An Initial Checklist of Mammals of the A Rocha Dakatcha Nature Reserve, Kenya, 2022
Citation
Kirao L, Nussbaumer R, Jackson C, Ziro S, Ochieng J, Ochieng J, Ochieng E (2022). An Initial Checklist of Mammals of the A Rocha Dakatcha Nature Reserve, Kenya, 2022. Version 1.3. A Rocha Kenya. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/p4wacc accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-09-01.Description
This dataset is produced from 26 records of mammals found in the A Rocha Dakatcha Nature Reserve (ARDNR) general area that are collated from a variety of sources between 2019 and 2021.Much of this has come from camera trap surveying but there are also some observation records which have been verified together with other photographic or specimen evidence.Purpose
This dataset provides a preliminary species list of the mammals found in the ADNR and immediately surrounding area and provides a thoroughly assessed source of digitized data for reference and conservation of biodiversity.Sampling Description
Study Extent
All mammals were surveyed within and adjacent to the A Rocha Dakatcha Nature Reserve in an area c.7,000 ha in size.Sampling
Sampling was carried out between March 2019 and December 2021. Camera traps were deployed for two months at a single location and then moved immediately to another for a further two months etc. Ten Audio-moth recorders were deployed on a very ad hoc basis for a total of just 10 nights, primarily to record nocturnal bird vocalisations within which mammal vocalisations were also captured and identified where possible.Quality Control
The identification to species level was done by the authors using the most recent literature available (Stokes et al. 2015, Kingdom et al. 2016, Musila et al. 2019) and in case of doubt, external experts were consulted. Most species recorded in the checklist were photographed, allowing for external verification and reproducibility. The camera trap data have been published separately (Nussbaumer et al. 2019) and the photos can be accessed at http://n2t.net/ark:/63614/w12001317. The checklist was edited to align with Darwin Core (DwC) standards and the taxon identifiers were taken from GBIF.Open-refine (https://openrefine.org/) was used in cleaning the dataset before publication.Method steps
- The study area was divided into 140 survey grids each measuring 30 seconds by 30 seconds (approximately 900 x 900 m) thus aligning with lines of latitude and longitude. The aim was to survey each of the 140 grid cells in the classical ‘atlas’ method, and record all species encountered. The grid can then be queried for which squares any given species has been recorded and thus its distribution across the whole area described. Initially ten motion censored infra-red camera traps (Reconyx Hyperfire; https://www.reconyx.com/) were deployed to record mammal presence. Two cameras stopped functioning about a year into the sampling so the remaining eight were used for the remainder of the period. Up to ten acoustic monitoring devices (AudioMoth 1.1.0; https://www.openacousticdevices.info/audiomoth) were also used to record sounds from animals and complement the camera traps, particularly for nocturnal animals. For the camera traps, a general area was identified in which to deploy the cameras using the grids as a guideline and selecting grids which had not already been surveyed. Once a general location was selected, the camera would be taken to that area and a search made for a site along a trail which showed indications of mammals using it (footprints, droppings etc). A strong tree was selected beside the trail in a site where it had a good field of view on the path and where mammals clearly used it. The camera was then attached to the tree c.50cm above the ground facing what was considered the optimum direction to capture maximum mammal movement. The exact geolocation was recorded for each camera position using a GPS-enabled mobile device and the deployment details recorded using Kobo Collect. The camera traps were set to trigger with infrared motion sensors to take multiple pictures at each trigger. After every month of deployment, camera traps were checked to ensure they functioned properly, batteries replaced and adjusted if needed, and left for another month. After the second month, images captured by the camera traps were retrieved and analysed. The camera traps were then re-deployed to other sites using the atlas grids as a guide. The acoustic monitoring devices were deployed in 25 locations to collect mammal sounds, especially from the nocturnal canopy-dwelling and illusive species. These were located in patches of forest where the Sokoke Scops Owl (Otus ireneae) was expected to occur and thus mammal sounds captured opportunistically. The devices were left for two nights before retrieval. Captured images and sounds were identified and confirmed by mammologists. It was then left to run for two months with a single intermediary service check to replace batteries. After two months, images were retrieved, labelled, and carefully stored on a hard drive as well as uploaded to Wildlife Insights (https://www.wildlifeinsights.org/) for assistance in image management, identification of subjects and mapping.
Taxonomic Coverages
All records are in the Class Mammalia. 25 were identified to species level and one record identified up to subspecies level.
-
Bdeogale omnivorarank: species
-
Caracal caracalrank: species
-
Cephalophus harveyirank: species
-
Cercopithecus mitis subsp. albogularisrank: subspecies
-
Chlorocebus pygerythrusrank: species
-
Civettictis civettarank: species
-
Cricetomys ansorgeirank: species
-
Crocuta crocutarank: species
-
Genetta maculatarank: species
-
Helogale parvularank: species
-
Hystrix cristatarank: species
-
Ichneumia albicaudarank: species
-
Leptailurus servalrank: species
-
Madoqua kirkiirank: species
-
Mellivora capensisrank: species
-
Neotragus moschatusrank: species
-
Otolemur garnettiirank: species
-
Panthera pardusrank: species
-
Papio cynocephalusrank: species
-
Paraxerus ochraceusrank: species
-
Paraxerus palliatusrank: species
-
Petrodromus tetradactylusrank: species
-
Potamochoerus larvatusrank: species
-
Rhynchocyon chrysopygusrank: species
-
Sylvicapra grimmiarank: species
-
Tragelaphus scriptusrank: species
Geographic Coverages
The data were collected in and around the A Rocha Dakatcha Nature Reserve (ARDNR) which is a small block (c.7,000 ha) of the larger Dakatcha Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) which is around 180,000 ha in size. The central point of the Dakatcha KBA is located c.45km to the northwest of Malindi town (S-2.884° E39.833°) which is more-or-less where the ARDNR is also located within the KBA – i.e. centrally.
Bibliographic Citations
- A Rocha Kenya (2021). A Rocha Dakatcha Nature Reserve. Available online at https://www.arocha.or.ke/projects/dakatcha-woodland/ Retrieved on 6/8 2021. -
- Antonin Delpeuch, Tom Morris, David Huynh, Stefano Mazzocchi, Jacky, Weblate (bot), Thad Guidry, Owen Stephens, Isao Matsunami, Iain Sproat, Silvério Santos, allanaaa, Kush Trivedi, Ekta Mishra, Martin Magdinier, Lu Liu, Joanne Ong, Fabio Tacchelli, Florian Giroud, … Antoine Beaubien. (2021). OpenRefine/OpenRefine: OpenRefine v3.5-beta2 (3.5-beta2). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5598064 -
- Birdlife International (2017). Local Conservation Action Reducing Poverty in Coastal Kenya. Accessed at https://www.birdlife.org/africa/news/local-conservation-action-reducing-poverty-coastal-kenya on 14/09/2021. -
- Birdlife International (2018). Irreplaceable: Dakatcha Woodland, Kenya. Accessed at https://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/news/irreplaceable-dakatcha-woodland-kenya On 14/09/2021. -
- Jackson, C., Ngala D, & Kombe, W., (2000). Reconnaissance of Dakatcha Woodlands, Malindi District, 11-13 August 2000, A Rocha Kenya Occasional Report No.1 -
- Kingdon, J., Happold, D., Butynski, T., Hoffmann, M., Happold, m., & Kalina, J., (eds) (2013). Mammals of Africa (6 vols). Bloomsbury Publishing, London. -
- Musila, S., Monadjem, A., Webala, P. W., Patterson, B. D., Hutterer, R., De Jong, Y. A., ... & Jiang, X. L. (2019). An annotated checklist of mammals of Kenya. Zoological Research, 40 (1), 3. -
- Nature Kenya (2016). Dakatcha Woodland Participatory Management Plan 2014 - 2019. Available online at https://issuu.com/nature_kenya/docs/dakatcha_woodland_participatory_man/11, checked on 9/7/2021 on 16/9/2021. -
- Nature Kenya (2017). Dakatcha Woodland- IBA in Focus. Available online at https://naturekenya.org/2017/04/28/dakatcha-woodland-iba-in-focus/ . Accessed on 16/9/2021. -
- Nussbaumer, R., Lennox, K, & Jackson, C., 2019. Last updated September 2021. Dakatcha Woodland Biodiversity Assessment. http://n2t.net/ark:/63614/w12001317. Accessed via wildlifeinsights.org on 06/09/2021. -
- Stokes, H., Ogwoka, B., Bett, J., Wacher, T., & Amin, R. (2016). Mammal Diversity Survey in the Northern Coastal Forests of Kenya: Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and the Boni-Dodori Forest System. Unpublished report to the Zoological Society of London, London. Accessed at https://www. zsl. org/sites/default/files/media/2017-04/Boni-Dodori% 20Bird% 20Survey% 20Report, 20 (282015), 29. On 16/9/2021. -
Contacts
Lennox Kiraooriginator
position: Research Scientist
A Rocha Kenya
383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: lennox.kirao@arocha.org
homepage: https://www.arocha.or.ke/
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirao-lennox-30068584/
Raphaël Nussbaumer
originator
position: Researcher
Cornell University Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
email: rafnuss@gmail.com
Colin Jackson
originator
position: National Director
A Rocha Kenya
383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: colin.jackson@arocha.org
homepage: https://www.arocha.or.ke/
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2280-1397
Samuel Ziro
originator
position: Geographical Information System Consultant
A Rocha Kenya
383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: kzlughanje@live.com
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/kahindi-kzlughanje-555aaab3
Jeff Ochieng
originator
position: Data Capture Clerk
A Rocha Kenya
383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: jeffochieng65@gmail.com
homepage: https://www.arocha.or.ke/
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/ochieng-jeff-39597b1a6/
Judith Ochieng
originator
position: Project Coordinator
A Rocha Kenya
383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: judith.ochieng@arocha.org
homepage: https://www.arocha.or.ke/
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/judith-adhiambo-955399127/
Evance Ochieng
originator
position: Intern
A Rocha Kenya
383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: oevancez@gmail.com
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/oevankinda/
Jeff Ochieng
metadata author
position: Data Capture Clerk
A Rocha Kenya
383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: jeffochieng65@gmail.com
homepage: https://www.arocha.or.ke/
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/ochieng-jeff-39597b1a6/
Lennox Kirao
metadata author
position: Research Scientist
A Rocha Kenya
383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: lennox.kirao@arocha.org
homepage: https://www.arocha.or.ke/
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirao-lennox-30068584/
Raphaël Nussbaumer
metadata author
position: Researcher
Cornell University Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
email: rafnuss@gmail.com
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8185-1020
Colin Jackson
metadata author
position: National Director
A Rocha Kenya
383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: colin.jackson@arocha.org
homepage: https://www.arocha.or.ke/
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2280-1397
Judith Ochieng
metadata author
position: Project Cordinator
A Rocha Kenya
383
Watamu
80202
email: judith.ochieng@arocha.org
homepage: https://www.arocha.or.ke/
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/judith-adhiambo-955399127/
Lawrence Monda
processor
position: Technical Liaison GBIF Kenya
National Museums of Kenya
40658
Nairobi
00100
KE
email: Imonda@museums.or.ke
Lennox Kirao
administrative point of contact
position: Research Scientist
A Rocha Kenya
383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: lennox.kirao@arocha.org
homepage: https://www.arocha.or.ke/
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirao-lennox-30068584/
Raphaël Nussbaumer
administrative point of contact
position: Researcher
Cornell University Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
email: rafnuss@gmail.com