Derrick Joannes Omollo

Mr. Derrick Joannes Omollo

University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Nairobi City, Kenya
+1
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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11 August 2022 in Diversity
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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DODerrick Joannes Omollo
Derrick Joannes Omollo
VWVirginia Wangeci Wang’ondu
Virginia Wangeci Wang’ondu
MGMichael Njoroge Githaiga
Michael Njoroge Githaiga
DGDaniel Gorman
Daniel Gorman
JKJames Kairo
James Kairo
Seagrass beds occur globally in both intertidal and subtidal zones within shallow marine environments, such as bays and estuaries. These important ecosystems support fisheries production, attenuate strong wave energies, support human livelihoods and sequester large amounts of CO2 that may help mitigate the effects of climate change. At present, there is increased global interest in understanding how these ecosystems could help alleviate the challenges likely to face humanity and the environment into the future. Unlike other blue carbon ecosystems, i.e., mangroves and saltmarshes, seagrasses are less understood, especially regarding their contribution to the carbon dynamics. This is particularly true in regions with less attention and limited resources. Paucity of information is even more relevant for the subtidal meadows that are less accessible. In Kenya, much of the available information on seagrasses comes from Gazi Bay, where the focus has been on the extensive intertidal meadows. As is the case with other regions, there remains a paucity of information on subtidal meadows. This limits our understanding of the overall contribution of seagrasses in carbon capture and storage. This study provides the first assessment of the species composition and variation in carbon storage capacity of subtidal seagrass meadows within Gazi Bay. Nine seagrass species, comprising of Cymodocea rotundata, Cymodocea serrulata, Enhalus acoroides, Halodule uninervis, Halophila ovalis, Halophila stipulacea, Syringodium isoetifolium, Thalassia hemprichii, and Thalassodendron ciliatum, were found. Organic carbon stocks varied between species and pools, with the mean below ground vegetation carbon (bgc) stocks (5.1 ± 0.7 Mg C ha−1) being more than three times greater than above ground carbon (agc) stocks (0.5 ± 0.1 Mg C ha−1). Mean sediment organic carbon stock (sed Corg) of the subtidal seagrass beds was 113 ± 8 Mg C ha−1. Combining this new knowledge with existing data from the intertidal and mangrove fringed areas, we estimate the total seagrass ecosystem organic carbon stocks in the bay to be 196,721 Mg C, with the intertidal seagrasses storing about 119,790 Mg C (61%), followed by the subtidal seagrasses 55,742 Mg C (28%) and seagrasses in the mangrove fringed creeks storing 21,189 Mg C (11%). These findings are important in highlighting the need to protect subtidal seagrass meadows and for building a national and global data base on seagrass contribution to global carbon dynamics.

17 December 2025 in Sustainable Development
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
DODerrick Joannes Omollo
Derrick Joannes Omollo
PMPeter I. Macreadie
Peter I. Macreadie
MWMelissa Wartman
Melissa Wartman
EEEbrahem M. Eid
Ebrahem M. Eid
KSKabari Sam
Kabari Sam
MPMaria Palacios
Maria Palacios

1 May 2026 in Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
LGL.G. Gillis
L.G. Gillis
KAK. Arkema
K. Arkema
SCS.Y. Chee
S.Y. Chee
DHD.A. Hortua
D.A. Hortua
MHM. Huxham
M. Huxham
MVM.L. Vozzo
M.L. Vozzo