Biodiversity and environmental data from impact assessment of terminal operations in Tema, Ghana

Study Extent

The samples were collected during a 3 week period in August 2018, in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana.

Sampling

Data were collected along two transects (T1 and T2), as well as at two reference points (SAK and SON). T1 ran the length from the container terminal and 1000m along the shore, while T2 ran 1000m from the edge of the Sakumono Lagoon and into the heart of the lagoon. Samples were collected at 0m, 50m, 150m, 250m, 500m, 750m, and 1000m. The reference point SAK is placed at the "industrial end" of Sakumono Lagoon and will be used to infer the input level of pollution to the lagoon from the mainland, i.e. not from the terminal/shoreline. The reference point SON is placed within the Songor Lagoon, 50 km outside of Tema, and is used as a reference point for a non-contaminated site.

Quality Control

N/A

Method steps

1. The vegetation data were collected using a quadrat (0,1 m2 frame), which was thrown into the vegetation 5 times within a 5m radius of the collection point (e.g. T1, the point of distance 50m). The quadrat was divided by 25 squares within the frame, which made it possible to determine an approximate percentile coverage of the different species within the frame. All of the species within the quadrat were noted, collected and put in a vegetation press for later identification. Physical data were collected using a multiparameter probe, capable of measuring salinity, pH and air temperature. The physical data will be used along with heavy metal data (collected in both vegetation and soil samples; not available for publishing) to infer the impact the terminal operations may have on the biodiversity of terrestrial vegetation.

Plantae

1. Acanthaceae
   rank: family
2. Aizoaceae
   rank: family
3. Amaranthaceae
   rank: family
4. Apocynaceae
   rank: family
5. Cleomaceae
   rank: family
6. Convolvulaceae
   rank: family
7. Cucurbitaceae
   rank: family
8. Cyperaceae
   rank: family
9. Euphorbiaceae
   rank: family
10. Fabaceae
    rank: family
11. Malvaceae
    rank: family
12. Phyllanthaceae
    rank: family
13. Poaceae
    rank: family
14. Rubiaceae
    rank: family
15. Typhaceae
    rank: family

Tema, Ghana