Anthony Nzioka
As a marine scientist with 16+ years of research experience in marine and coastal environments, Anthony has conducted numerous biodiversity assessments of marine ecosystems, determining the interrelationship between biota and their aquatic environments in relation to fisheries, aquaculture and conservation biodiversity and, promoting integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) in the management of coastal resources. He has been instrumental in developing development-conscious project concepts such as the currently on-going development of Kenya’s first marine hatchery in Shimoni (NRF-funded) and has collaborated with other stakeholders such as the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the State Department for Fisheries and the Blue Economy (SDF & BE) in the Ecological Monitoring of the Lamu Archipelago Seascape. He is also a certified SCUBA Diver (since 2001) and Scientific Diver, with extensive experience conducting underwater scientific surveys of marine benthic habitats and fish populations in support of marine biological study and conservation programs (marine fish underwater visual surveys, coral reef studies, marine invertebrate surveys, critical habitat assessments and seagrass studies).
He is currently completing his pre-doctoral studies in Marine Environment and Resources (MER) at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), SPAIN. His study focuses on the cell and molecular mechanisms related to marine fish reproduction in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. His PhD research experiences have included oral presentations in international conferences such as the 20th International Symposium of Pollutant Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO20) held in Charleston, USA and, the international postgraduate course Research in Marine Environment and Resources (RiMER) held annually at the Aquarium San Sebastian in Spain. He has completed a research stay at the Lascaray Ikergunea Research Centre (UPV/EHU) (SPAIN) with the Systematics, Biogeography and Population Dynamics (SystBioGen) research group and has led a research project on FISHOTOTRACKING at CIIMAR - the Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research – of the University of Porto (PORTUGAL) in the Ecophysiology research team while on a separate research stay.
Location: KMFRI Naivasha Research Station
Department: Freshwater Systems
Specialization: Marine Biology and Zoology; Marine Environment and Resources (Marine population, community and ecosystem dynamics); Marine Fish Ecology and Eco-ethology; Marine Fish and Shellfish Reproduction and Endocrinology; Marine Resource Genomics; Cell and Molecular Biology.
Research Interests: Fish and Shellfish Reproduction and Endocrinology; Marine Resource Genomics (Molecular Population Genetics of Fish and Shellfish); Fish Eco-ethology; Marine Biology and Zoology; Molecular Biology (Omics).
Email: anzioka@kmfri.go.ke
nzioka@hotmail.com
Qualifications:
- Pre-doctoral (PhD) candidate Marine Environment and Resources (2018 – present), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) (SPAIN)
- Erasmus Mundus MSc. Marine Environment and Resources (MER), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) – University of Liège (ULiège) – University of Southampton (SOTON) Joint Degree (SPAIN)
- Specialty Oceanography, University of Bordeaux (UBX) Double Degree (FRANCE)
- BSc. Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Moi University (KENYA)
PUBLICATIONS:
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Uku, J., Daudi, L., Alati, V., Nzioka, A., & Muthama, C. (2021). The status of seagrass beds in the coastal county of Lamu, Kenya. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 24(1), 35-42. ?
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Valencia, A., Andrieu, J., Nzioka, A., Cancio, I., & Ortiz-Zarragoitia, M. (2020). Transcription pattern of reproduction relevant genes along the brain-pituitary-gonad axis of female, male and intersex thicklip grey mullets, Chelon labrosus, from a polluted harbor. General and comparative endocrinology, 287, 113339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113339 ?
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Anthony Nzioka, Oihane Diaz de Cerio, Aitor Achaerandio, , Hossain Mohammed Azad, Ainara Valencia, Maria Korta, Maren Ortiz-Zarragoitia and Ibon Cancio. (2019). Molecular Markers of Apoptosis and autophagocytosis to study ovarian atresia in European hake (Merluccius merluccius). 20th Pollutant Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO 20) Conference, Charleston, SC, USA, 18th – 22nd May 2019.
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Valencia, A., O. Diaz de Cerio, A. Nzioka, M. Ortiz-Zarragoitia and I. Cancio (2019). Xenoestrogenicity in estuaries of the North Iberian Peninsula; Intersex thicklip grey mullets (Chelon labrosus) lost in transcription. XX Congress of Iberian Association for Comparative Endocrinology, Faro, Portugal, 26th – 28th September, 2019. ?
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Valencia, A., Andrieu, J., Nzioka, A., Cancio, I., and Ortiz-Zarragoitia, M. (2017). Target gene transcription levels along the HPG-axis of female, male and intersex thicklip grey mullets from a polluted harbour. XI Congress of Iberian Association for Comparative Endocrinology, Vigo, Galicia, Spain, 13th – 15th July, 2017. ?
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Valencia, A., Andrieu, J., Nzioka, A., Cancio, I., and Ortiz-Zarragoitia, M. (2017). Alterations in gene expression in the HPG-axis of female, male and intersex mullets from a polluted harbour. 19th International Symposium on Pollutant Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO 19), Matsuyama, Japan, 30th June – 3rd July, 2017. ?
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Mwachireya, S. A., Nzioka, A. M. and Mutiso, D. N. (2017). Coral recruit-algal interactions in coral reef lagoons are mediated by riverine influences. International Journal of Ecology, vol. 2017, Article ID 1351854, 10 pages: doi: 10.1155/2017/1351854 ?
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Nzioka, A., Waithaka, E., Mutie. A., Loki, P. and Boera, P. (2017). Catch assessment survey for Lake Naivasha to guide management of the fishery. Technical Report KMF/RS/2017/B1.3(ii)a, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa. ?
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Boera, P., Waithaka, E., Mutie, A., Nzioka, A. and Loki, P (2017). Report on demarcation and protection of an identified fish-breeding site at Korongo in Lake Naivasha in collaboration with communities, and monitor the effect of protection on the site to inform management decisions. Technical Report KMF/RS/2017/B1.8(ii)c, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa. ?
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Mutie, A., Boera, P., Waithaka E., Nzioka, A., Loki, P. and Keyombe, J.L.A. (2017). Monitoring the extent of macrophytes and other invasive weeds on Lake Naivasha and establish the impact on the fisheries to facilitate management. Technical Report KMF/RS/2017/B2.5(iv), Kenya Marine ?and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa.
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Valencia, A., Andrieu, J., Nzioka, A., Cancio, I., and Ortiz-Zarragoitia, M. (2017). Burmuinaren eta gonadaren arteko harremanak ugalketaren eraenketan: gene esangarrien transkripzio-aldaketak Pasaiako Chelon labrosus korrokoien gametogenesian. Zientziak eta natur zientziak, IkerGazte (Paper 66). 7pp. ?
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Valencia, A., Andrieu, J., Nzioka, A., Cancio, I., and Ortiz-Zarragoitia, M. (2017). Relationship between the brain and the gonad in the reproductive process: Changes in the transcription of key genes during gametogenesis in the thicklip grey mullet Chelon labrosus, from Pasaia harbour. Science and natural sciences, IkerGazte (Paper 66). 7pp. ?
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Valencia, A., Andrieu, J., Nzioka, A., Cancio, I., and Ortiz-Zarragoitia, M. (2016). Transcriptional profiles of HPG-axis related genes in female, male and intersex thicklip grey mullets (Chelon labrosus). 8ISFE: 8th International Symposium on Fish Endocrinology, Gothenburg Sweden. July, 2016. ?
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Valencia, A., Andrieu, J., Nzioka, A., Cancio, I., and Ortiz-Zarragoitia, M. (2016). Brain and gonadal transcriptional profiles of HPG-axis related genes in female, male and intersex thicklip grey mullets (Chelon labrosus). Aquaculture, Endocrinology and Toxicology Abstracts, 220. VI Iberian Congress of Ichthyology, Murcia, Spain. 21st – 24th June, 2016. ?
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Mutua, A. N. (2016). Gametogenesis related genes and apoptosis marker genes during the reproductive cycle of the thicklip grey mullet (Chelon labrosus Riso, 1927) of Pasaia Harbour (Bay of Biscay, South-western Europe); Possibilities for development of molecular markers of xenoestrogenic exposure (Master’s thesis).
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(2015). Lamu Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Assessment Technical Report: Research Geared towards Promoting Environmentally Sustainable Management of Kenya’s Coastal and Marine Resources, KMFRI technical report series, Mombasa, pp.45 ?
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Nzioka, A., Tan Lingdi, Que, D and Gain, D. (2014). Benthic ecology, diversity and community structure of Zostera marina seagrass beds and adjacent sand habitats of Arcachon Bay lagoon in the Southwest of France. Technical Report. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.1.1689.7042 ?
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(2014). South Coast Ecosystem Monitoring and Health Assessment Report: Research Geared towards Promoting Environmentally Sustainable Management of Kenya’s Coastal and Marine Resources, KMFRI technical report series, Mombasa, pp.70 ?
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Mutua, A. N. (2013). “Morphometric and Meristic Variations between populations of the white- spotted rabbit fish, Siganus sutor (Valenciennes, 1835) from the Kenyan Coast.” 8th WIOMSA Scientific Symposium: Science and Society: Building Partnerships for Action, Maputo, Mozambique, 28th October – 2nd November, 2013. ?
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Nyonje BM, Gwada PO, Ochiewo J, Mwangi SN, Okuku EO, Anyango JO, Nzioka AM and Magangi NO. (2013). Introduction of the seaweed Kappapycus alvarezi in the South Coast of Kenya : Seaweed farming progress report. 41 pg. ?
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Mutua, A. N. (2012). Morphometric and meristic variation between populations of white-spotted rabbit fish, Siganus sutor (Valenciennes, 1835) from the Kenyan Coast (Bachelor's thesis). ?