Publications by authors named "E O Okuku"
Article Synopsis
- Ocean acidification (OA) poses a threat to marine life, particularly affecting calcifying invertebrates like cockles (Anadara antiquata), but little research exists on its impact along the Kenya Coast.
- The study analyzed the physiological and biochemical responses of Anadara antiquata to varying pH levels (7.90, 7.60, and 7.30) over an 8-week period to simulate future ocean conditions.
- Findings revealed that while condition index remained stable across pH levels, survival slightly decreased at pH 7.30, and there were minor changes in lipid peroxidation, suggesting some cellular damage, but glycogen and protein levels remained unaffected, highlighting potential biomarkers for assessing OA impacts.
The African Niger Delta is among the world's most important wetlands in which the ecological effects of intensive oil exploitation and global change are not well documented. We characterized the seasonal dynamics and pollution with total-petroleum-hydrocarbons (TPHs), heavy-metals (HMs) and nutrient-loads in relation to climate-driven variables. High TPH concentrations up to 889 mg/L and HMs up to 13.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMarine litter surveys were carried out to determine the role of mangroves as a sink for litter. General litter density in the mangroves was 0.088 ± 0.
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- The study examined the levels and distribution of pharmaceutical residues in peri-urban creeks along the Kenya coast, specifically Mombasa and Gazi Bay, focusing on compounds like acetaminophen, antibiotics, and antiepileptics.
- The highest concentrations of residues were found in Tudor Creek, with acetaminophen and nevirapine being the most frequently detected compounds.
- Ecological risk assessments indicated that some pharmaceuticals posed low to medium risk, while nevirapine presented a medium to high ecological risk to local marine ecosystems, highlighting the need for further research on these substances in marine environments.
Litter surveys were carried out in August and September 2020 to determine the contribution of Sabaki River and estuary in modifying the quantities of litter entering the oceans. The river discharged 0.035 items ms translating to an estimated annual litter flux of between 6,622,560 and 614,952,000.
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