Records of fauna in Mykolaiv region during August expedition in 2023

Study Extent

The dataset shows the result of an expedition to Mykolaiv region, organized in August 2023. The team consisted of 1 teriologist, 1 ornithologist, 2 chiropterologists and 1 herpetologist. All animals were studied alive. The records have enriched the information about rare representatives of local fauna for 3 objects of nature reserve fund of Ukraine: "Tylihulskiy" Regional Landscape Park, Nature Reserve “Yelanetsky Step” and "Pryingulskiy" Regional Landscape Park.

Sampling

Bats (Chiroptera) Bats were caught with nylon web nets (diameter of the "window" - 15 mm, net size - 12x5 m, 8 pockets). Telescopic poles were used as racks for the installation of the net, which made it possible to adjust the height of the nets. The locations of the nets were chosen in such a way as to capture the places of departure or the places of active foraging. For example: the shore of a reservoir, the exit from a tunnel or a forest passage. In more forested biotopes, the lower pocket of the net was placed at the level of 0.7 - 2 m. In near-water biotopes, the lower pocket was located almost on the level of the ground or water. The activity of bats during the night is bimodal: the first peak of activity begins immediately after sunset and lasts for 2-3 hours. Then the activity decreases, until the beginning of the second short peak before dawn. Therefore, in order to catch the maximum number of bat species, web nets were set during sunset (20:00-20:30) and removed before sunrise (04:50-05:20). Caught animals were placed in canvas bags (separately by species and no more than 10 individuals in one bag) and left on a pole near the nets. In case of falling into the net and/or in the process of untangling the animal from the net, it emits specific sound signals, so-called "distress calls". By issuing these signals, the animal attracts individuals of its own and other species, thereby increasing the probability of their falling into the net, and acting as bait. The animals were examined during the day after capture: species, sex, age, reproductive status were determined, forearm length was measured and then they were weighed. To determine species affiliation, the identifier was used: "Illustrated identification key to the bats of Europe" by Christian Dietz & Otto von Helversen, 2004. Animals were marked with special chiropterological aluminum rings of the Ukrainian National Ringing Center with the inscription "KIEV UKRAINE". The "AT" and "VT" series were used for small-sized species, the "ST" series was used for medium-sized species, and the "DT" series was used for large species. All manipulations of catching, keeping and processing bats were carried out in accordance with humanistic approaches accepted in the world. The next night after the catch, the animals were released shortly after sunset. Herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians). Animals were caught manually during the peaks of activity of amphibians or reptiles (mainly from 7:00 to 11:00 am and from 5:00 to 11:00 pm). Catching of amphibians and reptiles wa performed using a net, fishing rod, fishing traps, a hook or by hand. For visualizing the records, the points of herpetofauna registrations were collected (with the indication of latitude 00.00000 N and longitude 00.00000 E) using the field off-line orientation program Geo-Tracker (version 5.2.4.3219) and Google Earth Pro (Earth version 7.3.3). Visualization of records and creation of maps was carried out in the QGIS program (v.2.181, QGIS Development Team, 2016. QGIS Geographic Information System. Open Source Geospatial Foundation. URL http://qgis.org).The species identification was carried out using methodological materials (Bannikov and Darevsky, 1977; Nekrasova and Morozov-Leonov, 2001; Kuzmin, 2012). Birds. Bird species were identified visually during registrations on route coutns and from the car. Also birds on migration stops on Tyligul lyman were registered. The coordinates of each registration were recorded only in individual cases. In the vast majority, the registration of each bird encountered was linked to a settlement and other landmarks (reservoir, stream, forest). According to these records, when collecting data, the coordinates of bird meeting places were determined using a map from the Internet (https://www.google.com/; the "Google Earth" program). Mammals. Big mammals were identified visually. Small rodents and insectivores were captured using box (Longworth | Sherman | Schipanov) or pitfall live traps. Traps in each locality were exposed for 1-2 nights. All animals were marked and released. Recaptures were recorded as well. Some specimens were found dead. Coordinates were recorded with GPS Garmin eTrex30x using both GPS and GLONASS. Accuracy in most cases was appoximatelly 3-5 m.

Quality Control

The authors are fully responsible for the quality of data provided within the dataset.

Method steps

1. Conducting of the field expedition.
2. Visual identification of animals during field trips, route and car counts.
3. Catching of bats in the night time.
4. Installation of traps for catching of small mammals (and accidentally reptiles and amphibinas).
5. Identification of species, measuring, weighing and marking of the captured individuals with their subsequent release.
6. Georeferencing.
7. Organizing of the dataset according to the Darwin Core standards.

The dataset consists of records of bats (Chiroptera), reptiles (Squamata), amphibians (Anura), mammals (Rodentia, Artiodactyla, Carnivora, Soricomorpha) and birds (Aves class).

1. Animalia
   rank: kingdom
2. Chordata
   rank: phylum
3. Arthropoda
   rank: phylum
4. Mammalia
   rank: class
5. Aves
   rank: class
6. Squamata
   rank: class
7. Testudines
   rank: class
8. Amphibia
   rank: class
9. Insecta
   rank: class

The dataset shows records of animals from Mykolaiv administrative region of Ukraine.