Daniel K. Attuquayefio

Herpetofaunal communities at Muni Lagoon in Ghana

A herpetofaunal survey of Muni-Pomadze Lagoon, during the main rainy season (May–June), recorded a total of 32 species (13 amphibians and 19 reptiles). Three species are the first records for coastal habitats in Ghana: Kinixys homeana, Calabaria reinhardti, and Bothrophthalmus lineatus. None of the surveyed species are restricted to Ghana. The most diverse herpetofaunal community occurs in grassland thicket, with 26 species (81% of the sampled herpetofauna). Freshwater ponds include 12 species, while only three species (all amphibians) occur in brackish lagoons. Herpetofaunal conservation efforts at these sites should focus on protecting and monitoring grassland coastal thicket and freshwater ponds. Currently, freshwater pond habitats appear to be stable, but coastal thicket is being lost to provide new agricultural land at Muni. Hyperolius reedfrogs, pythons (Python regius) and monitor lizards (Varanus exanthematicus and V. niloticus) appear to offer the greatest potential for undertaking long-term monitoring of the coastal lagoon herpetofauna, because they can be more readily surveyed, and are likely to be sensitive to a broad range of environmental stressors.

Mammal fauna of the Muni-Pomadze Ramsar site, Ghana

A survey of the terrestrial mammal fauna of Muni-Pomadze Ramsar site along the Ghana coastline recorded 13 species, with 9 additional species reported by local villagers. Small mammal communities are most diverse in the grassland-thicket habitats surrounding the lagoons. Less diverse communities were present in and around managed Ecalyptus plantations or near villages. Duikers, antelope, bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), and cane rats (Thryonomys swinderianus) are hunted (or trapped) for bushmeat. Bushbuck, in particular, play an important role in certain cultural ceremonies at Muni-Pomadze. Conservation efforts at these localities should focus on the management of bushmeat species and the establishment of a long-term monitoring program using small mammal communities as bioindicators of the health of the terrestrial habitats bordering Muni Lagoon.

Raid Range Selection by Elephants around Kakum Conservation Area: Implications for the Identification of Suitable Mitigating Measures

The factors that influenced elephants raiding in some spatial ranges around Kakum Conservation Area (KCA), Ghana were investigated. Crops were the basis for range selection by the elephants and the most commonly raided crops were plantain, cocoa and cassava. However, oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantations, bushes, crops at seedling and growing stages, or farms with active pepper fence never suffered any raid. It was observed that the presence of pawpaw (Carica papaya) and bako (Tieghemella heckelii) exposed nearby farms to risk. Since elephants do not raid oil palm plantations around KCA, we recommend that only oil palm groves should border the KCA to mitigate human-elephant conflict around KCA and that the pepper-fence method currently in use could also be effective if its accompanying financial burden is taken away from the farmers and funded by the government. Key words: Raided zone, oil palm plantation, pepper-fence, human-elephant conflict, protected areas.

Seasonal changes in small mammal assemblage in Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve, Ghana

The small mammal community at Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve (KSNR) in the Ashanti Region of Ghana were studied in two habitats during the wet and dry seasons to investigate seasonal changes in species richness, abundance, composition and diversity. Ninety-six individuals belonging to nine species were recorded in 720 trap-nights, giving overall trap-success of 13.33%. Species richness (Sr), trap-success (Ts) and relative abundance (Ra) were higher (Sr = 6 species; Ts = 23.1%; Ra = 86.5%) in wooded grassland than forest (Ra = 4 species; Ts = 3.6%; Ra = 13.5%). However, species diversity was higher (Shannon-Wiener index Hʹ = 1.157) in forest than in wooded grassland (Hʹ = 1.089). Mastomys erythroleucus dominated in wooded grassland (68%) and Hylomyscus alleni in forest (53.8%). The species composition was unique for both habitats, with Mus musculoides being the only species common to both habitats. Seasonal changes in community assemblages were evident in both habitats, with species richness, diversity and abundance of the dominant species being highest in the wet seasons. Sex-ratio was unity in both habitats, and remained fairly constant throughout the rainy and dry seasons. Breeding activity was evident all-year-round for most species, but peaked in the rainy season. Our findings are consistent with that of other studies in Ghana and elsewhere in the African subregion, highlighting the importance of rainfall to the ecology of tropical small mammals.

Urban green area provides refuge for native small mammal biodiversity in a rapidly expanding city in Ghana

Urbanization is a key driver of global biodiversity loss. Although sub-Saharan African countries are experiencing unprecedented urbanization and urban expansion, very little is known about how this impacts tropical biodiversity. Here, we assessed the effects of urban expansion and urban green space on local small mammal species diversity in Accra, Ghana. We surveyed small mammals in the University of Ghana botanical garden, an urban green area (UGA) and adjoining built-up environment (BE) and compared the results with baseline data (BLD) collected when large areas of the current city still remained mostly undeveloped. The methodology involved live-trapping using Sherman collapsible live-traps. Our data showed higher small mammal abundance and diversity in the UGA than BE. Similarity of species composition was higher between UGA and BLD than between BE and BLD. The small mammal species captured in BE (the rodents Mastomys erythroleucus, Rattus rattus, and Arvicanthis rufinus, and the shrew Crocidura olivieri) are known to easily adapt to human-modified landscapes. Our results suggest that urbanization negatively influenced the abundance, diversity, and community composition of small mammals. Efforts should be directed towards the integration of urban green areas into urban land development planning in developing countries in order to conserve local wildlife and ecological services that enhance the quality of urban life.

Species distribution of kobs ( Kobus kob ) in the Shai Hills Resource Reserve: an exploratory analysis

The well-being of a species fundamentally rests on understanding its biology, home range, and distribution. The highly seasonal distribution of kobs poses conservation and management difficulties, particularly because of the capricious nature of the ever-changing ecological and vegetation dynamics of the ecosystem. Assessing the distribution of kobs and their associated vegetation provides insight into the vulnerability and conservation status of the species. Species distribution and habitat suitability maps were developed and created respectively for the management of kobs in the Shai Hills Resource Reserve. Kob presence data collected was analyzed using the spatial analyst and Hawth’s tool in the ArcGIS software where the gradients of kob distribution within the protected area landscape were plotted and mapped. Seven environmental variables including location, land cover/use, slope/elevation, nearness to dams and rivers, temperature, and rainfall were considered to have effect on kob distribution pattern and as such used in the development of species distribution and habitat suitability maps. The results indicated that kobs in the Shai Hills Resource Reserve (SHRR) assume a clumped or contagious distribution pattern where individual kobs are aggregated in patches. Rainfall, temperature, nearness to dams and rivers, slope/elevation, and land cover/use had influence in kob distribution. Of all the cataloged habitats, 86, 13, and 1% were moderately suitable, suitable, and unsuitable, respectively. Long-term survival of species depends on adequately large areas of suitable habitats and opportunities for home range activities between such areas. As such, it is recommended that suitable habitats for kobs be dedicated and designated as conservation areas, especially areas along the western boundary.