Department of Environmental Studies
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©Karatina University
Recent Submissions
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Analysis of Short-Term Drought Episodes Using Sentinel-3 SLSTR Data under a Semi-Arid Climate in Lower Eastern Kenya.
(2023-06)This study uses Sentinel-3 SLSTR data to analyze short-term drought events between 2019 and 2021. It investigates the crucial role of vegetation cover, land surface temperature, and water vapor amount associated with ... -
Hourly reference evapotranspiration analysis using synoptic meteorological measurements and ERA5 reanalysis data from Kenyan Counties
(2023-09)Kenya has had five failed rain seasons for the last three years. In this context, there was a mass recurrent crop failure, death of livestock and wildlife, persistent water scarcity, and droughts of varying intensities. ... -
Fine‐scale variation in soil and topography influences herbaceous vegetation and the distribution of large mammalian herbivores
(Wiley, 2023-04)Current understanding of the distribution of vegetation and large mammalian herbivores (LMH) is based on a combination of biogeographic studies and highly controlled field experiments, but a more complete understanding ... -
5. Absentee owners and overlapping home ranges in a territorial species
(2021-01-07)Abstract Understanding animals’ use of space can shed valuable light on multiple other aspects of behavioral ecology, including social organization, dispersal, and foraging efficiency. Home ranges, territories, core areas, ... -
Faecal Bacterial and Parasitic Contamination of Drinking Water in Eldoret Municipality, Kenya
(2012)Faecal contamination of water can introduce a variety of pathogens into water ways, including bacteria, viruses, protozoans and parasitic worms. Poor excreta disposal is often associated with lack of adequate water supplies, ... -
Radiometric survey of the Tyaa river sand mine in Kitui, Kenya
(2020-07-02)Gamma spectroscopic analyses of sand and rock samples from Tyaa River report an average activity concentration of 33 ± 1, 55 ± 2.8 and 812 ± 40.46 Bqkg-1 for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively in the sand. A similar analysis ... -
Environmental Determinants of Choice of Sustainability Strategies Adopted by Group Ranches in Samburu County, Kenya
(2017)The group ranch system is one of the best land ownership and livestock production strategies Page | 153 in the dry lands of the world where the potential for rain-fed agriculture is limited. This has resulted in ... -
Financing provision of environmental services in Mt. Elgon region for the protection of watersheds
(VDM Dr Muller Gmbh and co, 2011-01)This study examined direct payments for environmental services (PES) as a program for supporting the conservation of forest resources and services where environmental conservation is financed on the basis ... -
Evidence of nutrient translocation in response to smoke exposure by the East African ant acacia, Vachellia drepanolobium
(Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2021-09)1. Fire is a major selective force on arid grassland communities, favoring traits such as the smoke-induced seed germination response seen in a wide variety of plant species. However, little is known about the relevance ... -
Using the Biological Condition Gradient Model as a Bioassessment Frameworks to Support Rehabilitation and Restoration of the Upper Tana River Watershed in Kenya
(Frontiers in Environmental Science, 2021-07)The biological condition gradient (BCG), a scientific framework that describes the change in ecosystem characteristics in response to human-induced levels of stressors, was modified and used to characterize watershed ... -
Ecological, Recreational and Educational Potential of a Small Artificial Wetland in an Urban Environment
(African Journal of Aquatic Science, 2019-11)Pertinent questions remain on whether small, artificial wetlands, such as abandoned quarries play any ecological or socio-economic role in the environment. To increase information on roles played by small-sized artificial ... -
Trend and Variability in Interannual Air Temperature Over South West Mau Forest, 1985 - 2015
(Journal of Natural Sciences Research, 2020)Globally high altitude forest regions are considered to be more prone to rapid warming. These regions have also shown great seasonal and inter annual temperatures variability. In Kenya mean annual temperatures increased ... -
Carbon Sequestration by the Above Ground Biomass Pool in the South West Mau Forest of Kenya, 1985 - 2015
(Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 2020)Forests are important for regulation of the global carbon balance. Increase in forest biomass enhances atmospheric carbon sequestration while decrease in forest biomass contributes to carbon dioxide emissions. World over, ... -
Climate Change Perception Among the Pastoralist Women in Narok County
(Academic Research International, 2018-03)With regards to the effects of climate change, Kenya has identified its ASALs as the most vulnerable areas to climate change with huge impacts on livestock rearing, small-holder agriculture and tourism, which are the ... -
Diversity and Altitudinal Distribution of Understorey Corticolous Lichens in a Tropical Montane Forest in Kenya (East Africa)
(research gate, 2018)Lichens constitute an important component of tropical forest biodiversity. This study inventoried corticolous lichens and examined their variation in various forest types with varying climatic conditions in Mt. Kenya, East ... -
Combined effects of photoperiod and temperature on growth and survival of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Burchell 1822) larvae under laboratory conditions
(Taylor and Francis, 2016)The effect of photoperiod (24L:00D, 12L:12D, and 00L:24D) and temperature (22 ± 1°C and 28 ± 1°C) on performance of Clarias gariepinus larvae was tested. Larvae weighing 3.2 ± 0.24 mg were cultured in aquaria at a stocking ... -
Assessing Climate Variability Adaptation and Coping Strategies Among Rural Households in Kenya.
(Journal of Water Sciences & Environment Technologies, 2018)The aim of this study is to assess the adopted water scarcity adaptation and coping strategies of rural households to climate variability. It also identifies suitable strategies that minimize the impact of climate variability ... -
Spatial scales influence long-term response of herbivores to prescribed burning in a savanna ecosystem
(CSIRO PUBLISHING, 2017-01)Both wild and prescribed fire in savanna ecosystems influence habitat use by herbivores by creating or maintaining spatial and temporal heterogeneity in forage quality and vegetation cover. Yet little is known about how ... -
Impact of human activities on land degradation IN Lugari subcounty, Kakamega county, Kenya
(E3 Journals, 2016-10)This study investigated the impact of human activities on land degradation in Lugari Sub-County, Kakamega County in Kenya. The study sought to analyze the extent of land degradation; identify the causative factors for land ... -
Spatio-temporal dynamics of land use practices on rivers in tropical regions: A case study of Ruiru and Ndarugu Basins, Kiambu County, Kenya
(2017-03)Land use dynamics are known to cause considerable modifications to the environment with broad and sometimes severe impacts on water quality and aquatic natural resources. In this study, the impacts of land use practices ...