Browsing by Author "Komba, Richard"

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Cage-Cultured Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Farming: A Third Generation of Pollution in Lake Victoria, Tanzania
(John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2025-07-23) Komba, Richard; Mwita, Chacha; Kimaro, Esther
This study was carried out along the Mwanza Gulf, Lake Victoria, Tanzania, where water samples for the determination of physico chemical parameters were collected from March to October 2023. NH4+-N, NO3−-N, NO2−-N, and PO4+-P were analyzed using standard methods. Temperature (◦C), electrical conductivity (µS/cm), dissolved oxygen (mg/L), pH, and turbidity were measured in situ. Water temperature ranged from 27.9◦C at Misungwi to 29.1◦C at Nyamagana. Dissolved oxygen (DO) was high at Ilemela (6.70 mg/L) and declined (5.78 mg/L) at Nyamagana. Electrical conductivity and water turbidity increased as the number of cages sampled increased. Nitrate increased from 0.09 mg/L (90 µg/L) at Ilemela to 0.15 mg/L (150 µg/L) at Nyamagana, ammonia concentration from 0.26 mg/L (260 µg/L) to 0.45 mg/L (450 µg/L) at Nyamagana, and phosphate increased from 0.26 mg/L (260 µg/L) to 1.41 mg/L (1410 µg/L). When the results of this study were compared to those reported before 2015, the variations were significant at all levels. We conclude that inputs from cage fish farming are contributing immensely to nutrients loading and thus pollution in the lake. The riparian governments around the lake are urged to take measures that will ensure sustainable cage fish farming without jeopardizing the environmental quality of Lake Victoria with the consequential collapse of the existing fishery.
Polyphosphates: Essential bioenergetic reservoirs and their role as critical nutrient depleters in biological systems
(Scientific Research Archives, 2025) Vulla, Kelvin; Francis, Beatrice; Komba, Richard; Janes, Zabron
Polyphosphates are linear polymers of inorganic phosphate that play a pivotal role in cellular bioenergetics and metabolism across a wide range of organisms. This review article explores the multifaceted functions of polyphosphates as essential bioenergetic reservoirs, highlighting their ability to store and release energy, thereby facilitating various biochemical processes. We discuss the synthesis and degradation pathways of polyphosphates, their influence on ATP metabolism, and their regulatory roles in cellular signaling and stress responses. Additionally, we examine how polyphosphates act as critical nutrient depleters in biological systems, impacting phosphate homeostasis. The interplay between polyphosphate metabolism and nutrient availability is scrutinized, with implications for microbial ecology, agricultural practices, and biotechnological applications. By integrating current research findings, this review emphasizes the significance of polyphosphates not only as energy reservoirs but also as key players in nutrient cycling and environmental sustainability, underscoring their importance in both basic and applied biological sciences.