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Dr Joseph Ondier

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Staff Information
PERSONAL DETAILS
Designation
Lecturer, Biology
Department
Education (Science)
SUMMARY

Dr. Joseph Ondier is a Kenyan plant ecologist and academic specializing in savanna ecohydrology and plant ecophysiology. He serves as a lecturer at Kabarak University and  a researcher at Maseno University, with international collaborations at the University of Bayreuth in Germany. His career is marked by impactful research on rainfall, grazing, and vegetation dynamics in African savannas.

 Academic Background

  • PhD in Botany (Plant Ecology) – Jointly from Maseno University and the University of Bayreuth, Germany
  • MSc in Plant Ecology – Maseno University
  • BEd in Biology and Chemistry – Maseno University

 Professional Roles

  • Researcher, Kabarak University (2021–present) – Based in Kenya, focusing on ecohydrology and savanna ecology
  • Lecturer, Biology Department, Kabarak University (2021-Present) – Taught plant ecology, botany, and environmental science
  • Research Fellow, University of Bayreuth (Germany) – Collaborated on ecohydrological studies in African savannas
  • Previous affiliations – Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology

 Fields of Specialization

  • Plant Ecophysiology & Ecohydrology
  • Savanna Ecology & Transpiration Studies
  • Soil Moisture & Water Balance
  • Drought and Hydraulic Conductivity
  • Livestock Grazing and Rainfall Interactions

Key Research Projects

  • Influence of livestock grazing and rainfall on herbaceous vegetation structure and function in the Lambwe Valley savanna
  • Sap flow characteristics of dominant tree species in Kenyan savannas under grazing and rainfall stress
  • Soil respiration and species diversity studies in humid savannas

 Selected Publications

  • Influence of rainfall amount and livestock grazing on soil respiration in a moist Kenyan savannah (African Journal of Ecology, 2020)
  • Interactive influence of rainfall manipulation and livestock grazing on species diversity of the herbaceous layer community in a humid savannah in Kenya (Plant Diversity, 2019)

Research Impact

  • Citations: 98 overall, 86 since 2020
  • h-index: 7 (6 since 2020)
  • i10-index: 5 (3 since 2020)
  • Collaborators: Includes scholars from Maseno University, University of Bayreuth, and other international institutions

Career Summary

Dr. Joseph Ondier has built a distinguished career as a plant ecologist and academic leader, bridging Kenyan and German institutions. His work has advanced understanding of savanna ecosystems, particularly the interplay between rainfall, grazing, and vegetation dynamics. With a strong publication record and international collaborations, he continues to contribute to ecological science and environmental sustainability.

Google Scholar
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=6nr6f9oAAAAJ&hl=en
ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Joseph-Ondier
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

PhD. Plant Ecology

MSc. Plant Ecology

BEd. biology and chemistry

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

PhD. in Botany (Plant Ecology)

FIELDS OF SPECIALIZATION

Plant Ecophysiology

KEY PROJECTS

1. The combined influence of livestock grazing and rainfall on the structure and function of the herbaceous
vegetation of a moist savannah in the Lambwe valley.

2. Interactive influence of grazing and rainfall on the structure and function of a moist savanna in the Lambwe Valley.

3. Sap flow characteristics and responses to grazing and rainfall for dominant
tree species in a Kenyan savanna

RESEARCH INTERESTS
  • Savanna
  • Transpiration
  • Primary Production
  • Soil Moisture
  • Field Measurement
  • Drought
  • Ecohydrology
  • Hydraulic Conductivity
  • Tdr
  • Soil and Water Conservation
  • Plant Ecophysiology
  • Plant Ecology
  • Evapotranspiration
  • Water Balance
  • Environment
  • Irrigation
  • Watershed Hydrology
  • Forest Hydrology
  • Ecology
  • Physiology
  • Biodiversity
  • Eco Design
  • Climate Change
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
  1.  Ondier, J. 2026. Tree-Herb Productivity Response to Livestock Grazing and Soil Moisture in Tropical Savanna. Plant Ecology (in press).
  2. Ondier, J., Osieko, D., & Otieno, D. (2025). Tree sap flow in the savanna is influenced by livestock grazing and soil moisture. Kabarak University Journal of Research and Innovation, 1(1), 1–15.
  3. Ondier, J., Osieko, D., Onyango J. and Otieno, D. 2021. Ecosystem productivity and CO2 exchange response to the interaction of livestock grazing and rainfall manipulation in a Kenyan savanna. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, http://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2020.100095.
  4. Ondier, J., Osieko, D., Onyango J. and Otieno, D. 2020. Sap flow dynamics and responses to grazing and seasonal changes in soil moisture for Acacia ancistroclada and Comberatum molle in a Kenyan savanna. Tree Physiology, http://doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-48464/v1.
  5. Ondier, J., Osieko, D., Onyango J. and Otieno, D. 2019. Influence of rainfall amount and livestock grazing on soil respiration in a moist Kenyan savannah. African Journal of Ecology, http://doi.org/10.111/aje.12670.
  6. Ondier, J.., Okach, D., Onyango, J. and Otieno, D. 2019. Interactive Influence
    Of Rainfall Manipulation And Livestock Grazing On Species Diversity Of The Herbaceous LayerCommunity In A Humid Savannah In Kenya, Plant Diversity, 41: 198-205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pld.2019.04.005.
  7. Okach, D., Ondier, J., Kumar, A., Rambold, G., Tenhunen, J., Huwe, B. and Otieno, D. 2019.Livestock grazing and rainfall manipulation alter patterning of CO2 fluxes and biomass development of the herbaceous community in a humid savanna. Plant Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-019-00977-2.
  8. Okach, D., Ondier, J., Rambold, G., Tenhunen, J., Huwe, B., Eun-Young, J. and Otieno, D. 2019. Interaction of livestock grazing and rainfall manipulation enhances herbaceous species diversity and aboveground biomass in a humid savanna. Journal of Plant Research, doi: 10.1007/s10265-019-01105-x.
  9. Okach, D., Ondier, J., Kumar, A., Rambold, G., Tenhunen, J., Huwe, B. and Otieno, D. 2018. Interactive influence of livestock grazing and manipulated rainfall on soil properties in a humid tropical savanna. Journal of soils and sediments, http://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-2117-x.
  10. Otieno, D., Ondier, J., Arnhold, S., Okach, D., Ruidisch, M., Lee, B., Kolb, A., Onyango, J. and Huwe, B. 2015. Patterns of CO2 exchange and productivity of the herbaceous vegetation and trees in a humid savanna in western Kenya. Plant Ecology, doi:1007/s11258-015-0523-3.
  11. Ondier, Joseph. 2015. Effects of management and rainfall simulation on soil respiration and soil carbon store in a moist Kenyan savanna, Ruma Lambwe Valley (MSc. Thesis), Maseno University, Kenya.
  12. Ondier Joseph. Response of humid savanna vegetation to the interaction of livestock grazing and rainfall variability in Lambwe valley, Kenya (PhD Thesis), Maseno University, Kenya.
  13. Otieno, D., Osieko, D., Ondier, J., Arnhold, S., Onyango, J.C., Tenhunen, J. and Huwe, Bernd. 2013. Conversion of Humid Savanna into Agro-ecosystems: Impact on species composition, Carbon dioxide Exchange and carbon storage in the Herbaceous Vegetation. Open Landscape; ECOLOGY, Management and Nature Conservation. Hidelshein, Germany. Sep-Oct 2013.
CONFERENCES & INVITED PRESENTATIONS

Dec 18th-19th 2012, Maseno, Kenya. Land use systems in East Africa.

July 2nd-4th 2013, Nairobi, Kenya.  Tropical Biology Association African Alumni Group (TAAG) - Student Conference on conservation, Nairobi Kenya.

Feb 3rd-6th 2015, Kisumu, Kenya. Integrated Ecosystem and Water Management in the Lake Victoria Region in Kenya.

April 26th-27th 2018, Kisumu, Kenya. Strengthening Systems and Capacity Graduate Supervision, Examination and Research Publication in the Universities.

Oct 6th-8th 2021, Kirinyaga University, Kenya. ArH-Kenya ‘KOLLEGS’ Conference.

Nov 23rd-29th Nov , Student Microscopy Symposium

June 3rd-4th 2024, Nairobi, Kenya. Association of Kenya Entomologist 1st Joint International Scientific Conference, Nairobi, Kenya

Dec 4th-6th 2024, Kampala, Uganda. International conference on geographical science for resilient communities, ecosystems and livelihood under global environmental change

March 10th-12th 2025, Kigali, Rwanda. International Conference on Green and Sustainable Development

HONORS, PRIZE AND AWARDS
  • National Research Fund, Kenya (NRF) 2016/2017, AMOUNT, KSHS 2,000,000.
    • International Foundation for Science (IFS 2018), GRANT NO. I-1-D-6174-1. AMOUNT. $ 12, 000
    • Kabarak University Research Fund 2025. Amount, Kshs. 500,000
TEACHING AREAS

botany

POSTGRADUATE SUPERVISION
Masters Level:

Master’s Thesis

 

  1. Maurine Jeptoo Korir (Start 2022). Factors affecting implementation of technology in the teaching of science in upper primary school in Eldama ravine sub-county, Kenya.
  2. Weldon Kosgei Kipkirui (Graduated 2025). Principals’ implementation of teacher performance appraisal and its influence on students’ performance in public secondary schools in Kericho County, Kenya.
MEMBERSHIP / ASSOCIATION
  • 2015-Date. British Ecological Society. Member no. 1004923
  • 2016-Date. Consortium for Research in East African Ecosystems
  • 2010-Date. Maseno University alumni

Our Moral Code

As members of Kabarak University family, we purpose at all times and in all places, to set apart in one’s heart, Jesus as Lord. (1 Peter 3:15)