Faculty Member Profile

19 years of experience

Total Publications: 60

Research Papers (Latest Ten)

• Ahmed, W., Amin, H., *Rais, M., DeWoody, J. A. (2026). Genetic diversity patterns across habitats and forms of a morphologically cryptic South Asian frog (Sphaerotheca maskeyi). Molecular Biology Reports, 53: 1568. (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-026-12696-9) (2026)
• Maqbool, I., Khadija, L., *Rais, M., Rahim, A., Luqman, M., Raja, M. N. I., Mashwani, Z. U. R., Shahbaz, M., Gill, S., & Saeed, M. (2026). Assessing the impact of nano- pollutants on the growth and development of stream- breeding frogs. Biologia. 81 (53): 1-9 (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11756-025-02127-8) (2026)
• Borzee, A., Prasad, V.K., Neam, K., Tarrant, J., Kosch, T.A., Barata, I.M., Rais, M., Bickford, D., da Fonte, L.F.M., Wilcken, J. and Ghosh, D., 2025. Conservation priorities for global amphibian biodiversity. Nature Reviews Biodiversity. 1-18. (https://doi.org/10.1038/s44358-025- 00101-5). (2025)
• Ahmed, W., *Rais, M., Akram, A., Saeed, M., Luqman, Gill, S., Abid, A. and Hadi Sr, A., 2024. Movement of amphibians in a habitat mosaic of agriculture landscape. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 70(6): 108 (2024)
• Batool, A., *Rais, M., Saeed, M., Akram, A., Ahmed, J., Ahmed, W., Batool, A. and Kyle, K.J., 2023.  New survey data on abundance and movements for two poorly known Asian Spiny Frogs. Herpetozoa, 36: 113-121. (https://doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.36.e100649) (2023)
• Luedtke, J.A., Chanson, J., Neam, K. et al. 2023. Ongoing declines for the world’s amphibians in the face of emerging threats. Nature. 622 (7982), 308–314. (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06578-4) (2023)
• *Rais, M., Nawaz, M.A., Gray, R.J., Qadir, W., Ali, S.M., Saeed, M., Akram, A., Ahmed, W., Sajjad, A. and Leston, L., 2023. Niche suitability and spatial distribution patterns of anurans in a unique Ecoregion mosaic of Northern Pakistan. PlosOne, 18(6). (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0285867) (2023)
• Saeed M, *Rais M, Akram A, Williams MR, Kellner KF, Hashsham SA, Davis DR. 2022. Development and validation of an eDNA protocol for monitoring endemic Asian spiny frogs in the Himalayan region of Pakistan. Scientific Reports (Nature). 12: 5624. (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-09084-1) (2022)
• Saeed, M., *Rais, M., Ali, S.M., Khosa, D.N., Akram, A., Ahmed, W. and Gill, S. 2022. Lab protocol for investigating impacts of climate change on frogs. MethodsX. 9 (101767) (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2022.101767) (2022)
• *Rais, M., Ahmed, W., Sajjad, A., Akram, A., Saeed, M., Hamid, HN. and Abid, A. 2021. Amphibian fauna of Pakistan with notes on future prospects of research and conservation. Zookeys.  1062: 157-175. (https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1062.66913) (2021)

Books (Latest Ten)

• Rais, M., & Borzée, A. (Eds.). Trends and Challenges in Amphibian Conservation: A Global Perspective. Springer Cham. XVII, 734 pp. (https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-26426-8) (2026)
• Rais, M. & Anwar, M. Wildlife Conservation in Pakistan: National Perspectives (p.136). Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Pakistan (Paperback ISBN 978-969-8374-29-7, pdf/e-book ISBN 978-969-8374-30-3) (2023)
• *Rais, M. and Abid, A. Softshell Freshwater Turtles in Peril: Research Gaps and Conservation Planning. In: DellaSala, D.A., Goldstein, M.I. (Eds.), Imperiled: The Encyclopedia of Conservation, vol. 1. Elsevier, pp. 320–326. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978- 0-12-821139-7.00052-0 (2022)
• Anwar, M., Rais, M., Baig, M.B., and Behnassi, M. Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity in Pakistan: Current Challenges and Policy Recommendations. In: M. Behnassi et al. (eds.), The Food Security, Biodiversity, and Climate Nexus, Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031- 12586-7_6 (2022)
• *Rais M. and Ahmed W. Pandemics and use of technology in animal conservation. In: Shibly, F.H., and Zunoomy M.S. (eds) Impact of Covid-19 on Technology, Social, Economic Domains. Great Minds, Media and Communications Unit, Great Minds (pvt) LTD. https://doi.org/978-624-6253-01-1 (2021)
• *Rais M. and Ahmed W. Amphibian Dispersal among Terrestrial Habitats and Wetlands in a Landscape. In: Leal Filho W., Azul A.M., Brandli L., Lange Salvia A., Wall T. (eds) Life on Land. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71065-5_151-1 (2021)

• Research Award (2023), Directorate of Office of Innovation and Research, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan. (2023)
• Australia Awards, Professional Development Opportunity for Pakistan (2020), Government of Australia. (2020)
• Future Leader in Amphibian Conservation (2020) awarded by Amphibian Survival Alliance (2020)
• Dr. Aleem Chaudhary Gold medal awarded by the Zoological Society of Pakistan at 39th Pakistan Congress of Zoology (March, 2019) for outstanding contributions in Wildlife Management in Pakistan by a young scientist. (2019)
• Gold medal awarded by the Zoological Society of Pakistan for standing first in M.Sc Zoology (Wildlife and Fisheries). (2005)
• Gold medal awarded by the University of Karachi at annual convocation 2005 for standing first in M.Sc Zoology (Wildlife and Fisheries). (2005)