@misc{DampteyFrimpongKwameDebrahetal., author = {Damptey, Frederick Gyasi and Frimpong, Bernard Fosu and Kwame Debrah, Daniel and Agro, Prince Pascal and Debrah Wiafe, Edward}, title = {Vegelation attributes drive the taxonomic richness and functional composition of beetles and spidersr In mountalnous urban green}, series = {Energy, Ecology and Environment}, volume = {7}, journal = {Energy, Ecology and Environment}, number = {3}, issn = {2363-7692}, doi = {10.1007/s40974-021-00236-z}, pages = {268 -- 280}, abstract = {Urban green spaces (UGS) enhance the quality of life in urban environments and serve as habitat corridors or refuge for organisms, including beetles and spiders. The attributes of UGS allow them to harbour species that offer essential ecosystem services. However, the ability of UGS to provide services is limited by the extent to which they have been altered anthropogenically. We described the taxonomic richness and functional composition of arthropods in a mountainous urban ecosystem of Ghana by focussing on the activity of both beetles and spiders at the family level. Two main land-use types (woodlands and built-up areas) were identified and characterised based on the presence or absence of certain vegetation attributes. Sixteen plots in each land-use type with sizes 20 × 20 m were demarcated and fitted with four pitfall traps in each plot to sample continuously for eight weeks, the activity density of both beetles and spiders. Samples were sorted into families and functional groups (detritivores, fungivores, herbivores and predators). The taxonomic richness and activity density were both significantly higher in the woodlands than in the built-up areas. Similarly, all functional groups showed a higher affinity to the woodlands than the built-up areas. Habitat attributes defined by plant diversity and structural complexity were the underlying drivers explaining the differences in arthropod communities between the land-use types. Though the built-up areas seem degraded and open, the remaining small vegetation patches still support the activities of some taxa that should merit the protection of such remnant vegetation in urban ecosystems.}, language = {en} } @misc{DampteyOpuniFrimpongArimiyawetal., author = {Damptey, Frederick Gyasi and Opuni-Frimpong, Nana Yeboaa and Arimiyaw, Abdul Wahid and Bentsi-Enchill, Felicity and Wiafe, Edward Debrah and Abeyie, Betty Boante and Mensah, Martin Kofi and Debrah, Daniel Kwame and Yeboah, Augustine Oti and Opuni-Frimpong, Emmanuel}, title = {Citizen Science Approach for Assessing the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Potential of Urban Green Spaces in Ghana}, series = {Land}, volume = {11}, journal = {Land}, number = {10}, issn = {2073-445X}, doi = {10.3390/land11101774}, abstract = {Urban green spaces are linked to good human health and well-being, sustainable cities and communities, climate action, life on land and under water, as well as offering a platform for quality nature-based education. Their efficient management will no doubt be necessary if strides are to be made in efforts to protect biodiversity and enhance ecosystem service delivery in urban areas. This will, in part, require building the capacity of community members as citizen scientists to take up conservation roles. This study explored the levels of biodiversity and the proxy-based ecosystem service potential of urban green spaces in Sunyani, Ghana, using citizen science approaches. The green spaces accessed were the University of Energy and Natural Resources Wildlife Sanctuary and Arboretum, the Sunyani Parks and Gardens, the Sunyani Residency Park, and the Sunyani Senior High School Woodlot. The different levels of biodiversity (trees, arthropods) and ecosystem services were observed for the five green spaces assessed, with a significant relationship observed between arthropod communities and vegetation variables. Our results showed that citizen scientists perceived urban green spaces to supply more significant provisioning and regulating services than any other ecosystem services, even though they were highly dissatisfied with how green spaces are managed. The children's perception of the composition of nature was slightly narrow, as they largely centered on plants and animals only. Even so, their awareness of the value of nature was high, as were the threats of human activities to nature. Citizen science approaches could complement biodiversity studies in data-deficient regions; however, collected data may require additional verification and validation from experts for conclusive and better inferences.}, language = {en} } @misc{DampteyOpuniFrimpongAyineNsoretal., author = {Damptey, Frederick Gyasi and Opuni-Frimpong, Emmanuel and Ayine Nsor, Collins and Addai, James and Kwame Debrah, Daniel and Schnerch, Benjamin and Bentsi-Enchill, Felicity and Korjus, Henn}, title = {Taxonomic and community composition of epigeal arthropods in monoculture and mixed tree species plantations in a deciduous forest of Ghana}, series = {Journal of Forestry Research}, volume = {34}, journal = {Journal of Forestry Research}, number = {3}, doi = {10.1007/s11676-022-01508-y}, pages = {641 -- 653}, abstract = {Tropical forests provide several ecosystem services and functions and support approximately two-thirds of the world's biodiversity but are seriously threatened by deforestation. Approaches to counteract this menace have revolved around aforestation with several or a single tree species. We thus investigated how plantation forests with either a single or several tree species infuenced arthropod taxonomic and community composition using pitfall traps to sample selected groups of epigeal arthropods (Araneae, Coleoptera, Orthoptera and Hymenoptera) and with environmental variables assessed simultaneously. Our results revealed 54 taxonomic groups with signifcantly higher taxonomic richness, activity density, and diversity in the mixed stands than in the monoculture stands. The significant differences in community composition were mainly driven by families including Lycosidae, Formicidae, Staphylinidae, Scotylidae, Hydrophilidae, Gryllidae and Scarabaeidae and were explained by distinct habitat characteristics (canopy openness, litter depth, deadwood volume, and tree height). While the diverse tree communities and heterogeneous vegetation structure ofered food and habitat resources for diverse arthropod groups, the allelopathic nature coupled with homogenous stand characteristics of the Tectona grandis stands in the monoculture suppressed the growth of understorey vegetation that could otherwise serve as food and habitat resources for arthropods, which might have led to limited activities and diversity of arthropods in the monoculture plantation stands. The fndings thus highlight the need to promote mixed tree plantations in degraded tropical areas, especially when restoring biodiversity is the prime management focus.}, language = {en} }