Having vast experience and knowledge across different fields including: Marketing, Office administration, Business Development, Natural Resource Management, and now heavily on Marine Biodiversity Conservation and Research.
This has helped me greatly develop my leadership, marine conservation, climate change mitigation, environmental conservation, reporting, systematic research approach, problem solving, data collection, data management and analysis, high levels of professionalism, integrity and ethical values at all times. More so, I am a self-driven person working under minimal supervision.
I aspire with great passion to incorporate my innovation towards environmental conservation, and marine biodiversity conservation to combat climate change and promote sustainable development for a better future.
Project Summary
Thesis / Project Title: Meiofauna and nematode community assemblage as indicator of sediment disturbance: a case study at Mida Creek, Kenya
Thesis / Project Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential of nematodes as indicators of sediments disturbance following polychaete bait harvesting. The study was conducted in 3 stations at Mida Creek, Kenya with different intensity in bait harvesting. Samples were collected from the mudflats next to the mangrove forests during low tide, fixed in 5% formalin and transported to the laboratory for processing and identification.
Most meiofauna taxa did not vary much between the stations except nematodes that had a higher relative abundance in the undisturbed station (71% in Dabaso, 56% in Kirepwe 59 % and in Mayonda). Nematode community changed from a high number of species with high dominance in the less disturbed and none-disturbed to a low number and low dominance in the disturbed station.
The most dominant genera differed between stations being Spirinia and Terschellingia in Dabaso and Kirepwe and Viscosia, Pontonema, Synochium, Haliplectus, and Pheronusincreased in numbers in disturbed quadrats. Measures such as educating the fishermen on the effects of digging of polychaete should be emphasized to safe guard the marine biodiversity and its ecosystem.
Mayonda was characterised by low nematode diversity (H’) and low dominance while the other two stations had higher diversity and dominance. The difference in nematode community between stations indicates that nematodes have the potential of indicating sediment disturbance through genera composition and diversity.
KEY WORDS: Bait harvesting, Meiofauna, Nematodes, Biomonitoring, Mida Creek, Kenya