Collins is a research scientist at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) and a PhD Fish Biology student at in the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, whose project’s working title is, ‘Inter-annual variability in abundance of key fish and pelagic crustacean species in the Lake Victoria ‘natural laboratory: from ecosystem understanding to fisheries management’ and aims to improve the understanding of ecological dynamics of pelagic species in Lake Victoria, East Africa.. His interdisciplinary research experience covers aquatic ecology, biogeochemical processes, fisheries, water quality assessment, and associated interactive processes driving climate change in marine and freshwater ecosystems. His current work focuses on ecosystem integrity assessment in relation to fish stocks.

PUBLICATIONS:

• Aura, C.M. Nyamweya, C.S., Owiti, H., Mwarabu, R.L., Ongore, C.O. Musa, S., Njiru, J.M., Abila, R.O., 2022. Linking citizen science with contamination levels of small water bodies for generation of essential information for conservation and investment: Lakes & Reservoirs: Science, Policy and Management for Sustainable Use. Volume27, Issue2. https://doi.org/10.1111/lre.12402
• Aura, C.M., Mwarabu, R.L., Nyamweya, C.S., Owiti, H., Ongore, C.O, Guya, F., Musa, S., Owili, M., Macaria, S., Abila, R.O., 2021. Exploring the potential of small water bodies for fisheries production. Fisheries Management and Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/fme.12529. Accepted: 8 December 2021
• Dobel, A.J., Ongore, C., May, L., 2021. Controlling water hyacinth [Eichhornia crassipes]: a plea for preventative management. Inland Waters. Accepted on Jul 25, 2021.
• May, L., Aura, C.M., Becker, V., Briddon, C.L., Carvalho, L.R., Dobel, A.J., Jamwal, P., Kamphuis, B., Marinho, M.M., McGowan, S. Nandini, S., Nyamweya, C., Ongore, C., Sarma, S.S. S., Wishart, M. J.,  2021. Getting into hot water: Water quality in tropical lakes in relation to their utilisation. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 789 (1): p 012021). IOP Publishing. doi:10.1088/1755-1315/789/1/012021
• Aura, C.M., Nyamweya, C.S., Njiru, J.M., Omondi, R., Manyala, J., Musa, S., Owiti, S., Guya, F., Ongore, C., Ogari, Z., Mwamburi, J., 2021. Using the Multi-metric Index of Biotic Integrity methodological approach to determine the major river catchment that most pollutes a lake. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 24(1): 12–20, 2021. ISSN: 1463-4988 print / 1539-4077 online. DOI: 10.14321/aehm.024.01.04
• Nyamweya, C., Natugonza, V., ATaabu-Munyaho, A., Aura, C., Njiru, J., Ongore, C.O., Mangeni-Sande, R., Kashindye, B.B., Odoli, C.O., Ogari, Z., Kayanda, R., 2019. A century of drastic change: Human-induced changes of Lake Victoria fisheries and ecology. Fisheries Research. Volume 230, October 2020, 105564 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2020.105564).
• Proud, R., Mangeni-Sande, R., Kayanda, R.J., Cox, M.J., Nyamweya, C., Ongore, C., Natugonza, V., Everson, I., Elison, M., Hobbs, L., Kashindye, B.B., Mlaponi, E., Taabu-Munyaho, A., Mwainge, V.M, Pegado, P., Nduwayesu, E., Brierley, A.S., 2019. Automated classification of schools of the Silver Cyprinid Rastrineobola argentea in Lake Victoria acoustic survey data using Random Forests. ICES Journal of Marine Science.
• Ongore, C.O., Aura, C.O., Ogari, Z., Njiru, J.M., Nyamweya, C.S., 2018 Spatial-temporal dynamics of water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.), other macrophytes, and their impact on fisheries in Lake Victoria, Kenya. Journal of Great Lakes Research
   (Available online from 12/10/2018)
• Mwamburi, J., Yongo, E., Aura, M.C., Babu, M.J., Basweti, M.G., Gichuru, N.N., Guya, F., Nyaboke, H., Nyamweya, C., Nyaundi, K.J., Odoli, C.O., Ogwai, A.C., Okechi, J., Ombwa, V., Omwega, R., Ongore, C., Owili, M., Owiti, H., Wawiye, I.P., 2018. Balancing Community needs and Resource Protection: The Case of Lake Kanyaboli, Kenya. J Biodivers Endanger Species 2018, 6:2. DOI: 10.4172/2332-2543.1000215
• Rodrick Kundu, Christopher Mulanda Aura, Chrisphine Nyamweya, Simon Agembe, Lewis Sitoki, Henry B. O. Lung’ayia, Collins Ongore, Zachary Ogari, Kenneth Werimo (2017) Integrated approach in assessing pollution of Lake Victoria fishing grounds Kenya: What we need to know (Ac Lakes accepted for publication- Reservoirs, July 2017)
• Agembe S., Ojwang W., Olilo C., Omondi R., Ongore C. (2016) Soda Lakes of the Rift Valley (Kenya). In: Finlayson C., Milton G., Prentice R., Davidson N. (eds) The Wetland Book. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6173-5_150-1. Online ISBN978-94-007-6173-5
• Okuku E.O., Ohowa B., Ongore C.O., Kiteresi L.I, Wanjeri V.O., Okumu S.P. and Ochola O. (2013). Screening of potential ecotoxicological risk of metal contamination in some Kenyan Estuaries. Research Journal of Physical and Applied Sciences 2013 Vol. 2(4), pp. 052 - 063, August 2013.
• Ongore C.O, Okuku E.O, Mwangi S.N, Kiteresi L.I., Wanjeri V.O, Okumu, S., and Kilonzi J. (2013). Characterization of the nutrients enrichment in the estuarine and related systems of the Kenya Coastline. Journal of Environmental Science and Water Resources Vol. 2(6), pp. 181 - 190, July 2013.
• Wanjeri, V. O., Okuku, E. O., Kosore, C. M., Ohowa, B., Ongore, C.O.2013. An insight into ecotoxicological significance of PAHs contamination in selected Kenyan estuaries. Journal of Environmental Science and Water Resources Vol. 2(5), pp. 157 - 166, June 2013.