Observations of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians of the Krasnokutsk territorial commune (hromada), Kharkiv region, Ukraine

Study Extent

The data presented in the dataset were collected during field research in areas of forests, steppes, grasslands, agricultural landscapes and settlements on the territory of Krasnokutsk territorial commune.

Sampling

The collection of data on mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians was carried out during special surveys of the territory, animal counting, random meetings. Records of animals and traces of their life activity (tracks, feces and shelters) were mapped using a GPS-navigator. Information about the finds was entered into a thematic geodatabase. The presence and abundance of species of tailless amphibians (Anura) in the spring was often assessed by the calls of males and the presence of spawn of certain species in the reservoir. To identify, as well as clarify the species belonging to amphibians, ichthyological scoop-net was sometimes used. If possible, gender (male, female) and approximate age were estimated for amphibians and reptiles: juvenile - individuals younger than 1 year, subadult - immature individuals older than 1 year, adult - sexually mature individuals. Mammals were recorded in most cases by traces of their life activity, and a large number of birds were recorded by voices. The database of field work results has been reformatted according to Darwin Core Archives standards. For some recods coordinates were not determined. We georeferenced them based on Google Satellite images, OpenStreetMap data or forestplan Slobozhanskyi NNP (decimal latitude/decimal longitude as the centroid of the terrain point, followed by UncertaintyInMeters coordinates as the distance from the centroid to the farthest terrain point).

Method steps

1. Field data collection: recording of animals and traces of their life activity; mapping records using a GPS-navigator.
2. Database creation: digitizing the data of field diaries; reformatting thematic databases according to Darwin Core Archives standards; editing data sent by other researchers and adding them to the general database.
3. Georeferencing
4. Data checking and cleaning in OpenRefine

1. Chordata
   rank: phylum
2. Reptilia
   rank: class
3. Mammalia
   rank: class
4. Amphibia
   rank: class
5. Aves
   rank: class
6. Animalia
   rank: kingdom

Krasnokutsk territorial commune (hromada), Bohodukhiv district, Kharkiv region, Ukraine.