|
Page 3 of 7 Ichthyology Section - Develop and curate substantial reference collections of East African fish through region-wide fish diversity monitoring and survey work.
- Identify the distribution and major habitat preferences for different fish species, with particular focus on existing and suggested protected areas.
- Support auto ecological studies on target or indicator fish species (feeding habitats, reproduction, ecology, spatial distribution, etc.)
- Install a specialized library focusing on ichthyology and African fishes. Form and inform students and fish biologists/ taxonomists from African countries through lectures, training, collection, consultation and apprenticeships.
- Realize a comprehensive public exposition on African fish in the Nairobi Museum and other regional museums to promote national and international public awareness about fish diversity and fish related issues.
- Training on fish taxonomy to students on attachment from institutes of higher learning such universities and polytechnics.
Research The main areas of research carried out in the section include: Fish BiodiversityPopulation geneticsFish taxonomy and systematicsindigenous knowledge and socio- economic studiesAquatic ecology: limnology, hydrologyHabitat characterization and climate change Project and Activities Completed - Digitization of specimen of fish indicative of climate change- NMK- ACC Project
- Preparation of a catalogue for ichthyological type specimens- NMK- Biota E15 Project
- Determination of Morphological and Genetic variation in Haplochromine species of Lake Kanyaboli Kenya – E. Odhiambo (NMK) in collaboration with Prof. Christian Sturmbauer. Sturmbauer (Graz University) – Funded by ÖAD and Austrian Research Fund
Ongoing - General digitization and georeferencing of ichthyological data
- USAID Pilot International Science Program on Building Capacity for Expanding understanding of Freshwater fish Biodiversity in Kenya, Since December, 2010. Principle investigators: Dr. Wanja Dorothy Nyingi (NMK), Dr. Nathan Gichuki (UON) and Prof. Hank Bart (Tulane University).
- Kenya Wetlands Biodiversity Research Group (KENWEB) carrying out various projects on Wetlands biodiversity, ecosystem services and setting up community participator biodiversity assessments and monitoring, Since January, 2010. Dr. Wanja Dorothy Nyingi– Coordinator; Dr. Stephanie Duvai (IRD) – Assistant Coordinator
- IRES-NSF Kenya Fish discovery project fostering international research and education programmes between Tulane University, US, University of Nairobi and the National Museums of Kenya, Since July 2010. Principle investigators: Dr. Wanja Dorothy Nyingi (NMK), Dr. Nathan Gichuki (UON) and Prof. Hank Bart (Tulane University)
- GEOPAR project Tana Delta Research on relationship between flood ecosystem services and livelihoods, since 2009.IRD-NMK-KWS project; Dr. Wanja Dorothy Nyingi – Collaborating Scientist.
- PACTER project Tana Delta research on the impacts of agro-fuel projects on aquatic resources, Since October, 2010.
- IRD-NMK-KWS project; Dr. Wanja Dorothy Nyingi – Collaborating Scientist
- JRS funded Lake Victoria Biodiversity Informatics project (LAVIBI), Since July 2009 Dr. Wanja Dorothy Nyingi – Implementing Scientist for NMK
Staff members - Dr. Wanja Dorothy Nyingi- Freshwater fish boidiversity; wetlands ecology
- Dr. Elizabeth Akinyi Odhiambo- Freshwater fish (Taxonomy, systematics and Ecology (molecular and morphological)
- Mr. Edward Njagi Linus- Marine fisheries
- Mr. Julius Kioko Nguku- Freshwater and estuarine fish (Taxonomy, systematic and fishbase)
- Mr. Cornelius Mwongela Matingi- Freshwater fish biodiversity (Taxonomy and Ecology)
- Mr. Tom Akelo- Marine fisheries (molecular systematic, conservation and biogeography)
Technical Staff Mr. Joseph Gathua, Senior Research Technologist Fellowships Ms Mercy Njeri, Research Technician Collaborators Ichthyology section works in collaboration with institutions both locally and internationally. Some of the local institutions include Universities where fisheries is a common unit in curricula, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Ministry of Fisheries Development and Kenya Wildlife Services, among others. Some of the international collaborators include the Institute of Research for Development (IRD), France, French Institute of Research in Africa (IFRA), Royal Museum of Central Africa (Belgium), South African Institute for Marine and Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Tulane University (New Orleans), the University of Graz, Austria.
|
Research & Collections 
