrak. 2021. Drivers of native and non-native freshwater fish richness in Canada. Canadian Conference for Fisheries Research and Society of Limnologists (CCFFR-SCL) annual meeting (virtual). Feb. 15-19th (Oral presentation).
5. Meegahage, B.*, M.U.M. Anas, C. Ofosu, E. Hills, K. Hodder, Z. Quiñones-Rivera and B. Wissel. 2021. Regulators of zooplankton composition in lakes of the northern Great Plains: Effects of water chemistry, lake morphometry, watershed, and spatial factors. Canadian Conference for Fisheries Research and Society of Limnologists (CCFFR-SCL) annual meeting (virtual). Feb. 15-19th (Oral presentation).

6. Ofosu, C.*, E. Hills, M.U.M. Anas, Z. Quiñones-Rivera and B. Wissel. 2021. Potential Impacts of Zebra Mussel Invasion on Gamefish Health and Food Web Structure in Prairie Lakes. Canadian Conference for Fisheries Research and Society of Limnologists (CCFFR-SCL) annual meeting (virtual). Feb. 15-19th (Oral presentation).

7. Evans, M.*, M. Anas, B. Wissel, D. Jeffries, D. Andrews, C. Cooke and K. Scott. 2019. Atmospheric emissions from the Fort McMurray oil sands mining operations and their impact on boreal lakes: spatial and temporal trends and climate. 40th annual meeting of Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) North America, Toronto, ON, Nov. 3-7th (Poster presentation).
8. Evans, M.*, J.Kirk, J. Wiklund , S. Robertson, D. Muir, J. Smol, K. Rühland , B. Simmatis, M.U.M. Anas, A. Gleason, J. Keating, X. Wang. 2019. Comparative impacts of smelter operation: the copper-zinc smelter at Flin Flon, Manitoba and the lead-zinc smelter at Trail British, Columbia. 40th annual meeting of Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) North America, Toronto, ON, Nov. 3-7th (Poster presentation).
9. Mandrak, N. and M. U. M. Anas*. 2019. Global aquatic species invasions in urban environments, 21st International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species (ICAIS), Montreal, QC, Oct. 27-31st (Oral presentation)
10. Evans, M.*, M. U. M. Anas, B. Wissel, D. Jeffries, D. Andrews and C. Cooke. 2017. Atmospheric emissions from the Athabasca oil sands and their impact of boreal lakes: spatial and temporal trends. Summer Meeting of Association for Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), Victoria, BC, June 10-15th (Oral presentation).
11. Evans, M.*, M. U. M. Anas, B. Wissel, D. Jeffries, D. Andrews and C. Cooke. 2017. Atmospheric emissions from the Athabasca oil sands and their impact of boreal lakes: spatial and temporal trends. 8th annual meeting of Prairie Northern Chapter of Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), Saskatoon, SK, June 15-16th (Oral presentation).
12. Anas, M.U.M.*, B. Meegahage, M. Evans, J. Keating, D. Jeffries and B. Wissel. 2016. Effects of atmospheric emissions from Athabasca oil sands on adjacent boreal lakes: inferences from crustacean zooplankton communities. Summer Meeting of Association for Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), Santa Fe, New Mexico, June. 5-10th (Oral presentation).
13. Anas, M.U.M.*, B. Meegahage, M. Evans, J. Keating, D. Jeffries and B. Wissel. 2015. Investigating the impacts of atmospheric emissions from Athabasca Oil Sands on adjacent boreal lakes through diversity patterns of zooplankton communities. 42nd Canadian Ecotoxicity Workshop, Saskatoon, SK, Oct. 4-7th (Oral presentation).
14. Anas, M.U.M.*, K.A. Scott and B. Wissel. 2015. Zooplnakton communities as indicators of potential impacts of Athabasca oil-sands operations on downwind boreal lakes. Shen Kuo Research Presentation Session, Hunan University, Changsha, China, May 18th (Oral presentation).
15. Anas, M.U.M.*, K.A. Scott and B. Wissel. 2015. Zooplnakton communities as indicators of potential impacts of Athabasca oil-sands operations on downwind boreal lakes. Shen Kuo Research Presentation Session, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, China, May 13th (Oral presentation).
16. Anas, M.U.M., B. Meegahage, M. Evans*, J. Keating, D. Jeffries, D. Andrews, and B. Wissel. 2014. Species-environment associations of zooplankton communities in boreal lakes in the vicinity of Athabasca oil sands operations. 35th annual meeting of Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) North America, Vancouver, BC, Nov. 9-13th (Poster presentation).
17. Anas, M.U.M.*, B. Jayakala, M. Evans, J. Keating, D. Jeffries, D. Andrews, and B. Wissel. 2014. Species-environment associations of crustacean zooplankton communities in response to deposition gradients and landscape sensitivity. 5th GIS and Data Expo. University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Nov. 19th (Poster presentation).
18. Anas, M.U.M.*, K.A. Scott and B. Wissel. 2014. Variations in sources of organic matter to zooplankton diet across a boreal landscape: Inferences from carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses. Genomes to Biomes joint conference, Montreal, QC, May 25-29th (Oral presentation).
19. Anas, M.U.M.*, K.A. Scott and B. Wissel. 2013. Zooplnakton communities as indicators of environmental changes across broad geographical regions: the case of boreal lakes downwind of Athabasca oil-sands region. Special Meeting of International Biogeography Society: The Geography of Species Associations, Montreal, QC, Nov. 15-17th (Poster presentation).
20. Anas, M.U.M.*, K.A. Scott and B. Wissel. 2013. Zooplnakton communities as indicators of environmental changes across broad geographical regions: the case of boreal lakes downwind of Athabasca oil-sands region.4th GIS and Data Expo. University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Nov. 19th (Poster presentation).
21. Anas, M.U.M., K.A. Scott, R.N. Cooper, B. Das, B.F. Cumming and B.Wissel*. 2013. Early acidification of Boreal Shield lakes down-wind od Athabasca oil sands operations: Inferences from crustacean zooplankton communities. Annual Aquatic Sciences Meeting of Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), New Orleans, Lousiana, Feb. 17-22nd (Oral presentation).
22. Anas, M.U.M.*, K.A. Scott. And B. Wissel. 2011. Environment - zooplankton relationships in pristine boreal lakes threatened by acidification. Prairie University Biology Symposium, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Feb. 24-26th (Oral presentation)
23. Anas, M.U.M.*, K.A. Scott. And B. Wissel. 2011. Importance of spatial effects on environment - environment relationships in pristine boreal lakes threatened by acidification. Annual Aquatic Sciences Meeting of Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), San Juan, Puerto Rico, Feb. 13-18th (Oral presentation).
24. Anas, M.U.M.*, B. Wissel, and K.A. Scott. 2010. Determinents of zooplankton composition of boreal lakes in northern Saskatchewan, Canada as an approach to predict its vulnerability to acidification. Prairie University Biology Symposium, Brandon University, Manitoba, Feb. 18-21st (Oral presentation).
25. Anas, M.U.M.*, B. Wissel, and K.A. Scott. 2010. Zooplankton composition of boreal lakes in northern Saskatchewan, Canada and its vulnerability to acidification. 63rd meeting of the Society of Canadian Limnologists. Winnipeg, MB, Jan. 7-9th (Oral presentation).
26. Anas, M.U.M. and S.I. Wickramasinghe*. 2009. The human capital and social capital of coir fiber pith industry in the North Western province of Sri Lanka. 65th Annual Sessions of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Dec. 7-11th (Oral presentation).
27. Weerasooriya, W.A.D.L.C.*, Anas, M.U.M. and S.I. Wickramasinghe. 2009. Characteristics of the individual inventors in Sri Lanka – A case study using the inventors database maintained by National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka. 65th Annual Sessions of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Dec. 7-11th (Oral presentation).
28. Anas, M.U.M.* and J.M.P.K.Jayasinghe. 2007. Employability of food science and nutrition graduates and relevance of the degree programme in their performance in job and real life. 63rd Annual Sessions of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Dec. 3-8th (Oral presentation).
29. Anas, M.U.M.* and J.M.P.K.Jayasinghe. 2007. Food science and nutrition undergraduates’ expectations in English language and IT learning during their university undergraduate education. 63rd Annual Sessions of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Dec. 3-8th (Oral presentation).
30. Anas, M.U.M.*, E.M.R.K.B.Edirisinghe, M.D.S.T. De Croos and J.M.P.K.Jayasinghe. 2007. Lipid Composition and Fatty Acid Profiles of Wild Caught and Fatten mud crab, Scylla serrata, in Sri Lanka. International Conference on Tropical Aquatic Research towards Sustainable Development. National Aquatic Resource Research and Development Agency, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb. 15-16th (Poster presentation).
31. Anas, M.U.M.*, E.M.R.K.B.Edirisinghe, M.D.S.T. De Croos and J.M.P.K.Jayasinghe. 2007. Fatty Acid Profiles of Wild Caught and Fatten mud crab, Scylla serrata, in Sri Lanka. 4th Food and Nutrition Symposium of Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Sept. 27th, (Oral presentation).
32. Anas, M.U.M.*. 2006. Influence of habitat alteration on fish communities of Bai Watta Ella stream of Mahaweli basin, Sri Lanka. 12th annual scientific sessions of Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 29th (Oral presentation).
33. Anas, M.U.M.*. 2006. Human impacts on fish community composition in a second order stream of Mahaweli basin, Sri Lanka. Annual poster presentation sessions of Faculty of Livestock, Fisheries and Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, May 15th (Poster presentation).

Invited Seminars

1. Anas, M.U.M. 2021. Zooplankton as proxies of environmental change. LimnoSeminar webinar series, Society of Canadian Limnologists (SCL).
2. Anas, M.U.M. 2021. Drivers of native, non-native and at-risk freshwater fish richness in watersheds across Canada, WISE Talks Seminar Series, University of Lethbridge, AB.
3. Anas, M.U.M. 2020. Patterns and drivers of native, non-native and at-risk freshwater fish richness in watersheds across Canada. Environmental Science Seminar Series, Thompson Rivers University, BC.
4. Anas, M.U.M. 2019. Zooplankton community and stable isotope indicators: Assessing ecological changes in boreal lakes. Biology Seminar Series, University of Regina, SK.
5. Anas, M.U.M. 2011. Zooplankton as early indicators of acid-stress to northern Saskatchewan lakes. Aquatic Sciences Summer Talk Series, University of Regina, SK.
6. Anas, M.U.M. 2011. Environment - spatial - zooplankton relationships in boreal Shield lakes of northern Saskatchewan. Department of Biology, Université du Québec à Montréal, SK.
7. Anas, M.U.M. 2010. Zooplankton community responses to lake acidification. Biology Seminar Series, University of Regina, SK.

Teaching & Mentoring

• 2020: Guest Lecturer
  • Department of Biology, University of Regina SK, Canada
  • Lectured sections of Biometry undergraduate course.
• 2020 - to date: Guest Lecturer
  • Department of Biology, University of Regina SK, Canada
  • Co-advising (with Dr. Björn Wissel) two Masters students in thesis research projects.
• 2013 - 2018: Laboratory Staff Training
  • Department of Biology, University of Regina SK, Canada
  • Trained and supervised three technical staff on zooplankton taxonomy, fossil cladoceran analysis and other laboratory procedures.
• 2009 - 2017: Teaching Assistant
  • Department of Biology, University of Regina SK, Canada
  • Instructed and supervised Introductory Biology labs of ~30 students; Led weekly discussion forums; Contributed to design of course material.
• 2008: Visiting Lecturer
  • Faculty of Livestock, Fisheries and Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
  • Lectured sections of Statistical Methodology undergraduate course; Initiated and facilitated an online forum to discuss course-related queries.
• 2008 - 2009: Visiting Instructor
  • MSc program in GIS and Remote Sensing, Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  • Conducted the practical sessions of Geo-statistics graduate course; Designed and led review sessions.
• 2008: Lecturer
  • Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing, Sri Lanka
  • Lectured ‘Data Analyses’ sections of understanding consumer course.
• 2008 - to date: Statistical Advisor
  • University of Alberta, University of Toronto, University of Regina, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  • Mentored and assisted dozens of students and peers on statistical analyses for Honors, Masters and other research projects related to various disciplines including biology, agriculture and health studies.
• 2006 - 2007: Teaching Assistant
  • Faculty of Livestock, Fisheries and Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
  • Conducted practical sessions of Design and Analysis of Experiments undergraduate course.
  • Instructed and supervised Fish Biology and Environmental Assessment and Management labs.

Service and leadership

• Journal Reviewer
  • Ecological Indicators (6), Science of the Total Environment (4), Aquatic Sciences (3), Journal of Great Lakes Research (1), Scientific Reports (1), Journal of Fish Biology (1), Ecotoxicology (1), Inland Waters (1), Environmental Engineering and Management Journal (1), Journal of Oceanography and Limnology (3), Journal of Mountain Science (1)
• Research Grant Reviewer
  • External reviewer for New Frontiers Research Funds - Exploration competition of Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat of Canada (2020, 2021)
  • External reviewer for Discovery Grants of National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Geosciences section (EG-1506, 2017)
• Judge
  • SINAPSE national undergraduate science case competition (2019, 2020); Canada-Wide Science Fair (2017); Regina Regional Science Fair (2016, 2017, 2018); Graduate Students’ Research Conference, University of Regina (2010, 2011)