Mohsen Rezaei Atagholipour

Ph.D. Researcher

mohsen.rezaeiatagholipour@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk

About Me

I am a marine biology and conservation scientist through and through. I am currently a PhD researcher in the Shiels Lab, funded by the President’s Doctoral Scholar Award, the University of Manchester’s flagship funding scheme. My PhD project focuses on sharks and rays in the Persian Gulf, the world's hottest sea, aiming to understand how ocean warming affects the vulnerability of these ancient fishes to human activities. Living this life is my childhood dream come true! Unlike many marine biologists, my passion for marine life did not come from growing up by the sea. Quite the opposite, I grew up in northeast Iran, hundreds of miles away from the coast. However, marine life filled my favourite childhood books and, much like science fiction characters, fuelled my imagination. At 18, I moved next to the ocean to pursue my dream of becoming a marine biologist. It is what I have been doing ever since, and it is what I plan to dedicate the rest of my life to.

My Background

My journey as a marine biologist began in 2005 when I started my bachelor's degree in Marine Biology at the University of Hormozgan in southern Iran, near the Strait of Hormuz, where the Persian Gulf meets the Gulf of Oman. Even as an undergraduate, I couldn’t wait to start research. Using my pocket money, I conducted my first project on Giant Mud Crabs (Scylla serrata) in the nearby mangrove forests, which led to my first peer-reviewed publication. Later, I collaborated with colleagues to study barnacle ecology. However, I shifted my focus taxa during my postgraduate studies.

In 2009, I began a master’s degree in Marine Zoology at the same university, focusing on marine reptiles. My research on the ecology of the Annulated Sea Snake (Hydrophis cyanocinctus) in the Hara Biosphere Reserve, the largest mangrove forest in the Persian Gulf, deepened my interest in these fascinating animals.

After completing my master’s degree, I worked between 2013 and 2016 as a marine environmental expert for the Department of Environment on Qeshm Island, the Gulf’s largest island. During this time, I initiated several research and conservation projects on sea turtles and sea snakes, as well as small cetaceans. However, my attention turned to sharks and rays after seeing large numbers of these threatened species landed in local fisheries. Realising how little was known about them in Iranian waters, I decided to focus on shark and ray conservation.

In 2018, I founded the Qeshm Environmental Conservation Institute (QECI), a marine-focused environmental NGO dedicated to protecting marine life, especially sharks and rays, in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman ( https://qeci.org ). QECI combines research, science-based solutions, and public awareness to tackle marine conservation challenges.

Over the years, this career journey has resulted in various research and conservation projects, scientific publications, and multiple awards. Eventually, my passion for understanding how ocean warming impacts sharks and rays led me to connect with Professor Holly Shiels at the University of Manchester in 2023. Inspired by this shared vision, I started my PhD in 2024, focusing on this topic under a collaborative supervision team from the University of Manchester, the University of Oxford in the UK, the Marine Research Institute of Norway, and the Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, and the Fisheries Science Research Institute in Iran.

Awards & Accolades

(2024) Winner of The University of Manchester President’s Doctoral Scholar Award.

(2023) Runner-up of Ocean Awards (Category: Local Hero) for involving local fishing communities in closing the shark conservation research gap in Iran.

(2021) Winner of the Future For Nature Award for minimizing shark and ray bycatch in the Persian Gulf.

Publications

Book Chapters

Naser M, Yasser A, Ali AH, Rezaie-Atagholipour M (2024) Iraq. In Jabado RW, Morata AZA, Bennett RH, et al. (eds.). The global status of sharks, rays, and chimaeras (pp. 1481–1486). Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. https://doi.org/10.59216/ssg.gsrsrc.2024

Rezaie-Atagholipour M (2024) Iran. In Jabado RW, Morata AZA, Bennett RH, et al. (eds.). The global status of sharks, rays, and chimaeras (pp. 1471–1480). Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. https://doi.org/10.59216/ssg.gsrsrc.2024

Sherman CS, Martins APB, Baremore IE, Bennett RH, van Beuningen D, Flowers K, Leurs G, Mansur EF, Morales-Saldana JM, Mull C, Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Simeon BM (2024) Tropical stingrays. In Jabado RW, Morata AZA, Bennett RH, et al. (eds.). The global status of sharks, rays, and chimaeras (pp. 2035–2052). Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. https://doi.org/10.59216/ssg.gsrsrc.2024

Peer-reviewed Articles

Tollab MA, Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Abedi HA, Hesni MA, Abedi E, Ahmadi F, Van Waerebeek, K (2023) After two decades: extremely rare records of dugongs, Dugong dugon (Sirenia: Dugongidae), in the Iranian Persian Gulf. Journal of Animal Diversity 5 (1): 108–112. http://dx.doi.org/10.52547/JAD.2023.5.1.7

Yousefkhani SSH, Yasser A, Naser M, Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Hesni MA, Yousefabadi F, Rastegar Pouyani E (2023) Genetic diversity among sea snakes of the genus Hydrophis (Elapidae, Reptilia) in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. ZooKeys 1158: 121–131. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1158.101347

Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Jabado RW, Hesni MA, Owfi F, Rastegar Pouyani E, Ebert DA (2023) Redescription of the Critically Endangered tentacled butterfly ray, Gymnura tentaculata (Valenciennes in Müller & Henle, 1841) (Myliobatiformes: Gymnuridae) from Iranian waters. Marine Biodiversity 53: 6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-022-01303-2

Al Ameri HM, Al Harethi S, Al Kiyumi A, Al Sariri TS, Al-Zaidan ASY, Antonopoulou M, Broderick AC, Chatting M, Das HS, Hesni MA, Mancini A, Miller JD, Mobaraki A, Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Pilcher NJ, Rees AF, Rodriguez-Zarate CJ, Smyth DM, Tanabe LK, Yaghmour F, Yusuf AA, Godley BJ (2022) Biology and conservation of marine turtles in the northwestern Indian Ocean: a review. Endangered Species Research 48: 67–86. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01183

Loghmannia J, Nasrolahi A, Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Kiabi BH (2021) Epibiont assemblages on nesting hawksbill turtles show site-specificity in the Persian Gulf. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.690022

Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Jabado RW, Owfi F, Hesni MA, Ebert DA (2021) Lost and found: rediscovery of the extinct tentacled butterfly ray Gymnura tentaculata in Iranian waters. Oryx 55(4): 489–490. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605321000521

Motlagh SH, Nasrolahi A, Rezaie-Atagholipour M (2021) Species assemblage and distribution of turtle barnacles (Cirripedia: Coronuloidea) on foraging green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Persian Gulf. Journal of Natural History 54: 2113–2123. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2020.1837276

Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Imani F, Ghezellou P, Seminoff JA (2021) Feeding ecology of juvenile green turtles in food-poor habitats of the Persian Gulf. Marine Biology 197: 183. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-020-03809-4

Askari Hesni M, Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Zangiabadi S, Tollab MA, et al. (2019) Monitoring hawksbill turtle nesting sites in some protected areas from the Persian Gulf. Acta Oceanologica Sinica 38(12): 43–51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-019-1514-3

Khoobdel M, Dehghani H, Tavana AM, Ghasemi M, Dakhteh SMH, Hesni MA, Rezaie-Atagholipour M (2017) Faunal data and envenomation emergency first aid of cone snails (Conus spp.) in Qeshm Island, the Persian Gulf. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 10(12): 1167–1171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtm.2017.10.024

Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Ghezellou P, Hesni MA, Dakhteh SMH, Ahmadian H, Vidal N (2016) Sea snakes (Elapidae, Hydrophiinae) in their westernmost extent: an updated and illustrated checklist and key to the species in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. ZooKeys 622: 129–164. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.622.9939

Ukuwela KDB, Lee MSY, Rasmussen AR, de Silva A, Mumpuni, Fry BG, Ghezellou P, Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Sanders KL (2015) Evaluating the drivers of Indo-Pacific biodiversity: speciation and dispersal of sea snakes (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae). Journal of Biogeography 43(2): 243–255. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12636

Tollab MA, Dakhteh SMH, Zaferani GG, Hesni MA, Ahmadi F, Langari MS, Alavian Z, Rezaie-Atagholipour M (2015) The olive ridley turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea, in the Persian Gulf: a review of the observations, including the first nesting of the species in the area. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 14(2): 192–196. https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1148.1

Khademi N, Riyahi-Bakhtiari A, Sobhanardakani S, Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Burger J (2015) Developing a new bioindicator in the northwestern Persian Gulf, Iran: trace elements in bird eggs and in the coastal sediments. Archive of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 68(2): 274–282. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-014-0084-9

Savari R, Kamrani E, Shahdadi A, Rezaie-Atagholipour M (2014) Influence of temperature and food concentrations on growth and moulting of the barnacle Microeuraphia permitini (Chthamalidae: Euraphiinae): a laboratory experiment. Crustaceana 87 (6): 641–653. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685403-00003314

Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Naderloo R, Kamrani E, Savari R (2013) Preliminary biological information of Scylla serrata (Brachyura: Portunidae) in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman: a conservation priority. Crustaceana, 86 (3): 322–335. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685403-00003174

Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Riyahi-Bakhtiari A, Sajjadi M (2013) Feeding habits of the annulated sea snake (Hydrophis cyanocinctus) in the Persian Gulf. Journal of Herpetology 47 (2): 328–330. https://doi.org/10.1670/11-150

Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Barmoodeh M (2012) Recent records of leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coreaca) in Iranian coast of the Gulf of Oman. Marine Turtle Newsletter 132: 5–6.

Rezaie-Atagholipour M (2012) Diet of short sea snake (Lapemis curtus). Herpetological Review 43 (3): 494.

Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Riyahi-Bakhtiari A, Rajabizadeh K, Ghezellou P (2012) Status of the annulated sea snakes (Hdrophis cyanocinctus) in Hara Protected Area of the Persian Gulf. Zoology in the Middle East 57: 53–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2012.10648963

Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Riyahi-Bakhtiari A, Sajjadi M, Yap CK, Ghafari S, Ebrahimi-Sirizi Z, Ghezellou P (2012) Metal concentrations in selected tissues and main prey species of the annulated sea snakes (Hydrophis cyanocinctus) in the Hara Protected Area, northeastern coast of the Persian Gulf, Iran. Marine Pollution Bulletin,64: 416–421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.11.015

Published Reports

Finucci B, Rigby CL, Armstrong AO, Rezaie-Atagholipour M (2024) Aetobatus ocellatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T42566169A124549514.

Rigby CL, Araujo G, Bineesh KK, Charles R, Fernando D, Jabado RW, Moore A,
Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Sotts G (2024) Himantura leoparda. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T195456A124545011.

Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Ali Abedi H, Bargahi HR, et al. (2023). Sirik-Lengeh ISRA Factsheet. In Jabado RW, Kyne PM, García-Rodríguez E, et al. (eds.). Western Indian Ocean: a regional compendium of important Shark and Ray Areas (pp. 126–126). Dubai, United Arab Emirates: IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. https://doi.org/10.59216/ssg.isra.2023.r7

Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Ali Abedi H, Bargahi HR, Mohammadi M (2023). Marjan ISRA Factsheet. In Jabado RW, Kyne PM, García-Rodríguez E, et al. (eds.). Western Indian Ocean: a regional compendium of important Shark and Ray Areas (pp. 125–125). Dubai, United Arab Emirates: IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. https://doi.org/10.59216/ssg.isra.2023.r7

Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Ali Abedi H, Rastgoo AR, et al. (2023). Abkouhi-Biahi ISRA Factsheet. In Jabado RW, Kyne PM, García-Rodríguez E, et al. (eds.). Western Indian Ocean: a regional compendium of important Shark and Ray Areas (pp. 124–124). Dubai, United Arab Emirates: IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. https://doi.org/10.59216/ssg.isra.2023.r7

Sherman CS, Barash A, Jabado RW, Khan M, Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Charles R (2022) Torpedo panthera. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T60134A124442830. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T60134A124442830.en

Jabado RW, Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Kyne PM (2021) Gymnura tentaculata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T161516A124498408. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T161516A124498408.en

Minton G, Antonopoulou M, Baldwin R, Cerchio S, Collins T, Al Harthi S, Moazzam M, Mohsenian N, Moshiri H, Natoli A, Abdul Razzaque S, Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Sutaria D, de Vos A, Sarrouf Willson M, Willson A (2020) Progress report from the Arabian Sea Whale Network. International Whaling Commission (IWC)/Scientific Committee (SC), Report Number: SC/68B/CMP/11 Rev1.

Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Pilcher NJ, Dakhteh SMH, Ghavasi M (2016) Report on the workshop ‘ecology and conservation of sea turtles in the Persian Gulf’, 13 May 2016, Qeshm Island, Iran. Indian Ocean Turtle Newsletter 24: 20–23.

Conferences

Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Ali Abedi H, Askari-Hesni M, Hosseini A, Rafiee R, Rastgoo AR, Rostamabadi H, Sabbah N, Pilcher NJ (2024) Directing conservation attention into the water: identifying marine turtle bycatch hotspots in Iran. 42nd International Sea Turtle Symposium, Pattaya, Thailand.

Askari-Hesni M, Moazeni M, Tollab MA, Jafari H, Moradzadeh A, Hosseini A, Iranmanesh M, Zangiabadi S, Akbari A, Khalili P, Stansti AE, Rezaie-Atagholipour M (2024) Last strongholds of Iran’s largest hawksbill rookery: mice invasion on the Nakhiloo Island, Persian Gulf. 42nd International Sea Turtle Symposium, Pattaya, Thailand.

Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Ali Abedi H, Askari Hesni M, Hosseini A, Mirzaei MR, Owfi F, Pilcher NJ, Rafiee R, Rastgoo AR, Rostamabadi H, Jabado RW (2022) Flat and fragile: threats to rays in Iranian waters. Sharks International, Valencia, Spain.

Loghmannia J, Nasrolahi A, Kiabi BH, Rezaie-Atagholipour M (2020) The community structure of epibionts on nesting hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in the Iranian coasts of the Persian Gulf. Second International Conference on Oceanography for West Asia, Tehran, Iran.

Rezaie-Atagholipour M, van Waerebeek K (2019) Population features and threats to the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in Iranian Dolphins’ Bay Natural Heritage in the Strait of Hormuz, eastern Persian Gulf. World Marine Mammal Conference (WMMC), Barcelona, Spain.

Pilcher NJ, Al Maslamani I, Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Williams J, Gasang R (2017) Sea turtle sex ratios of turtles in a climate challenged environment, and what these might tell us. Fourth International Conference on Global Warming: Ecosystem Productivity, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.

Rezaie-Atagholipour M, Naderloo R (2014) Alien crab species, Scylla serrata (Brachyura: Portunidae), in the Iranian mangrove stands of the Persian Gulf: uninvited but welcomed guest. International Conference of Marine Invasive Species: Management of Ballast Water and Other Vectors, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.

Ghezellou P, Ghasempour A, Goudarzi H, Sajjadi M, Mirzajani F, Rezaie-Atagholipour M (2011) Isolation and toxicological study of venom components in annulated sea snake (Hydrophis cyanocinctus) from Persian Gulf. Second International Congress of Analytical Proteomics, ICAP, Ourense, Spain.

Ghezellou P, Calvete J, Ghasempour A, Goudarzi H, Sajjadi M, Aliahmadi A, Mirzajani F, Rezaie-Atagholipour M (2011) Isolation and characterization of venom protein besides: toxicological study of crude venom of annulated sea snake (Hydrophis cyanocinctus) from Persian Gulf. First Regional Congress of Venomous Animals and Toxin, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.

Hesni MA, Savari A, Dadolahi A, Mortazavi MS, Rezaie-Atagholipour M (2010) The study of acute toxicity of lead nitrate Pb (NO3)2 metal salt and behavioral changes of milk fish (Chanos chanos). Global Congress on Aquaculture, Phuket, Thailand.