Assessing Population Status and Habitat Threats of the Endangered Kikambala Nothobranch

Otieno Kashim Oginga

Other project team members: Finnan Okoth Ageng’o and Caroline Jepkorir Kibet

The Kikambala nothobranch (Nothobranchius interruptus) is an endangered and endemic annual killifish restricted to ephemeral freshwater pools along Kenya’s north coast, habitats increasingly threatened by land conversion, pollution and altered hydrology. Limited, outdated information on its distribution and habitat condition constrains effective conservation. This project aims to secure viable populations by mapping current and potential habitats in Kilifi County, assessing habitat quality and threats, and strengthening local stewardship. Field surveys using dip nets will document species presence, while GPS and GIS analyses will produce updated distribution, historical and potential habitat maps. Water quality, habitat structure, connectivity and human pressures will be systematically assessed, complemented by interviews capturing local ecological knowledge. Community meetings, school outreach and county-level consultations will raise awareness and support uptake of findings. Key outputs include spatial maps, a habitat assessment report, community consultation report, species fact sheets, policy brief and journal article. These products will inform county planning, guide wetland management and support targeted protection of critical ephemeral pools, addressing the core drivers of decline and contributing to long-term conservation of the species.