Dr. Mark Otieno Publications

2024 Book

1. The Ark of Taste in Kenya, 2nd Edition - Click here to access the Book
2. Sustainable Agroecological Practices in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Face of Climate Change

Publications in Journals:

1. Otieno, M., Peters, M. K., Duque, L., & Steffan-Dewenter, I. (2022). Interactive effects of ozone and carbon dioxide on plant-pollinator interactions and yields in a legume crop. Environmental Advances, 100285.
2. Allen-Perkins, A., Otieno M.et al. (2021). CropPol: a dynamic, open and global database on crop pollination. Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.3614.   
3. Balmford, A., Bradbury, R.B. Otieno, M. et al. (2021).  Making more effective use of human behavioural science in conservation interventions. Biological Conservation. 261, 109256.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109256.
4. Nielsen, K.S., Bauer, J.M., Otieno, M. et al. (2021). Biodiversity conservation as a promising frontier for behavioural science. Nature Human Behaviour 5, 550–556 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01109-5.
5. 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.org/10.7717/peerj.10473.
6. Nderitu, W.P., Jonsson, M., Arunga, E., Otieno, M., Muturi, J.J. and Wafula, G.O. (2020) Tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta) incidence and severity in Kirinyaga County, Kenya. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal. Accepted Article ID: TEAF-2019-0020R1.
7. 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. Global Food Security. Volume 26, 100394 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100394
8. 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. Vol. 2020, Article ID 6239491, https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/6239491.
9. 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 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the Northeastern United States. Journal of Economic Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toy377.
10. Nderitu, W.P., Muturi, J.J., Otieno M., Arunga, E. and Jonsson, M. (2018) Tomato Leaf miner (Tuta absoluta) (Meyrick 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) prevalence and farmer management practices in Kirinyanga County, Kenya. Journal of Entomology and Nematology, https://doi.org/10.5897/JEN2018.0208.
11. 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: DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13714.  https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13714
12. 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. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2016.00038.
13. 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.
14. 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.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-015-9788-z.
15. 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. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12530.
16. Joshi N. K., Leslie, T., Rajotte, E.G., Kammerer, M.A., Otieno M. and Biddinger, B.J. (2015). Comparative trapping efficiency to characterize bee abundance, diversity, and community composition in apple orchards. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 108(5):785-799. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/sav057.
17. 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.
18. 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. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12082.
19. 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.  https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.12039
20. 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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2011.06.013.
21. 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. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41353889

Presentation of Papers at Academic and Professional Conferences

1. Otieno, M. Conservation of a critically endangered African violet species through management of its pollinators and habitat in Taita Hills, Kenya, 30th International Congress for Conservation Biology – virtusal event –December, 2021.
2. Otieno, M. Global native bee declines threat chains. Nudging for Nature workshop, 6-10 January, 2020, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. 
3. Otieno, M. & Steffan-Dewenter, I. Factors driving legume pollination in lower Franconia, Germany. Alexander von Humboldt networking meeting, November, 6-8, 2019, Hamburg, Germany.
4. Alexander von Humboldt Award Winners Meeting, October 16 – 20, 2019, Bonn, Germany.
5. Otieno, M., Sheena C.S., Woodcock, B.A., Wilby, A., Vogiatzakis, I.N., Mauchline, A.L., Gikungu, M.W. and Potts S.G. Local management and landscape drivers of bee functional guilds in pigeon pea crop in Kenya. 2018 ESA, ESC, and ESBC Joint Annual Meeting (Entomology 2018), 11-14 November 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
6. Otieno, M., Fleischer, S.J. and Watrous, K. Ecosystem service delivery in diverse tropical and temperate agricultural systems: the role of landscape context and farm management. 62nd ESA Annual Meeting, November 16–19, 2014. Portland, OR. USA.
7. Otieno, M., Biddinger, J.B., Joshi, K.J., Fleischer, S.J., Rajotte, E.G. The role of landscape heterogeneity surrounding uniformly managed orchards in enhancing apple pollination.   Eastern Branch 2014 Annual Meeting, March 15–18, 2014, Williamsburg, VA, USA.
8. Otieno, M., Biddinger, D. J., Fleischer, S. J. Joshi, N. K. and Rajotte E. The uniqueness of Pennsylvania landscape in determining the community composition of native bees delivering pollination services to apples. 61st ESA Annual Meeting, November 10–13, 2013, Austin, TX. USA.
9. Otieno, M., Woodcock, B.A., Wilby, A., Vogiatzakis, N.G., Mauchline, A.L., Gikungu, M and Potts, S.G. (2013) Local management and landscape structure drive pollinator community and crop pollination in East Africa. International Conference on Pollinator Biology, Health and Policy August 14-17, 2013, University Park, PA, USA.
10. Otieno, M., Woodcock, B.A., Wilby, A., Vogiatzakis, N.G., Mauchline, A.L., Gikungu, M. and Potts, S.G. Functional responses of bee communities to local management and landscape structure in pigeon pea cropping system in Kenya. 50th Anniversary of the Association of Tropical Biodiversity and Conservation and the Organization for Tropical Studies, June 23 – 27, 2013. San Jose, Costa Rica.
11. Otieno, M., Woodcock, B.A., Wilby, A., Vogiatzakis, N.G., Mauchline, A.L., Gikungu, M and Potts, S.G. Linking landscape context and local habitat management to insect pollination and pest control in pigeon pea.10th INTECOL Conference, August 16 -21, 2009. Brisbane, Australia.
12. Otieno, M. 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 Global Meeting, July 13-18, 2008, Chattanooga, TN., USA.
13. Otieno, M. The role of pro-poor nature-based businesses in promoting wildlife conservation in wildlife migratory corridors of Kenya. Student Conference for Conservation Science, March, 21-23, 2005, Cambridge, UK.
14. Otieno, M. The ecological impact of the invasive water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) on the phytoplankton community diversity in wastewater habitats in Kenya. Society for Conservation Biology Conference, July, 2003, Minnesota, USA.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

Dr. Otieno has received numerous research grants, awards, prizes and mentions at important professional and global meetings notably;
1.    DAAD Alumni scholarship to attend a seminar in Germany on creating global change.
2.    Alexander von Humboldt Foundation research travel grant for networking and project idea development meetings in Germany.
3.    American Orchid Society conservation fund to study the pollination biology of the African Leopard orchid in Kerio Valley in Kenya.
4.    Harper Adams University QR funding to study mutualists and antagonists of wild coffee in coastal Kenya and the Taita Hills.
5.    Alexander von Humboldt Foundation grant to assess the local and landscape factors driving field beans (Vicia faba) pollination and pest regulation in Germany.
6.    Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Return Fellowship grant to assess the role of insects in the pollination and fruit set of orphan legume crops in Eastern Mt. Kenya.
7.    Alexander von Humboldt language course scholarship to study the German language at Did Deutsch Institute – Frankfurt, Germany.
8.    American Museum of Natural History scholarship to undertake Bee Course training in USA.
9.    British Ecological Society - Ecologists in Africa grant to investigate wild coffee pollination in biodiversity hotspots of south-eastern Kenya.
10.    British Ecological Society Small Ecological Project Grant to study crop pollination in peri-urban farmlands in Kenya.
11.    British Ecological Society Student Travel Grant to Australia and USA.
12.    Earthwatch Institute research fellowship to study wildlife management in Ghana.
13.    Felix Trust Scholarship to pursue PhD studies in the United Kingdom.
14.    Israel - MASHAV Scholarship to attend a course in Agroecological approaches for sustainable intensive Agriculture at MATC, Shefayim, Israel.
15.    Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor’s Research Award to present fourth year undergraduate project findings at the SCB Convention in Duluth, Minnesota, USA
16.    National Resource Conservation Service - Conservation Innovation Grant to install pollinator plantings to supplement bee forage in Eastern USA farmlands.
17.    Society for Conservation Biology Travel Grant to USA.
18.    The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund to study African violet pollination in Taita Hills, Kenya.
19.    Tropical Biology Association and St. Andrews University scholarships to pursue MSc Studies in Kenya.
20.    Tropical Biology Association scholarship to study field ecology course in Uganda.
21.    University of Reading Alumni Grant to present PhD work at the INTECOL Conference in Brisbane, Australia.
22.    USDA – SCRI Postdoctoral Research Scholarship to study integrated crop pollination in Pennsylvania, USA.
23.    Zoological Society of London Book Award for best poster presentation at the Society of Conservation Biology (SCB) Convention in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA.

MAJOR RESEARCH/SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATIONS  
2022 – 2023: Collaborator, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; collaborating in teaching field courses in Tropical Cropping Systems, Soils and livelihoods in Kenya.
2022 – 2023: Collaborator, Ulm University, Germany; collaborating on a worldwide project assessing landscape effects on bee communities pollinating basil herb flowers.
2022 – 2023: Collaborator, University of Turku, Finland, collaborating on a project measuring the predation rates on live and artificial insect prey to determine if they follow similar latitudinal patterns.
2021 – 2022: Collaborator, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, USA; collaborating on a project aimed at promoting the resiliency of the Agriculture sector in developing economies in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.
2020 – 2022: Collaborator, Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Argentina; contributing to a global project exploring the predictive ability of data-driven, statistical and mechanistic models on crop pollination.
2020 –2021: Collaborator, Agroscope, Switzerland; collaborating on the “Poshbee” project by contributing data on the effect of pesticide use on bee community composition aimed at understanding how much pesticide exposure in bees is modulated by their functional traits such as body size or phenology.
2020: Stakeholder, icipe, Kenya; engaged in developing a database for plant-pollinator interactions in diverse habitats in Kenya for the African Plant-Pollinator Interactions (APPI) project.
2019–2020: Collaborator, University of Cambridge, UK; engaged in the “Nudging for Nature” project aimed at identifying behaviourally informed interventions for effective biodiversity conservation.
2014 -2017: Collaborator, University of Washington, USA; contributed data to a global synthesis on the effects of diversified farming systems on arthropod diversity within fields and across agricultural landscapes.
2012 – 2013: Collaborator, Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Argentina; contributed to a project focusing on the role of wild pollinators in setting fruits in a set of crops across the planet.
2011 – 2013: Collaborator, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, USA; contributed to a project on global quantitative synthesis of the effects of local and landscape elements on wild bee pollinators in agroecosystems.