Publications in Journals:
1. Mazzoni, M., Hasselmann, M., Scheiner, R., Loidolt, F., Njovu, H., Otieno, M., Vincent, J., & Kersten, S. (2026). Elevational melanism in East African Honey Bees involves a major-effect locus. Genome Biology and Evolution (in press)
2. Otieno, M. (2026). The impact of pollinator diversity on the productivity of Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet, an underutilised legume crop. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-026-01884-6
3. Holzmann, K. L., Schmitzer, T., Abels, A., Čorkalo, M., Mitesser, O., Kortmann, M., Alonso-Alonso, P., Correa-Carmona, Y., Pinos, A., Yon, F., Alvarado, M., Forsyth, A., Lopera-Toro, A., Brehm, G., Keller, A., Otieno, M., Steffan-Dewenter, I., & Peters, M. K. (2026). Limited thermal tolerance in tropical insects and its genomic signature. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10155-w
4. Otieno, M. (2026). Food security: Development strategies for Africa and other emerging countries. In Encyclopedia of Agriculture and Food Systems (3rd ed., Vol. 5, pp. 509–523). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-15976-3.00098-2
5. Knauer, A., Adhikari, S., Andersson, G.K.S… Otieno, M. et al. (2026). Pesticides and habitat loss additively reduce wild bees in crop fields. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 10, 95–104. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02924-z
6. Otieno, M., Peters, M. K., & Steffan-Dewenter, I. (2025). Safeguarding nocturnal pollinators for food security in sub-Saharan Africa. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, TREE 3495, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2025.08.002
7. Mwova, A. K., Otieno, M., Segar, S. T., et al. (2025). Species richness, diversity and abundance of insect flower visitors of Coffea arabica and Coffea fadenii in Taita Hills, Kenya. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-025-01696-0
8. Kasiera, W., Pozo, M. I., Toroitich, K., Karanja, R., *Otieno, M., Jaramillo, J., Hundt, B., van Langevelde, F., & Nkoba, K. (2024). When size matters: Effectiveness of three endemic African stingless bees as watermelon pollinators. Apidologie, 55, 48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-024-01092-6 (Note: *Published as Odhiambo instead of Otieno)
9. Ndung'u, N., Isaboke, H., Nyarindo, W., Otieno, M., Gicheha, M., & Kinyuru, J. (2025). Gender differentials in cricket farming and its impact on household food security levels in East Africa. PLoS One, 20(6), e0326108. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0326108
10. Ndung'u, N., Isaboke, H., Nyarindo, W., Otieno, M., Gicheha, M., & Kinyuru, J. (2025). Entwined evolution: How innovation networks foster collaborative growth in East Africa’s edible insect value chain. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 1(aop), 1-18.
11. Ndung'u, N., Isaboke, H., Nyarindo, W., Otieno, M., Gicheha, M., & Kinyuru, J. (2025). Understanding gender dynamics on the intentions of small-scale traders to trade in edible insects in Kenya. Journal of Agricultural Science, 17(6), 1-42.
12. Tsang, T. P. N., De Santis, A. A. A., Armas-Quiñonez, G., Ascher, J. S., Ávila-Gómez, E. S., Báldi, A., Ballare, K. M., Balzan, M. V., Otieno, M .... (2025). Land use change consistently reduces α- but not β- and γ-diversity of bees. Global Change Biology, 31(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70006
13. Otieno. M. (2024). Sustainable agroecological practices in Sub-Saharan Africa in the face of climate change. 1st Edition. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-3-031-70471-0.
14. Otieno. M. (2024). Strengthening the role of indigenous vegetables in Kenya’s food systems. In The Ark of taste in Kenya: Food, knowledge and stories of gastronomic heritage, 2nd Edition. Vicolo del Pavone Editore.
15. Giménez-García, A., Allen-Perkins, A., Bartomeus, I., Balbi, S., Knapp, J. L., Otieno, M. ... (2023). Pollination supply models from a local to global scale. Web Ecology, 23(2), 99-129. https://doi.org/10.5194/we-23-99-2023
16. Otieno, M., Karpati, Z., Peters K. M., Duque L., Schmitt T. and Steffan-Dewenter, I. (2023). Elevated ozone but not carbon dioxide affects the composition of volatile organic compounds emitted by Vicia faba (L.) and reduces bee visits. PLoS ONE 18(4): e0283480. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0283480
17. Otieno, M., Peters K. M., Duque L. and Steffan-Dewenter, I. (2022). Interactive effects of ozone and carbon dioxide on plant-pollinator interactions and yields in a legume crop. Environmental Advances, 9: 100285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envadv.2022.100285
18. Nderitu, W.P., Jonsson, M., Arunga, E., Otieno, M., Muturi, J.J. and Wafula, G.O. (2022). Tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta) incidence and severity in Kirinyaga County, Kenya. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal.
19. Allen-Perkins, A., Otieno M. et al. (2021). CropPol: a dynamic, open and global database on crop pollination. Ecology. Biological Conservation.
20. Balmford, A., Bradbury, R.B. Otieno, M. et al. (2021). Making more effective use of human behavioural science in conservation interventions. , 261, 109256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109256
21. Nielsen, K.S., Bauer, J.M., OtienoNature Human Behaviour, M. et al. (2021). Biodiversity conservation as a promising frontier for behavioural science. , 5, 550–556. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01109-5
22. Otieno, M., Joshi, N., Rutschmann, B. (2021). Flower visitors of Streptocarpus teitensis: implications for conservation of a critically endangered African violet species in Kenya. PeerJ 9:e10473, https://doi.Global Food Securityorg/10.7717/peerj.10473
23. Otieno, M., Steffan-Dewenter, I., Potts, G. S., Kinuthia, W., Kasina, M.J., Garratt, P.D.M. (2020). Enhancing legume crop pollination and natural pest regulation for improved food security in changing African landscapes. , 26, 100394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100394
24. Nderitu, W.P., Jonsson, M., Arunga, E., Otieno, M., Muturi, J.J. and Wafula, G.O. (2020). Combining Host Plant Resistance, Selective Insecticides, and Biological Control Agents for Integrated Management of Tuta absoluta. Advances in Agriculture , Article ID 6239491.
25. Döke, A.M., McGrady, C.M., Otieno, M., Grozinger, C.M. and Frazier, M. (2019). Colony Size, Rather Than Geographic Origin of Stocks, Predicts Overwintering Success in Honey Bees in the Northeastern United States. Journal of Economic Entomology.
26. Lichtenberg E., Otieno, M., et al. (2017). A global synthesis of the effects of diversified farming systems on arthropod diversity within fields and across agricultural landscapes. Global Change Biology.
27. Otieno, M., Joshi, N.K., Rajotte, E.G., Fleischer, S.J. and Biddinger D.J. (2016). Proximity to Woodland and Landscape Structure Drives Pollinator Visitation in Apple Orchard Ecosystem. Frontiers of Ecology and Evolution.
28. Stanley, D. Otieno, M., Steijven, K., Piironen, T., Willmer, P. and Nuttman, C. (2016). Pollination ecology of Desmodium setigerum (Fabaceae) in Uganda; Do big bees do it better? Journal of Pollination Ecology, Vol. 18.
29. Otieno M., Sheena C.S., Woodcock, B.A., Wilby, A., Vogiatzakis, I.N., Mauchline, A.L., Gikungu, M.W. and Potts S.G. (2015). Local and landscape effects on bee functional guilds in pigeon pea crops in Kenya. Journal of Insect Conservation, 19(4), 647-658.
30. Garibaldi, L.A., Otieno, M. et al. (2015). Trait matching of flower visitors and crops predicts fruit set better than trait diversity. Journal of Applied Ecology, 52(6), 1436-1444.
31. Garibaldi, L.A., Otieno, M. et al. (2013). Wild insects enhance global crop pollination even when honey bees are abundant. Science, 339(6127), 1608-1611.
32. Kennedy, C., Otieno, M. et al. (2013). A global quantitative synthesis of local and landscape effects on native bee pollinators across heterogeneous agricultural systems. Ecology Letters, 16(5), 584-599.
33. Norfolk, O., Sadiki, L., Broughton, B., Otieno, M. and Nuttman, C. (2013). Tea breaks: how flower-visitors can benefit from un-planned floral buffer-strips in a Tanzanian tea plantation. African Journal of Ecology, 51, 380–384.
34. Otieno, M., Woodcock, B.A., Wilby, A., Vogiatzakis, N.G., Mauchline, A.L., Gikungu, M and Potts, S.G. (2011). Local management and landscape drivers of pollination and biological control services in a Kenyan agro-ecosystem. Biological Conservation, 144(10), 2424-2431.
35. Nuttman, C.V., Otieno, M., Kwapong, P.K., Combey, R., Willmer, P.G. and Potts, S.G. (2011). Aerial pan-trapping: a method for assessing insect pollinators in tree canopies. Kansas Journal of Insect Science, 84(4), 260 - 270.
Books/Book Chapters Published:
1. Sustainable Agroecological Practices in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Face of Climate Change. Co-Authored Book, Springer Nature.
2. Otieno, M. (2025). Food security: Development strategies for Africa and other emerging countries. In Reference Module in Food Science, Elsevier. ISBN: 9780081005965, DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-443-15976-3.00098-2.Presentation of Papers at Academic and Professional Conferences:
1. Otieno, M., Peters, M. K., Plesser, S. M., Zhang, J., & Steffan-Dewenter, I. (2026, December). Nocturnal pollination services as an ecological safety net for papaya production in a tropical biodiversity hotspot. British Ecological Society (BES) Annual Meeting, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
2. Otieno, M. (2026, April). Tropical Forest and Savanna Ecology and Plant-Animal Interactions. Master’s Lecture Series, Faculty of Biology, University of Würzburg, Germany.
3. Otieno, M., Fleischer, S. J., & Watrous, K. (2014, November). Ecosystem service delivery in diverse tropical and temperate agricultural systems: the role of landscape context and farm management. 62nd Entomological Society of America (ESA) Annual Meeting, Portland, Oregon, USA.
4. Otieno, M., Biddinger, D. J., Joshi, N. K., Fleischer, S. J., & Rajotte, E. G. (2014, March). The role of landscape heterogeneity surrounding uniformly managed orchards in enhancing apple pollination. Eastern Branch ESA Annual Meeting, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA.
5. Otieno, M., Biddinger, D. J., Fleischer, S. J., Joshi, N. K., & Rajotte, E. G. (2013, November). The uniqueness of Pennsylvania landscape in determining the community composition of native bees delivering pollination services to apples. 61st ESA Annual Meeting, Austin, Texas, USA.
6. Otieno, M., Woodcock, B. A., Wilby, A., Vogiatzakis, I. N., Mauchline, A. L., Gikungu, M., & Potts, S. G. (2013, August). Local management and landscape structure drive pollinator community and crop pollination in East Africa. International Conference on Pollinator Biology, Health and Policy, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.
7. Otieno, M., Woodcock, B. A., Wilby, A., Vogiatzakis, I. N., Mauchline, A. L., Gikungu, M., & Potts, S. G. (2013, June). Functional responses of bee communities to local management and landscape structure in pigeon pea cropping system in Kenya. 50th Anniversary Conference of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) & OTS, San José, Costa Rica.
8. Otieno, M., Woodcock, B. A., Wilby, A., Vogiatzakis, I. N., Mauchline, A. L., Gikungu, M., & Potts, S. G. (2009, August). Linking landscape context and local habitat management to insect pollination and pest control in pigeon pea. 10th INTECOL Congress, Brisbane, Australia.
9. Otieno, M. (2008, July). The interactive effects of landscape context and farm management on pollinators and natural enemies of pests in pigeon pea. Poster presentation, Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) Global Meeting, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA.
10. Otieno, M. (2005, March). The role of pro-poor nature-based businesses in promoting wildlife conservation in Kenyan wildlife corridors. Student Conference for Conservation Science (SCCS), Cambridge, United Kingdom.
11. Otieno, M. (2003, July). The ecological impact of the invasive water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) on phytoplankton community diversity in wastewater habitats in Kenya. Society for Conservation Biology Conference, Minnesota, USA.
Grants and Current Projects:
• 2026: British Ecological Society (BES) Project Grant – “Enhancing Competency-Based Ecology Education in Kenyan Universities through Experiential and Field-Based Learning with Reflective Integration” (Collaborative initiative with Karatina University).
• 2023 – 2026: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Research Grant – “Pollination Networks, Climate Warming and Functional Yield Dynamics in Tropical Agroecosystems” (€799,390) – Principal Investigator / Research Fellow.
• 2023 – 2024: 1890 Center of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense (CEGFSD) Grant ($15,000).
• 2023: Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Research Grant (€9,000).
• 2023: Southern University East Africa Project Grant ($6,000).
• 2023 – 2024: University of Würzburg Sub-Award (Apis mellifera adaptation and genomics) (€6,050).
• 2022 – 2025: 1890 CBG / University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) East Africa Project Grant ($72,000).
• 2022 – 2025: JRS Biodiversity Foundation Grant – Automated insect monitoring, pollinator diversity mapping and database development in East Africa ($148,377).
• 2022 – 2023: CEGFSD Cluster Project Grant ($18,000).
• 2022: Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Research Travel Grant ($3,300).
• 2022 – 2023: American Orchid Society Conservation Fund – Conservation ecology of critically endangered epiphytic orchids in Taita Hills ($3,850).
• 2022 – 2023: Harper Adams University QR Strategic Funding (£5,000).
• 2021 – 2022: Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Alumni Return Fellowship ($15,000).
• 2019 – 2021: Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Experienced Research Fellowship (Georg Forster) ($100,000).
• 2019 – 2020: British Ecological Society – Ecologists in Africa Grant (£7,995).
• 2019 – 2020: The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund – Endangered African violet and pollinator conservation ($8,500).
• 2014 – 2016: USDA-NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) – Native pollinator conservation in fruit orchard systems ($30,000) – Co-PI.
• 2012 – 2013: British Ecological Society Small Ecological Project Grant ($4,000).
Consultancies:
l Lead Consultant: Development of the 2026 – 2035 Strategic Plan and Action for the African Union Ecological Organic Agriculture - Initiative (EOA – I) on behalf of Biovision Africa Trust.
l Chief Content Reviewer: The Organic Farmer (TOF) Magazine, Biovision Africa Trust – Reviewing, verifying, and validating agroecological techniques, organic crop management, and ecological training manuals disseminated to smallholder farming communities across East Africa.
l Lead Ecological Consultant & Course Coordinator: Tropical Biology Association (TBA), Africa – Coordinated and delivered specialist field courses and professional development workshops in tropical ecology, insect taxonomy, and biodiversity monitoring across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Madagascar.
l Consultant Ecologist: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – Formulated management toolkits and ecosystem-based intervention guidelines for protecting native pollinator communities underpinning sustainable crop production in Kilimambogo and Central Kenya.
l Consultant Ecologist: National Museums of Kenya (NMK) – Conducted specialized biodiversity assessments, arthropod taxonomic audits, and ecosystem service valuation surveys across threatened forest fragments and buffer agroecosystems.
Collaborations:
• University of Würzburg, Germany (Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology): Prof. Dr. Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter & Dr. Marcell K. Peters – Collaborative research on nocturnal pollination services, atmospheric trace gas impacts on floral scent (VOCs), and honeybee altitudinal genomics.
• University of Reading, United Kingdom (Centre for Agri-Environmental Research - CAER): Prof. Simon G. Potts & Dr. Mike Garratt – Global meta-analyses of wild insect pollination services, pigeon pea ecological intensification, and functional trait matching.
• Pennsylvania State University, USA (Department of Entomology): Prof. Shelby J. Fleischer, Prof. Christina Grozinger, & Dr. David Biddinger – Research on orchard pollination networks, bee trapping methodologies, and honeybee overwintering dynamics.
• Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic (Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences): Collaborative guest teaching, postgraduate co-supervision, and student curriculum development in Tropical Agroecology.
• Tropical Biology Association (TBA) & UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH): Collaborative deployment of Autonomous Monitoring of Insects (AMI) AI camera hardware and long-term moth monitoring across the Taita Hills biodiversity hotspot.
• Darwin Initiative International Consortium: Cross-institutional collaboration on “Scaling Space-to-Farm Biocontrol for Biodiversity and Livelihoods in Kenyan Coffee” landscapes.
• 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities Consortium, USA: In-Country Coordinator across collaborative agricultural research, food security, and student experiential programs involving University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), and Southern University.