Insect species composition, abundance, and richness in the Shai Hills Resource Reserve using a novel plot-based sampling design

Resource reserves play a critical role in maintaining ecosystem health and function, yet they are increasingly threatened by deforestation and habitat degradation, leading to biodiversity loss worldwide. Effective conservation and monitoring programmes are essential to mitigate these declines, but the necessary information is lacking in many protected areas, including Ghana’s Shai Hills Resource Reserve (SHRR). Herein we assessed the insect composition, abundance, and richness within SHRR using a standardized plot-based sampling framework across three vegetation types (grassland, thicket, and forest). A total of 281 morphospecies in 108 families and 14 orders were recorded, with the highest insect abundance observed in the thicket (10,889 individuals, 237 species), followed by grassland (10,365 individuals, 227 species) and forest (8575 individuals, 219 species). Insect diversity varied across vegetation types, with Hymenoptera being the most abundant order and Formicidae (ants), particularly driver ants, dominating. These data provide a foundation for establishing a long-term monitoring system in SHRR.