UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM
COLLEGE OF NATURAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES (CONAS)

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ESTHER FRANCIS MVUNGI

Senior Lecturer and Head of Department of Botany, College Of Natural And Applied Sciences
Education:

BSc, MSc. (Dar), PhD (Stockholm)

Teaching:

Undergraduate and postgraduate courses:

  • Plant taxonomy
  • Plant pathology
  • Plant protection
  • Mycology
  • Plant physiology.

Research:

Research interests: Biotic and abiotic plant stresses, plant taxonomy, marine botany

Projects:

  • Investigation of Factors that Negatively Affects Productivity and Marketability of Hass Avocado in Rungwe District, Mbeya. Funder; University of Dar es Salaam. Co-researcher. Funded by the University of Dar es Salaam.
  • Traditional Herbs Capable of Producing Epithelial Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) for the Prevention and Treatment of Viral Respiratory Infections: Analysis of Herbs for COVID 19 Interventions in Tanzania. Funded by the University of Dar es Salaam.
  • Safety, therapeutic and prophylactic effect of herbal extracts in normal and inflammatory pregnancy. Funded by the University of Dar es Salaam.
  • Investigation on sand mining practices, associated environmental impacts and alternative sand sources in Dar es Salaam (Funded by the University of Dar es Salaam.

Publications:

  1. Msafri A. Ndawala, Flower E. Msuya, Jennefe P. Cabarubias, Cicilia S. B. Kambey, Amelia S. Buriyo, Esther F. Mvungi, Elizabeth J. Cottier‑Cook (2022) Effect of biosecurity practices and diseases on growth and carrageenan properties of Kappaphycus alvarezii and Eucheuma denticulatum cultivated in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Journal of Applied Phycology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-022-02835-7
  2. Fovo and Mvungi (2021). Contamination of Aflatoxins and Selected Heavy Metals in Commercially Available Traditional Herbal Medicines in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.  Journal of Education, Humanities and Sciences 10 (6): 102–113
  3. Michael G, Nyomora A, Mvungi EF, Sangu E (2020). Endophytic fungi for biological control of whitefly and tomato leaf miner in Tanzania. African Crop Science Journal, 28 (4): 529 – 542
  4. Michael G, Nyomora A, Mvungi EF, Sangu E (2021). Seasonal diversity of entomofauna, their impact and management practices in tomato fields in Meru District, Tanzania. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development 21(4): 17952-17971
  5. Mbaga W and Mvungi EF (2019). Effects of Seasons and zonation on biochemical contents of two seagrass species along Dar es Salaam coast. Tanzania Journal of Science. 45 (3): 490 – 501.
  6. Mwanga ZN and Mvungi EF, Tibuhwa DD (2019). Antimicrobial activities of endophytic fungi secondary metabolites from Moringa oleifera Lam. Tanzania Journal of Science 45 (3): 463-476.
  7. Mvungi EF and Pillay D (2019). Eutrophication overrides warming as a stressor for a temperate African seagrass (Zostera capensis). PLoS ONE 14(4):e0215129. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215129 April 2019
  8. Kajela A and Mvungi EF (2018): Seasonal variation and nutrient levels influences phenolic contents in seagrass Thalassia hemprichii along Dar es Salaam coast. Tanzania Journal of Science 44(3): 61-71.
  9. Ndangalasi HJ; Mligo C, and Mvungi EF.  (2014). Composition and size class structure of tree species in Ihang’ana forest reserve, Mufindi district, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal Science. 40: 1-12
  10. Mvungi EF, Lyimo TJ, Björk M (2012) When Zostera marina is intermixed with Ulva, its photosynthesis is reduced by increased pH and lower light, but not by changes in light quality. Aquatic Botany 102: 44-49
  11. Mvungi EF and Mamboya FA (2012) Photosynthetic performance, epiphyte biomass and nutrient content of two seagrass species in two areas with different level of nutrients along the Dar es Salaam coast. African Journal of Marine Science. 34(3): 323-330
  12. Mvungi EF (2011). Seagrass and Eutrophication: Interaction between seagrass photosynthesis, epiphytes, macroalgae and mussels. Doctoral Thesis at Stockholm University, Sweden. 44 pp. ISBN 978-91-7447-250-9
  13. Mamboya FA, Lugomela C, Mvungi E, Hamisi M, Kamukuru AT and Lyimo TJ (2009) Seagrass–sea urchin interaction in shallow littoral zones of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 19: S16-S26.
  14. Lyimo, T. J., Mvungi, E.F and Mgaya, Y.D (2008) Abundance and Diversity of Seagrass and Macrofauna in the inter-tidal areas with and without Seaweed farming activities in the East Coast of Zanzibar. Tanzania Journal of Science, 34: 41-52.
  15. Maurin, O, A. P. Davis, M. Chester, E.F. Mvungi, Y. Jaufeerally-Fakim & M.F. Fay (2007). Towards a Phylogeny for Coffea (Rubiaceae): Identifying Well-supported Lineages Based on Nuclear and Plastid DNA Sequences. Annals of Botany 1–19.
  16. Lyimo, TJ., Mvungi, E.F., Lugomela, C., and Bjork, M (2006). Seagrass Biomass and Productivity in seaweed and non-seaweed farming areas in the East Coast of Zanzibar. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine sciences 5(2): 141 -152
  17. Davis, A.P and Mvungi, E.F. (2004). Two new and endangered species of Coffea (Rubiaceae) from the Eastern Arc Mountains (Tanzania) and notes on the associated conservation issues. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 146: 237-245.
  18.  Mvungi, E.F. (2004). Morphological and molecular systematics of the Genus Coffea L. (Rubiaceae) in the Eastern Arc Mountains and Lowland Eastern Tanzania Forests. Master thesis, University of Dar es Salaam. 121 pp.

 

Membership and Registration:

Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association