Contribution to the knowledge of Odonata fauna of the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, Bobiri Forest Reserve, Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary and Ankasa Forest Reserve (southern Ghana)

Using a qualitative sampling approach to survey for Odonata along water systems inside and outside of four major protected areas in Southern Ghana (viz; Atewa Range Forest Reserve, Ankasa Forest Reserve, Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary and Bobiri Forest Reserve), a total of 66 Odonata species in seven families encompassing 28 Zygoptera and 38 Anisoptera were recorded. Libellulidae (n= 36) exhibited the highest number of species, followed by Coenagrionidae (n= 10), and Calopterygidae (n= 5). In considering the observed number of species exhibited by each protected area, the Atewa Range Forest Reserve exhibited the highest number of species (n= 51), followed by the Ankasa Forest Reserve (n= 47), the Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary (n= 44) and Bobiri Forest Reserve (n= 43). Disturbance tolerance species dominated in habitats outside the various forest reserves, whiles forest specialists predominated inside the reserves, indicating the quality of the forest cover therein.