Research Projects

• Completed Projects
• Ongoing Projects

Completed Projects

1. Aaron Wagner. Behavioural Ecology of stripped hyenas. PhD. Dissertation, Montana State University apwagner@montana.edu
2. Andrea Varela. Nematode parasite transmission in Giraffes. Tufts Veterinary School.
3. Anna T. Watson. Applications of automated identification in the pollination ecology of the Kenyan Acacia. MPhil. University of St. Andrews atw1@st-andrews.ac.uk
4. Anthony Macharia and Thure Cerling. The resource use efficiency among plant species constituting post successional plant community within and around abandoned livestock corrals in Laikipia. Utah State University a.macharia@utah.edu
5. Barbara Gemmil. Pollination biology of Acacia.
6. Bell Okelo. Dynamics of Acacia drepanolobium woodlands. PhD. Dissertation, University of Natal promax@gt.co.uk and tpyoung@ucdavis.edu
7. Candy Feller. Tree-herbivore nutrient dynamics in dry land savannas. Smithsonian Environmental Research Center fellen@serc.si.edu
8. Charles Warui. Effects of large herbivores on spider diversity and abundance in savanna ecosystems. PhD. Dissertation, Rhodes University cmwarui@yahoo.com and tpyoung@ucdavis.edu
9. Collins Ouma, Nicholas Georgiadis, Alfred Roca, Olivier Hanotte, Joel Ochieng and Nicholas Oguge. Conservation biology of hartebeest in Laikipia: I Genetic structure of hartebeest populations straddling the transition zone between morphotypes.. MSc. Dissertation, Kenyatta University njg@mpala.org
10. Darcy Misurelli. Large angulate impacts on bird populations in East african Savannah. MSc. Dissertation, State University of New York, Albany
11. David Brown and Nicholas Georgiadis . Population structure and evolution of giraffe in Africa. Mpala Research Centre njg@mpala.org
12. David J. Augustine. Contingent herbivore regulation of ecosystem processes. PhD. Dissertation, Syracuse University, New York daugustine@fs.fed.us
13. David Kinyua. Towards grassland restoration: the role of seeding, tilling and fertilization. Mpala Research Centre dkinyua@usaid.gov and njg@mpala.org
14. David Kinyua. Effects of large herbivores on rangeland understory. dkinyua@usaid.gov and njg@mpala.org
15. Debra Forthman. Conditioned taste aversion in stock-killing carnivores. Zoo Atlanta
16. Dino J. Martins Visitacao. East african sphingiphilous pollination guilds: Evolution and ecology: an investigation of pollination ecology and evolution through an analysis of pollinator patterns and diversity, floral biology and floral guilds. MSc. Dissertation, University of KwaZulu Natal dinom@elci.org
17. Dustin R. Rubenstein. The Evolution of Cooperative Breeding in African Starlings. PhD. Dissertation, Cornell University drr24@cornell.edu
18. Elizabeth Lyons. Do ants and thorns protect Acacia drepanolobium from herbivores. ICIPE elyons@nsf.gov
19. Felicia Keesing. CAREER: Investigating biodiversity cascades in an East African savanna. Bard College, New York keesing@bard.edu
20. George Amutete. Monitoring avian communities at Mpala Research Center. MSc. Dissertation, University of Cape Town kbirds@africaonline.co.ke
21. Gordon Ojwang. Estimating numbers of herbivores within subunits from sample count data: a computer simulation modeling approach. MSc. ITC, The Netherlands gojwang@yahoo.com
22. Harry Wright. Behavioural Ecology of Bat-eared foxes. PhD. Dissertation, Warwick University
23. Ilya Fischhoff. What are zebras thinking? Inferences from space use and response to change. PhD. Dissertation, Princeton University, New Jersey ifischho@Princeton.edu
24. Isaac K. Kimathi. Fire and grazing effects on above ground herbaceous vegetation biomass rpoduction and soil nutrients in Laikipia District, Kenya. MSc. Dissertation at the University of Nairobi kamaukim@mpala.org
25. Jill Pruetz. Movement and travel patterns of vervet and patas monkeys. University of Illinois
26. John K. Mugo. Biological nitrogen fixation in Acacia drepanolobium. MSc. Dissertation, University of Nairobi
27. Kathrine Baldock and Graham Stone. Pollinator-mediated interactions in co-flowering Acacia species. PhD. Dissertation, University of Edinburgh k.baldock@ed.ac.uk and graham.stone@ed.ac.uk
28. Koen Maes. Parataxonomy.
29. Lucy Ngatia. A comparative study of the effects of large herbivores on selected chemical properties of two soils types in a central savanna ecosystem, Laikipia District, Kenya. MSc. Dissertation at the University of Nairobi lucyngatia2004@yahoo.com
30. Lynne Isbell. Comparative ecology of vervet and patas monkeys. University of California, Davis laisbell@ucdavis.edu
31. Majid Ezzati. Wood fuel use, smoke inhalation and human health: the impact of improved cook stoves in rural communities. PhD. Dissertation, Princeton University, New Jersey kammen@mindspring.com and ezzatim@who.ch
32. Mark Otieno. Effects of herbivory on interactions of pollinators and flowers in Acacia spp. (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae) in Laikipia districts of Kenya. MSc. Dissertation, Kenyatta University markotieno@yahoo.com
33. Melody Roelke. Viral disease prevalence in wild and domestic carnivores. US National Cancer Institute obrien@ncifcrf.gov
34. Mikhaela Huntzinger. Effects of large herbivores on orthoptera diversity and abundance in savanna ecosystems. PhD. Dissertation, University of California, Davis pmhuntzinger@ucdavis.edu and tpyoung@ucdavis.edu
35. Mordecai Ogada. The relationship between livestock husbandry methods and depredation by large carnivores in Laikipia District, Kenya. MSc. Dissertation, Kenyatta University mordyogada@yahoo.com
36. Mordecai Ogada. The effect of water quality on the distribution of the African clawless otter and its crayfish food base in Laikipia. PhD. Dissertation, Kenyatta University mordyogada@yahoo.com
37. Nathan C. Gregory. The Role of Anthropogenic Fire and Livestock Grazing in Sustaining Avian Diversity in East African Savannas. PhD. Dissertation Princeton University ngregory@princeton.edu
38. Nicholas Georgiadis and Festus Ihwagi. Conservation biology of hartebeest in Laikipia: II Causes of population decline. Mpala Research Centre njg@mpala.org
39. Nicholas Georgiadis, Alfred Roca and Stephen O'Brien. Population structure and evolution of elephant species in Africa. Mpala Research Centre njg@mpala.org
40. Nicholas Georgiadis. Testing predictions of the Laikipia zebra population simulation model using Near-infrared Spectrophotometry (NIRS).. Mpala Research Centre njg@mpala.org
41. Nicholas Georgiadis and Nasser Olwero. A strategy for alleviating human-wildlife conflict in Laikipia: I The Ewaso Incident Reporting System (EIRS). Mpala Research Centre njg@mpala.org
42. Nicholas Georgiadis, Nasser Olwero and Gordon Ojwang. Environmental monitoring in the Ewaso Ecosystem: I Systematic Sample Surveys. Mpala Research Centre njg@mpala.org
43. Nicholas Georgiadis, Nasser Olwero and Gordon Ojwang. Environmental monitoring in the Ewaso Ecosystem: II GIS applications of higher-resolution sample survey data to wildlife management. Mpala Research Centre njg@mpala.org
44. Nicholas Georgiadis, Nasser Olwero and Max Graham. A strategy for alleviating human-wildlife conflict in Laikipia: II Predicting the timing and location of crop raiding by elephants in Laikipia. Mpala Research Centre njg@mpala.org
45. Nicholas Georgiadis, Nasser Olwero, Peter Niederer and Jay Angerer. Environmental monitoring in the Ewaso Ecosystem: III Inferring primary production using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Mpala Research Centre njg@mpala.org
46. Ogeto Mwebi. Predation, taphonomy and human carnivore conflict in Kenya. The National Museums of Kenya. ogeto_mwebi@yahoo.com
47. Oscar Wambughuh. Human-Wildlife conflicts in Laikipia District. PhD Dissertation, University of California, Berkeley owg@uclink.berkeley.edu
48. Peter A. Lindsey. The potential for ecotourism benefits to promote the conservation of African wild dogs Lycaon pictus in livestock farming areas of northern Kenya.
49. Philip Muruthi. Maternal Investment in Baboons. Princeton University, New Jersey pmuruthi@awfke.org
50. Robert Gordon. Dung beetle diversity at Mpala Research Centre. Smithsonian Institution rdgordon@utma.com
51. Roy Snelling. Ant diversity at Mpala Research centre. California Academy of Sciences rsnellin@nmh.org
52. Ryan Sensenig. Spatial dynamics of fire in an East African savanna: cattle, wildlife, and fire interactions. Princeton University, New Jersey rlsensenig@ucdavis.edu
53. Simon Kamande. Investigating the interactions of invertebrate communities that coexist with the acacia ants colonising Acacia drepanolobium at Mpala Ranch, Laikipia District, Kenya. PhD. Dissertation at Rhodes University kamande@mpala.org
54. Sip Van Wieren and Wilfred Odadi. Cattle-Donkey Competition Experiment (CADONKEY). Wagenin University Sip.vanWieren@wur.nl
55. Siva Sundarensan. Individual Behavior and Female Associations in Fission-Fusion Equid societies. Princeton University, New Jersey ssundare@princeton.edu
56. Stephanie Romanach. Determinants of people's attitudes toward predators in a livestock dominated landscape. romanach@earth.co.zw
57. Stephen Emlen. Toward a unifying theory of social evolution: understanding cooperation and conflict in grey capped social weavers. Cornell University ste1@cornell.edu
58. Steve Takata. Behavioural ecology of small carnivores in East Africa. PhD. Dissertation, University of California, Berkeley s_takata@yahoo.com
59. Suzan Murray, Sara Hallager and Timothy Ode Osborne. Health evaluation of free ranging Kori Bustards (Ardeotis kori) in Kenya. Smithsonian Institution MurrayS@si.edu
60. Sylvanus Otieno. Wildlife and influences on herbaceous layer: An analysis of net above-ground primary productivity and utilization on black cotton soil savannah of Laikipia, Kenya. MSc. Dissertation, University of Nairobi silvanosotieno@yahoo.com
61. Titus Adhola. Towards sustainable game bird management by rural communities in Laikipia, Kenya: comparing the dynamics of two sympatric guineafowl species. National Museums of Kenya enocktit@yahoo.com
62. Vannesa Ezenwa. Nematode community structure in wild and domestic herbivore species. PhD. Dissertation, Princeton University, New Jersey voezenwa@princeton.edu
63. Venancia Ndoo. Characterization of agents and the rate of large herbivore dung disappearance in Laikipia rangelands: a case study in Mpala Wildlife Conservancy. University of Nairobi vanessandoo@yahoo.com
64. Wilfred Odadi. Effects of large mammalian herbivores on cattle foraging behaviour in an Acacian savanna, Laikipia, Kenya. MSc. Dissertation, Moi University woodadi@yahoo.com and tpyoung@ucdavis.edu
65. Wilfred Odadi & Truman P. Young. The effects of wild herbivores on cattle nutrition and productivity in a semi-arid rangeland in Laikipia District, Kenya. Egerton University woodadi@yahoo.com

Ongoing Projects

1. Abdullahi Ahmed Yusuf. Semiochemicals involved in termite raiding by the Ponerine ant Pachycondyla analis (Latreille) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Kenya. University of Pretoria ayusuf@icipe.org
2. Alison K. Brody and Todd M. Palmer. Interactions among keystone species: effects of termites and ungulates on biodiversity in East African savannas. University of Vermont akbrody@zoo.uvm.edu
3. Amelia Wolf. Nutritional consequences for Acacia drepanolobium occupied by four different symbiotic ants. Stanford University aawolf@stanford.edu
4. Andrew Schnabel, Adriana Ortero-Arnaiz, Graham Stone and Pat Wilmer. Analysis of competition for pollination in East African Acacia. Princeton University, New Jersey aschnabe@iusb.edu and moteroar@iusb.edu
5. Benjamin Turner & Robert Stallard.Carbon cycling in savannah influence on grazing.Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. TurnerBL@si.edu and stallarg@si.edu
6. Bradley J. Bergstrom. Effects of Spatial Scale and Heterogeneity of Prescribed Fire on Small Mammalian Herbivores in the Presence and Absence of Large Herbivores in an East African Savanna. Valdosta State University bergstrom@valdosta.edu
7. Bryan Shorrocks. The ecology and conservation of the reticulated Giraffe in Laikipia District of Kenya. Leeds University bryan.shorrocks@btinternet.com
8. Chris Odhiambo. Woody stem vegetation monitoring. Mpala Research Centre codhiambo@mpala.org
9. Chris Odhiambo. An ecological assessment of the distribution and abundance of Yellow fever trees (Acacia xanthophloae) at Mpala Ranch, Laikipia. Mpala Research Centre codhiambo@mpala.org
10. Corina Riginos and Truman P. Young. The ecology of woody and herbaceous plants. PhD. Dissertation, University of California, Davis criginos@ucdavis.edu
11. Daniel I. Rubenstein. ZEBRANET: A wireless tracking system for understanding the behaviour, population dynamics and movements of Zebra and other wildlife in the greater Laikipia Ecosystem. Princeton University, New Jersey dir@princeton.edu
12. Dan Rubenstein, Elizabeth King & John Githaiga. Water, savannas and society in sub-Saharan Africa.Princeton University dir@princeton.edu
13. Daniel I. Rubenstein and Mace Hack. Multilevel social organization in plains zebra: from mating systems to social systems. Princeton University, New Jersey dir@princeton.edu and mhack@ngpc.state.ne.us
14. Fritz Vollrath. Elephant movements, habitat use and conservation. Oxford University fritz.vollrath@zoo.ox.ac.uk
15. Graham Stone and Pat Willmer. Dynamics of pollen release in an Acacia community. Universities of Edinburgh and St Andrews graham.stone@ed.ac.uk and pgw@st-andrews.ac.uk
16. Jacob Goheen. Contrasting the effects of native versus exotic grazers in an East African savanna: establishment of the whistling thorn tree (Acacia drepanolobium). PhD. Dissertation, University of New Mexico jgoheen@unm.edu
17. Juan Carlos Ruiz-Guajardo, Graham Stone and Andy Schnabel. Competition for pollination services in a Savannah community . Princeton University, New Jersey j.guajado@ed.ac.uk and graham.stone@ed.ac.uk
18. Kari Veblen. The ontogeny of glades in an East African rangeland savanna: vegetation dynamics and the role of large herbivores. PhD. Dissertation, University of California, Davis kveblen@ucdavis.edu
19. Kathleen Ryan. Archaeological Reconnaissance at Mpala Ranch, Laikipia District.University of Pennsylvania kryan@sas.upenn.edu
20. Laurence G. Frank. The Laikipia Predator project. University of California, Berkeley lgfrank@berkeley.edu
21. Margaret Kinnaird, Tim O'Brien.Carnivore Communities in Human-Dominated Landscapes. Mpala Research Centre tobrien@wcs.org and mkinnaird@mpala.org
22. Maureen Stanton, Todd M. Palmer and Truman P. Young. Multiple mechanisms of co-existence in a guild of Acacia Ants in Laikipia Kenya. University of California, Davis tmpalmer@ucdavis.edu
23. Robert Pringle, Truman P. Young and Daniel I. Rubenstein. Bottomup effects on a squamate mesopredator: An experimental study from central Kenya. PhD. Dissertation, Stanford University pringle@stanford.edu
24. Rosie Woodroffe. Samburu-Laikipia Wild Dog ecology and conservation. University of California, Davis rwoodroffe@ucdavis.edu
25. Scot Miller. Moth Biodiversity. ICIPE and Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution miller.scott@nmnh.si.edu
26. Siva Sundarensan. Movements of grevy's zebra in relation to lion movements in Laikipia and Samburu Districts.Princeton University ssundare@princeton.edu
27. Steve Paton. Climate monitoring at Mpala Research Centre. STRI patons@si.edu
28. Todd M. Palmer and Truman P. Young. The Soit Ng'iro Exclosures (SNE): Wildlife-Cattle interactions in Kenya. University of California, Davis tmpalmer@ucdavis.edu
29. Todd M. Palmer, Maureen Stanton and Truman P. Young. Mutualism in context: costs, benefits and conditionality in a muti-species andt-plant symbiosis. University of California, Davis tmpalmer@ucdavis.edu
30. Truman P. Young. The Kenya Long-term Exclosure Experiment (KLEE). University of California, Davis tpyoung@ucdavis.edu
31. Vanessa Ezenwa. The effects of territoriality on parasitism and parasitism on territoriality: parasites as a hidden cost on territorial behaviour.Montana State University vanessa.ezenwa@umontana.edu
32. Wenfei Tong. Evolution and behavioural ecology of insects and birds associated with East African Ant-acacia.Harvard University wtong@fas.harvard.edu
33. Wole' Soboyejo. Optimization of solar based approaches for wildlife area. Princeton University soboyejo@princeton.edu