A list of coleoptera recorded in Mixed Forest habitat in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Kenya

John Banks; Laban Njoroge; Colin Jackson; Elizabeth Reyes-Gallegos; Judith Ochieng

doi:10.15468/skclrl

A list of coleoptera recorded in Mixed Forest habitat in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Kenya

Citation

Banks J, Njoroge L, Jackson C, Reyes-Gallegos E, Ochieng J (2024). A list of coleoptera recorded in Mixed Forest habitat in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Kenya. Version 1.7. A Rocha Kenya. Sampling event dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/skclrl accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-12.

Description

Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, located just south of Gede in Kilifi County, Kenya, has been studied by biologists for over 100 years yet there is still much that is unknown regarding the biodiversity of this globally important forest. This list represents 39 coleopteran species recorded within the boundaries of the Mixed Forest habitat near the Gede Forest Station both inside and outside of the electric elephant fence. Specimens were collected in April and May, 2009 using pitfall and malaise traps. They were identified to the most specific taxon rank possible at the National Museums of Kenya. Of particular note are Crepidogaster hubenthali (Carabidae) and Cryptochile elegans (Tenebrionidae) which are considered endemic to the Kenyan coastal forests.

Purpose

The data are published to provide managers, researchers and interested members of the public a baseline list of coleoptera species found in Mixed Forest habitat of a Kenyan coastal forest. This list provides a baseline for further research – whether to fill in gaps of species not captured here, or for comparison with other forests. It further highlights species of conservation concern that occur in Arabuko-Sokoke and thus the raises the international importance of conserving the forest.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

The area of Mixed Forest covered by this study measures c. 2 km x 2 km near Gede Forest Station of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. The elephant fence erected in 2003 passes through the middle of this section of forest leaving c. 2.5 km2 outside the fence and therefore out of reach of elephant damage. Sampling was carried out over one study period during April and May, 2009, during the wet season when maximum arthropods are expected to occur. Sampling frequency within this period is described below under ‘Sampling description’.

Sampling

Arthropods were sampled at five points along each of six transects, three inside the elephant fence and three outside. Sampling was carried out using pitfall (cup) traps and malaise (aerial) traps. Five 414-ml pitfall traps were dug into the ground 20 m away from each point count station perpendicular to the transect trail. At each point four pitfalls were also set 3 m apart arranged in a square pattern surrounding a fifth pitfall at the centre of the square. Pitfalls were left with 20 ml of soapy water to collect arthropods for 24 hours. At each point count, a malaise trap was set up 20 m from the transect line but on the opposite side of the transect line from the pitfall trap area; malaise trap heads were charged with approximately 250 ml of isopropyl alcohol and left in place for 24 hours. Arthropod traps were set up and samples collected between 6am and 8am on the mornings of 27, 28 and 29 April, and 1, 3 and 4 May 2009. Arthropod specimens were sorted to order at A Rocha Kenya’s Conservation Centre, Watamu, and placed in vials with 70% alcohol. Subsequent identification to family/genus/species were conducted at National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi

Quality Control

Specimens were collected and placed immediately into vials labelled carefully with the date and collection station number to ensure specimens were associated with the correct geolocation. Specimen names were then carefully recorded in an Excel spreadsheet under the collection station name. Specimens were identified with direct reference to previously identified specimens in the arthropod collection of the National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi by L.N.

Method steps

Specimens from the field study were placed in 70% alcohol in glass vials, sorted by Order, labelled with place and date of collection. Specimens were then further identified to family, genus, and, where possible, species level at the National Museums of Kenya. Occurrences were listed in an Excel spreadsheet, which was used to generate data files.

Taxonomic Coverages

Class Insecta, Order Coleoptera

Aleochara Gravenhorst, 1802
rank: genus

Geographic Coverages

Coleoptera beetles recorded within the mixed forest habitat of the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. Latitude of 3°18'10"S, Longitude 39°58'31"E

Bibliographic Citations

Banks, J.E., Jackson, C., Hannon, L.M., Thomas, C.M., Baya, A. & Njoroge, L. 2010. The cascading effects of elephant presence ⁄absence on arthropods and an Afrotropical thrush in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Kenya. African Journal of Ecology. Cowling, R. & Kerley, G.I.H. 2002. Impacts of elephants on the flora and vegetation of subtropical thicket in the Eastern Cape. In Elephant Conservation and Management in the Eastern Cape. Workshop Proceedings’. (Eds G. Kerley, S. Wilson and A. Massey.) pp. 55–72. Kerley, G.I.H. & Landman, M. 2006. The impacts of elephants on biodiversity in the Eastern Cape subtropical thickets: elephant conservation. South African Journal of Science. 102(9–10):395–402. -

Contacts

John Banks
originator
position: Director
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC)
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA 93955
US
email: jebanks@csumb.edu
homepage: https://csumb.edu/uroc

Laban Njoroge
originator
position: Head of Entomology
National Museums of Kenya
P.O Box 40658
Nairobi
00100
KE
email: lnjoroge@museums.or.ke
homepage: http://www.museums.or.ke

Colin Jackson
originator
position: National Director
A Rocha Kenya
P.O Box 383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: colin.jackson@arocha.org
homepage: http://www.arocha.or.ke

Elizabeth Reyes-Gallegos
originator
position: Undergraduate Researcher
California State University, Monterey Bay
US
email: ereyesgallegos@csumb.edu

Judith Ochieng
originator
position: Data Clerk
A Rocha Kenya
P.O Box 383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: judithadhiambo85@gmail.com

John Banks
metadata author
position: Director
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC)
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA 93955
US
email: jebanks@csumb.edu
homepage: https://csumb.edu/uroc

Laban Njoroge
metadata author
position: Head of Entomology
National Museums of Kenya
P.O Box 40658
Nairobi
00100
KE
email: lnjoroge@museums.or.ke
homepage: http://www.museums.or.ke

Colin Jackson
metadata author
position: National Director
A Rocha Kenya
P.O Box 383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: colin.jackson@arocha.org
homepage: http://www.arocha.or.ke

Lawrence Monda
publisher
position: ICT Manager
National Museums of Kenya
P.O Box 40658
Nairobi
00100
KE
email: lmonda@museums.or.ke
homepage: http://www.museums.or.ke

John Banks
administrative point of contact
position: Director
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC)
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA 93955
US
email: jebanks@csumb.edu
homepage: https://csumb.edu/uroc

Laban Njoroge
administrative point of contact
position: Head of Entomology
National Museums of Kenya
P.O Box 40658
Nairobi
00100
KE
email: lnjoroge@museums.or.ke
homepage: http://www.museums.or.ke