Dr. Jacqueline Uku is a Chief Research Scientist at KMFRI and conservation leader who works on the ecology and physiology of marine flora with a special focus on seagrasses. She has a special interest on community development having worked extensively with coastal communities during the Kenya Coastal Development Project as the Project Leader. She serves as the Coordinator of Research at KMFRI.  Jacqueline is the recent past President of the Board of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) and also serves on the Executive Committee of the Scientific Committee for Oceanic Research (SCOR). She is currently serving as the Chair of the Africa Ocean Decade Taskforce, whose main mandate is to support the implementation of the Africa Ocean Decade Roadmap (https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000381488). Jacqueline is also a member of the expert group for Ocean Literacy.

• Research Networks : Research Gate

• N. Uku& K. M. Mavuti 1994. Comparative limnology, species diversity and biomass relationship of zooplankton and phytoplankton in five freshwater lakes in Kenya. Hydrobiologia 272: 251 - 258. 
• N. Uku1997. Savannas under the sea. SWARA magazine. July/August 18- 19.
• N. Uku1998. Marine grasslands: A whole new world for East Africa. Window Newsletter 9(1): 2-3.
• Bjork, M.,  Uku., A. Weil & S. Beer 1999. Photosynthetic tolerances to desiccation of tropical intertidal segrasses. Marine Ecology Progress Series 191: 121 – 126.
• Uku, J& M. Bjork. 2001. The distribution of epiphytic algae on three Kenyan seagrass species. South African Journal of Botany. 67: 475 – 482.
• McClanahan, J. N. Uku& H. Machano. 2002. Effect of macroalgal reduction on coral reef fish in the Marine National Park, Kenya. Marine and Freshwater Research. 53: 223 – 231.
• Uku, J & M. Björk 2005. Productivity aspects of three tropical seagrass species in areas of different nutrient levels in Kenya. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 63: 407 – 420.
• Uku J, S, Beer, M. Björk 2005 Buffer Sensitive Photosynthetic Carbon Acquisition by East African seagrasses. Marine Biology 147: 1085 – 1090.
• Uku. 2005. Seagrasses and their epiphytes: Characterization of abundance and productivity in tropical seagrass beds. PhD thesis. Botany Department, Stockholm University. ISBN 91-7155-036-4
• Uku J., M. Björk , B. Bergman & B. Diez. 2007. Characterization and comparison of prokaryotic epiphytes associated with seagrasses Journal of Phycology 43 (4): 768 – 779.
• Uku,S. Ndirangu, C. Muthama, A. Kimathi, N. Magangi, F. Waithera. 2008. Seagrass loss and its impacts on fish dynamics in the Diani-Chale Lagoon. Samaki News. Pg. 50 – 52.
• S. Eklof, M. de la Torre-Castro, M. Gullstrom, J. Uku , N. Muthiga , T. Lyimo, S. Bandeira. 2008. Sea urchin overgrazing of seagrasses: A review of current knowledge on causes, consequences and management. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 79: 569–580.
• Eklöf, S. Fröcklin, A. Lindvall, N. Stadlinger, A. Kimathi, J. Uku, T.R. McClanahan. 2009. How effective are MPAs? Predation control and ‘spill-in effects’ in seagrass–coral reef lagoons under contrasting fishery management. Marine Ecology Progress Series. Vol. 384: 83–96.
• Daudi, C. Lugomela, J. Uku, M.De Troch 2012. Effect of nutrient enrichment on seagrass associated meiofauna in Tanzania 2012. Marine Environmental Research. 49–58.
• Abubakar, C. Mwangi,  Uku, and S. Ndirangu 2012. Antimicrobial activity of various extracts of the sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla(Echinoidea). Afr. J. Pharmacol. Ther. 1(1): 19-23.
• W. Shaghude, J. W. Mburu,J.Uku, J.Ochiewo, N. Nyandwi, H. Onganda, C. Magori,  I. Sanga and R.S. Arthurton. 2013. Beach Sand Supply and Transport at Kunduchi in Tanzania and Bamburi in Kenya. Western Indian Ocean J. Mar. Sci. Vol. 11. No. 2, pp. 135-154.
• N. Daudi , J.N. Uku& M De Troch. 2013. Role of the source community for the recovery of seagrass associated meiofauna: a field colonisation experiment with seagrass mimics in Diani Beach, Kenya, African Journal of Marine Science, 35:1, 1-8
• Uku, J. Ocean Sourced Carbonate Production (. In UNEP-Nairobi Convention and WIOMSA. The Regional State of the Coast Report: Western Indian Ocean. UNEP and WIOMSA, Nairobi, Kenya, 546 pp.
• M. Aura, F. Hassan, M. Osore, G. Morara, J. Uku. 2015. A Comprehensive public-private partnership concept for resources sustainability from a mega project management multi-level perspective. International Journal of Management and Sustainability, 4(11): 218-236
• Wallner-Hahns, M. la Torre-Castro,J. .Eklöf, M. Gullström, N. Muthiga, J. Uku. 2015. Cascade effects and sea-urchin overgrazing: An analysis of drivers behind the exploitation of sea urchin predators for management improvement. Ocean & Coastal Management. 107:16-27
• Daudi, J. Uku, M. De Troch. 2020. Pigment and fatty acid profiling reveal differences in epiphytic microphytes among tropical Thalassodendron ciliatum meadows. Aquatic Botany. 166. August 2020. Article 103253
• Claudet, L. Bopp, W.Cheung, R. Devillers, E. Escobar-Briones, P. Haugan, J. Heymans, V. Masson -Delmotte, N. Matz-Luck, P. Miloslavich, L. Mullineaux. M. Visbeck, R. Watson, A. Zivian, I. Ansorge, M. Araujo, S. Arico D.  Bailly, J. Barbiere, C. Barnerias, C. Bowler, V.  Brun, A. Cazenave, C. Diver,  A. Euzen, A.  Gaye, N. Hilmi, F. Menard, C. Moulin, N. Munoz, R.  Parmentier, A. Pebayle, Hans-Otto Portner, S. Osvaldina, P.  Ricard, R. Santos, Marie-Alexandrine Sicre, S. Thiebault, T. Thiele, R. Trouble, A. Turra,  Uku, and F. Gaill3. 2020. A Roadmap for using the UN Decade of science for sustainable development in support of science, policy and action. One Earth, Vol. 2 Issue 1: 34 – 42
• Okafo Yarwood I, Kadagi NI, Miranda NAF, Uku J,Elegbede IO and Adewumi IJ. 2020. The Blue Economy-Culutral Livelihood-Ecosytem Conservation Triange: The African Experience. Front Mar. Sci. 7:586.doi: 10.3389/fmars.2020.00586
• Roberts, S., Uku, J., Isensee, K., Déniz-González, I., von Schuckmann, K., Escobar Briones, E., and Aricò, S. 2020. Ocean science for sustainable development. IOC-UNESCO, Global Ocean Science Report 2020–Charting Capacity for Ocean Sustainability. K. Isensee (ed.), Paris, UNESCO Publishing, pp 175-195
• Uku, L. Daudi, V. Alati, A. Nzioka, C. Muthama (2021) The status of seagrass beds in the coastal county of Lamu, Kenya. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management, 24: 35–42
• J, Uku, L. Daudi, C. Muthama, V. Alati, A. Kimathi, S. Ndirangu. 2022. Seagrass restoration trials in tropical seagrass meadows of Kenya. WIO Journal of Marine Science 20 (2) 2021 69-79
• Ruwa, RK, Uku, JN, Osore, MK, Mwangi, SN. (Eds). 2021. From Ridge to Reef: A legacy for sustainable coastal development in Kenya. Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa, Kenya. xiv + 412p.
• Miloslavich , R. Zitoun, E. Urban Jr. , F. Muller-Karger , N. Bax , B. Arbic , A. Lara-López, C. Delgado, M. Metian, S. Seeyave , P. Swarzenski, J. Uku, and A. Valauri-Orton. Developing Capacity for Ocean Science and Technology. 2022. In Edward R. Urban Jr. and Venugopalan Ittekkot (Eds). Blue Economy: An Ocean Science Perspective. Springer. Pgs 467 – 504

REPORTS

• N. Uku, E. E. Martens & K. M. Mavuti 1996. An ecological assessment of littoral seagrass communities in Diani and Galu Beaches, Kenya. In M. Bjork, A. K. Semesi, M. Pedersen & B. Bergman (eds). Current trends in Marine Botanical Research in the East African Region. A SIDA publication. 280-302.
• Uku, Wakibia, J., Ndirangu, S., Muthama, C.& Kimanthi, A. 1998. Macroalgae and Seagrasses of Mida Creek. In G. K. Mwatha, E. Fondo, J. Uku & J. Kitheka. (eds). Biodiversity of Mida Creek, Kenya. Final Technical Report Submitted to Kenya Wildlife Service and Funded by the Netherlands Wetlands Program. 99 – 113
• Mwatha, E. Fondo, J. Uku& J. Kitheka. 1998. Biodiversity of Mida Creek, Kenya. Final Technical Report Submitted to Kenya Wildlife Service and Funded by the Netherlands Wetlands Program. 197pp.
• Uku. 1999. A survey of macroalgae in Kenyan Lagoons within the framework for the EU-INCO project. Activity report of the EU-INCO GROFLO Project. Anthropogenically Induced Changes in Groundwater Outflow and Quality and Functioning of the East African Nearshore Ecosystems (1996-1999) Final Report.
• Obura,  N. Uku, O. P. Wawiye, S. Mwachireya & R. Mdodo. 2000. Kenya, reef status and ecology. In D. Souter, D. Obura & O. Linden (eds). Coral reef degradation in the Indian Ocean. Status report. Published by SAREC Marine Science Programme, Stockholm, Sweden. 25 – 34.
• Uku& S. Ndirangu. 2001. Seagrass Habitats of the Diani-Chale area. In N, Muthiga (ed). The Biophysical and Ecological Profile of Diani-Chale. An ICAM project.
• Ochieng, C. A. 2001. Seagrass Beach Cast: The environmental implications of its removal. In Uku, J. N.(ed). KWS Report Coast Regional Headquaters, Mombasa, Kenya.
• Uku& J. Kitheka (eds) 2002. Mida Creek. The Physical and Biophysical Aspects. KWS Technical Series Report.
• Uku, S. Ndirangu & C.  Muthama.  2002. Trends in the distribution of Macroalgae in a Bleached Kenyan Reef Ecosystem. In O. Linden, D. Souter, D. Wilhelmsson & D. Obura (eds).  Coral reef degradation in the Indian Ocean. Status report 2002. Published by CORDIO, Sweden. 61 – 69.
• Muthama & J. N. Uku2003. Macrofaunal assemblages of littoral seagrass communities. In J. Hoorweg & N. Muthiga (eds). Recent Advances in Coastal Ecology. Studies from Kenya. African Studies Center Research Report 70.  51 - 63.
• Uku, S. Ndirangu, C. Muhtama & A. Kimathi. 2005. An evaluation of the effect of sea urchin herbivory in the Diani-Chale lagoon. Preliminary report No 1.A KMFRI/CORDIO collaborative project report. 8 pp.
• Uku, S. Ndirangu, C. Muthama, A. Kimathi & J. Kilonzi. 2007. An evaluation of the effect of sea urchin herbivory in the Diani-Chale lagoon: recovery potential of the seagrass habitat. Preliminary Report II. A KMFRI/CORDIO collaborative project report. 13 pp.
• N. Uku& J. Francis 2006. Educational Needs Assessment for the Western Indian Ocean Region. An assessment study undertaken by WIOMSA on behalf of the UNEP-GEF WIO-LaB Project entitled ‘Addressing land-based activities in the Western Indian Ocean Region’
• J N. Uku& J. Francis 2006. Training Needs Assessment for the Western Indian Ocean Region. An assessment study undertaken by WIOMSA on behalf of the UNEP-GEF WIO-LaB Project entitled ‘Addressing land-based activities in the Western Indian Ocean Region’ 

THESIS

• N. Uku.1995. An Ecological Assessment of Littoral Seagrass Communites in Diani and Galu Coastal Beaches, Kenya. M. Sc. Thesis. University of Nairobi. 185 pp.
• N. Uku. 2003. Productivity of Tropical Seagrasses and their Epiphytes. Licentiate Thesis. Botany Department, Stockholm University
• N. Uku. 2005. Seagrasses and their epiphytes: Characterization of abundance and productivity in tropical seagrass beds. PhD thesis. Botany Department, Stockholm University. (See http://www.diva-portal.org/su/abstract.xsql?dbid=527)