Dr. Thomas Mkare
Dr Mkare has been working as a research scientist for Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Mombasa, since April 2012. Mkare graduated with a PhD Zoology (Conservation genetics) from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2017. After his graduation, Mkare pursued postdoctoral research on Conservation genomics of endangered syngnathid fishes (seahorses & pipefishes) at CIBIO (https://cibio.up.pt), University of Porto, Portugal. Additionally, Mkare has an MSc in Zoology (population genetics) from Stellenbosch University (Cum laude) and a BSc in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from Moi University. Currently, Mkare is pursuing a postdoctoral study on population genomics of rabbitfish from the Kenyan coast. Mkare has in-depth working knowledge and experience in several biological fields, including fisheries, population genetics, conservation genetics, fisheries forensics, fish genetics and breeding, and species distribution modelling. Currently, Mkare is involved in several multidisciplinary research activities, focussing on biodiversity assessments using environmental DNA (eDNA), DNA metabarcoding, DNA barcoding, metagenomics of marine microbiomes (e.g. bacteria, fungi, viruses) and population genomic analyses of fisheries and threatened species.
Mkare is keen on establishing useful research collaborations and linkages in any biological field. Besides research, Mkare has taught undergraduate (BSc) and postgraduate (MSc) modules on Population genetics, Conservation genetics, Fish breeding and genetics, Biotechnology for fisheries science, and marine biodiversity and conservation. Mkare has supervised more than 50 students (i.e., undergraduate student projects, interns, MSc projects).
Mkare has published several research articles in high impact factor journals (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Thomas_Mkare/research; https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=aos7ftQAAAAJ&hl=en), with several manuscripts still in preparation.
KMFRI Mombasa
Marine and Coastal Fisheries
Population and conservation genetics
I have a broad research interest, including population genetics, conservation genetics, fisheries forensics, fish genetics and breeding, metagenomics, molecular ecology, citizen science and conservation biology.
tmkare@kmfri.go.ke
thomasmkare@yahoo.com or thomasmkare@icloud.com
- PhD Zoology (Conservation Genetics)
- MSc Zoology (Population Genetics)
- BSc Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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Mkare TK, Van Vuuren BJ, Teske PR (2021). Conservation priorities in an endangered estuarine seahorse are informed by demographic history. Scientific Reports 11, 4205.
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Mzingirwa FA, Njiru J, Nyingi DW, Mkare TK. Genetic diversity and spatial population structure of a Deepwater snapper, Pristipomoides filamentosus in the south-west Indian Ocean. Molecular Biology Reports 46: 5079–5088
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Mkare TK, Groeneveld JC, Teske PR, Matthee CA (2017) Comparative genetic structure in two high-dispersal prawn species from the south-west Indian Ocean. African Journal of Marine Science 39: 467–474
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Whitfield AK, Mkare TK, Teske PR, James NC, Cowley PD (2017) Life-histories explain the conservation status of two estuary-associated pipefishes. Biological Conservation 212: 256-264
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Mkare TK, Van Vuuren BJ, Teske (2017) Conservation implications of significant population differentiation in an endangered estuarine seahorse. Biodiversity and Conservation 26:1275–1293
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Mkare TK, von der Heyden S, Groeneveld JC, Matthee CA (2014) Genetic population structure and recruitment patterns for three sympatric shallow water penaeid prawns in Ungwana Bay, Kenya, with implication for fisheries management. Marine and Freshwater Research 65:255–266
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Mbaru EK, Mkare TK, Rasowo JO (2011) Tolerance of yolk sac and free swimming fry of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Burchell 1822) to chemotherapeutic doses of formalin. African Journal of Agricultural Research 6:323–330
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Mbaru EK, Kimani EN, Otwoma LM, Kimeli A, Mkare TK (2011) Abundance, Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor in Selected Reef Fishes of the Kenyan Marine Artisanal Fishery. Advance Journal of Food Science and Technology 3:1–8
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Mzingirwa FA, Mkare TK, Nyingi DW, Njiru J (2019). Genetic diversity and spatial population structure of a deepwater snapper, Pristipomoides filamentosus in the south?west Indian Ocean. Molecular Biology Reports. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-019-04962-w
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Mkare TK, Groeneveld JC, Teske PR, Matthee CA (2017) Comparative genetic structure in two high-dispersal prawn species from the south-west Indian Ocean. African Journal of Marine Science 39: 467–474
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Whitfield AK, Mkare TK, Teske PR, James NC, Cowley PD (2017) Life-histories explain the conservation status of two estuary-associated pipefishes. Biological Conservation 212: 256-264
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Mkare TK, Van Vuuren BJ, Teske (2017) Conservation implications of significant population differentiation in an endangered estuarine seahorse. Biodiversity and Conservation 26:1275–1293
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Mkare TK, von der Heyden S, Groeneveld JC, Matthee CA (2014) Genetic population structure and recruitment patterns for three sympatric shallow water penaeid prawns in Ungwana Bay, Kenya, with implication for fisheries management. Marine and Freshwater Research 65:255–266
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Mbaru EK, Kimani EN, Otwoma LM, Kimeli A, Mkare TK (2011) Abundance, Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor in Selected Reef Fishes of the Kenyan Marine Artisanal Fishery. Advance Journal of Food Science and Technology 3:1–8
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Mbaru EK, Mkare TK, Rasowo JO (2011) Tolerance of yolk sac and free swimming fry of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Burchell 1822) to chemotherapeutic doses of formalin. African Journal of Agricultural Research 6:323–330 between phytoplankton composition and abundance and physicochemical characteristics of Chepkanga Dam, Eldoret, Kenya. Lakes and Reservoir: Research and Management 15:111–118