Atal SahaForskare

Om mig

I am a postdoctoral researcher in the Division of Population Genetics investigating genomic dynamics over space and time in salmonid (brown trout and Arctic char) metapopulations. My project is based on data from individual whole-genome sequencing and pool-sequencing of groups of individuals. In this work, we aim to study cryptic sympatry, genetic changes over time, local adaptation, hybridization and introgression in salmonids from mountain freshwater lake systems in Sweden.

In my PhD project, I investigated genetic population structure, cryptic speciation, hybridization and local adaptation, mainly in redfish (plus saithe and Greenland halibut) from the North Atlantic. Analysing data from microsatellite DNA and SNP markers, I found evidence of significant genetic population structure in beaked redfish, saithe and Greenland halibut. My data supported three novel cryptic species in golden redfish complex. A low but statistically significant extent of introgession was estimated in redfish. I also found an indication of local adaptation in groups of beaked redfish. I defended my PhD at University of Tromso and the project was coordinated by the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR). During my PhD period, I had a PhD internship at University of Washington. After completion of my PhD, I worked as a research assistant at IMR for a year.

As it is evident, my main research interest is to apply population genomic tools for the sustainable management and conservation of aquatic species.

Publications:

Original articles:

1. Saha A, Johansen T, Hedeholm R, Nielsen EE, Westgaard J-I, Hauser L, Cadrin S, Boje J (2017) Geographic extent of introgression in Sebastes mentella and its effect on genetic population structure. Evolutionary Applications. doi: 10.1111/eva.12429

2. Saha A, Hauser L, Planque B, Fevolden S-E, Hedeholm R, Boje J, Johansen T (2017) Cryptic Sebastes norvegicus species in Greenland waters revealed by microsatellites. ICES Journal of Marine Science. doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsx039

3. Saha A, Hauser L, Kent M, Planque B, Neat F, Kirubakaran TG, Huse I, Homrum EÍ, Fevolden S-E, Lien S, Johansen T (2015) Seascape genetics of saithe (Pollachius virens) across the North Atlantic using single nucleotide polymorphisms. ICES Journal of Marine Science 72, 2732-2741. doi: 10.1093/icesjms/fsv139

4. Westgaard J-I, Saha A, Kent M, Hansen HH, Knutsen H, Hauser L, Cadrin SX, Albert OT, Johansen T (2016) Genetic population structure in Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) and its relevance to fishery management. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. doi: 10.1139/cjfas-2015-0430

5. Christensen HT, Riget F, Backe MB, Saha A, Johansen T, Hedeholm RB (2018) Comparison of three methods for identification of two species of redfish (Sebastes mentella and S. norvegicus) from the Greenland east coast. Fisheries Research 201, 11-17.

6. Saha A, Kabir MR, Ali MM (2009) Breeding performances of Thai Koi, Anabas testudineus (Bloch, 1792) in different months of the breeding season under two sex ratios. Bangladesh Research Publications Journal 2, 667-673

7. Khan M, Saha A, Talukder MBA, Mazumder S, Shah MS (2009) Present status of the carp hatchery facilities in the greater Jessore region of Bangladesh. Journal of Bangladesh Society for Agricultural Science 6, 109-112

8. Ali H, Saha A, Khan M, Alam MS, Mazumder S (2009) Profitability of the selected two baors fish cultivation in Meherpur district. Eco-friendly Agriculture Journal 2, 632-636

9. Adhikary RK, Mostafa ZB, Saha A, Shah MS (2009) Growth performance of Thai Koi in integrated culture system. Bangladesh Research Publications Journal 2, 361-370

10. Shah MS, Ghosh AK, Sayeed MAB, Saha A, Hossain MA, Hossain GS (2008) Hybridization of Rohu (Labeo rohita) and Bata (Labeo bata) and growth comparison of the hybrid with Rohu. Khulna University Studies 9, 215-220

Conference contributions:

Paper:

Saha A, Kent M, Hauser L, Planque B, Westgaard J-I, Cadrin SX, Johansen T (2015) Genome-wide SNPs reveal divergence within the S. mentella complex. In: ICES Annual Science Conference 2015 (ed. ICES). ICES Annual Science Conference CM 2015/I:07, Copenhagen, Denmark

Posters:

Saha A, Johansen T, Planque B (2018) Modern population genomic methods provide an improved tool to investigate complex genetic diversity in a wild marine species, Sebastes mentella. Accepted. 2018 International Symposium: The Climate Change Effects on the World Oceans. June 4-8, 2018, Washington D.C., USA

Saha A, Johansen T, Planque B (2017) Application of modern genetic tools to assess the consistency between management and biological units in three exploited species from the Northeast Atlantic. 3 rd ICES/ PICES early career scientist conference, Busan, Korea

Saha A, Planque B, Westgaard J-I, Johansen T (2017) Genetic complexity, biological units and management units of Northeast arctic fish populations. Arctic Frontiers Conference, Tromsø, Norway

Saha A, Kirubakaran TG, Kent M, Lien S, Westgaard J-I, Fevolden S-E, Hauser L, Knutsen H, Cadrin S, and Johansen T (2012) Application of SNP markers to study genetic structure of saithe (Pollachius virens) in the Northeast Atlantic. ICES CM 2012/H: 16. Bergen, Norway

 Theses:

1. Saha A (2016) Genetic complexity in the marine environment: Population genomics of saithe (Pollachius virens), Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides), beaked and golden redfish (Sebastes mentella and S. norvegicus) in the North Atlantic. PhD thesis. ISBN 978-82- 8266-116-4. Tromsø: UiT-The Arctic University of Norway

2. Saha A (2011) Parentage analysis in Nile tilapia with two types of DNA-markers. MSc thesis. Wageningen University and Norwegian University of Life Sciences. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.32236.36489

3. Saha A (2008) Hybridization of reba (Cirrhinus reba) and mrigal (Cirrhinus cirrhosus) and growth comparison of the hybrid with reba. BSc thesis. Khulna University 

Others: PhD trial lecture: Saha A (2016) The post-Pleistocene re-colonization of the North Atlantic by commercial teleosts