Checklist of fauna dataset for CREMAs around the Mole National Park, Ghana

Study Extent

In the Murugu-Mognori CREMA, Line transects following least resistant paths were walked in all the three sampled areas (Core Areas, farmlands, fallow lands). Three main transects of about 6.5km were walked each day in the Core Area, with one transect running along the ‘Badaa Stream’. Eight (8km) and 11km of transects were walked in three farm lands and fallow areas respectively. Distances covered were measured using a hand held GPS (Garmin 38) Records of animal spoors (footprints, calls, dung, pellets, body parts, actual sightings, burrows etc) were taken. Ad libitum sampling was also done at fixed points for 30 minutes after covering a distance of 3 kilometers. In the Bawena-Kpulumbo and Gurubagu-Wawato CREMAs the area was divided into habitat types and line transects were walked by a team of 3 persons and a leader and data collected over a field week. Species encountered on an ad hoc basis were also recorded.

Sampling

Faunal surveys comprised both direct and indirect methods. All animal signs including feeding activity were included in the survey to make a complete species list for the CREMA. Direct sightings, vocalizations, dung (scats and pellets) and tracks (trails) counts standardized and conducted systematically along line transects and also on ad hoc basis in the CREMA. The survey teams were kept permanent to ensure consistencies, hence, it was intended that a permanent group of literate community members to be decided by the communities was to be pre-trained to participate in the survey. Each CREMA was thoroughly surveyed by two survey teams of three persons each, led by a team leader. The idea was to train more community members to do their own inventory, bio-monitoring and evaluation in the future.

Quality Control

Data for the purpose of the publication was darwin core formatted. Scientific names were crossed using the Global name resolver tool and verified using the GBIF backbone Taxonomy.

Method steps

1. Faunal surveys comprised both direct and indirect methods. All animal signs including feeding activity were included in the survey to make a complete species list for the CREMA. Direct sightings, vocalizations, dung (scats and pellets) and tracks (trails) counts standardized and conducted systematically along line transects and also on ad hoc basis in the CREMA. The survey teams were kept permanent to ensure consistencies, hence, it was intended that a permanent group of literate community members to be decided by the communities was to be pre-trained to participate in the survey. Each CREMA was thoroughly surveyed by two survey teams of three persons each, led by a team leader. The idea was to train more community members to do their own inventory, bio-monitoring and evaluation in the future. Data for the purpose of the publication was darwin core formatted. Scientific names were crossed using the Global name resolver tool and verified using the GBIF backbone Taxonomy.

The dataset is of the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, and Two classes Mammalia and Reptalia. The class Mammalia had species within 8 orders notably Primates,Lagomorpha, Rodentia, Artiodactyla, Carnivora, Erinaceomorpha, Tubulidentata and Proboscidea. The data was identified to species level covering 16 families.

1. Papio anubis (Lesson, 1827)
   common name: Olive baboon rank: species
2. Lepus capensis Linnaeus, 1758
   common name: Togo Hare rank: species
3. Xerus erythropus
   common name: Striped Ground squirrel rank: species
4. Bubalus bubalis (Linnaeus, 1758)
   common name: Buffalo rank: species
5. Genetta genetta (Linnaeus, 1758)
   common name: Common Genet Cat rank: species
6. Atelerix albiventris (Wagner, 1841)
   common name: Hedgehog rank: species
7. Orycteropus G. Cuvier, 1798
   common name: Aardvark rank: species
8. Loxodonta africana (Blumenbach, 1797)
   common name: Elephant rank: species

The dataset of the class Reptalia, had 1 order Squamata and 3 families Varanidae, Pythonidae,Viperidae.

1. Python sebae Mcdiarmid, Campbell & Touré, 1999
   common name: African Rock Python rank: species
2. Varanus niloticus (Linnaeus, 1766)
   common name: Nile monitor rank: species
3. Bitis arietans (Merrem, 1820)
   common name: Puff adder rank: species

The data was collected from 3 CREMAs within 2 districts on the Eastern Fringes of the Mole National Park which lies on coordinates The Murugu-Mognori CREMA located in the West Gonja district which lies on decimal latitude and decimal longitudes 9.297477, -1.771030 respectively whereas the Bawena-Kpulumbo CREMA and Gurubagu-Wawato CREMAs are located in the North Gonja district located on decimal latitude and decimal longitude 9.883119, -1.375335 respectively