SPECIES COMPOSITION OF HABITAT OCCUPATION BY VERTEBRATE AND SOME INVERTEBRATE FAUNA IN THE VICTORIA· RANDENIGALA· RANTAMBE(VRR)SANCTUARY, SRI LANKA

A survey was carried out during April 1996 to March 1997 to assess the faunalcomposition and their habitat occupation in the VRR sanctuary (42,078 ha) as aprerequisite for the preparation of a management plan for the sanctuary. Fauna wasrecorded in relation to their major habitat types, by both direct and indirect observations.The terrestrial habitats were grouped according to the vegetation types and includednatural vegetation types such as dense forest (ll,200 ha) and riverine forests (500 ha).Man-influenced vegetation types consisted of open forests/savanna (6,330 ha), scrublands(7,590 ha), grasslands (1,725 ha) and home gardens (1,565 ha). The aquatic habitatsincluded flooded wetlands (paddy fields 1,070 ha, marshes/swamps/riparian zones 500 ha)and permanent water bodies (reservoirs - 5,580 ha, and 950 kilometers of stream and riversystems). The survey indicates that the VRR sanctuary harbours approximately 45% and19% of the total native and endemic vertebrate species of Sri Lanka, respectively. Thevertebrates included 30 species of fish (six endemics), 20 species of amphibians (eightendemics), 35 species of reptiles (eight endemics), 153 species of birds (12 endemics) and29 species of mammals (one endemic). The two invertebrate groups included 71 species ofbutterflies (3 endemic) and 41 species of molluscs (31 endemics). When considering thepercentage habitat occupation of the above taxa, the man-influenced habitats accounted for53% of the species (open forests/savannas - 20%, scrublands- 15%, home gardens 12% andgrasslands 6%), while the natural vegetation supported 31% of the species (dense forests -17%, and riverine forests-I 4%). The two groups of aquatic habitats harboured a similarproportion of species (flooded wetlands - 8% and permanent aquatic habitats 8%).

EVALUATION OF WILDLIFE HABITATS IN THE VICTORIA· RANDENIGALA·RANTAMBE SANCTUARY USING LlFE·FORM AND HABITAT MODELS

A suitable hahilal evaluation method is an important 1001 for wildlife managers 10manipulate wildlife diversity, to predict how proposed hahital changes will effect differentwildlife communities. as well as 10 determine the quantity and quality of available habitatsfor a particular species. A simple method of habitat evaluation is the use or life-form andhabitat models (Anderson & Gutzwiller. 1994). During this process, all species of animalsfound in it given area arc placed in distinct life-form categories, based on theirpredominant habitat use paucrns for feeding and reproduction, Once the life-form table ismade. more detailed data on habiln! use is presented in hahitat tables for individual speciesunder each Iifc-Ionn category. By adding the number of habitats used by each species forreproduction and breeding, versatility score (V) can be obtained, Species with a highversatility score arc the least sensitive to habitat manipulation. This would also enablewildlife managers to examine the impact of habitat loss/modification and Ii~;t the speciesaffected. This method was applied to evaluate the native vertebrates and their habitats inthe VRR sanctuary, A total of 252 native vertebrates recorded were placed under 22distinct life-form categories. These species were further assessed according to their majorhabitat utilisation pancrns. Six major aquatic habitats and nine major terrestrial habitatswere identified, Based on the versatility score of each species, they were grouped into threesensitivity categories for hahitat manipulation: most sensitive. moderately sensitive andleast sensitive. The most widely used habitat of fauna were recogniscd, based on the lifeforms and habitat models. This simple method could he adopted to evaluate the faunalhabitats in all protected areas of Sri Lanka.

ASSESSMENT OF BIODIVERSITY IN THE MUTHURAJAWELA WETLAND SANCTUARY

Muthurajawela wetland. located as the west coast of Sri Lanka is the largestcoastal peal bag of the island. At present. the biodiversity of Muthurajawela isthreatened by unplanned development activities and growing human population.Therefore, an ecological survey was carried out in order to assess the presentstatus of biodiversity in Muthurajawela, and also to identify critical habitats forthe conservation and sustence of biodiversity. Field monitoring of fauna and florawas carried out at fortnightly intervals, using scientifically accepted rapidbiodiversity assessment techniques (fauna - line transects; flora - plots, Braun-Blanquet cover), The data was analysed using ecological indices(diversity/species richness), and critical habitats were identified using avifauna asa correlate of biodiversity. Ground truthing of vegetation maps was carried out todocument changes of major vegetation communities.The study enabled to identify 192 species of flora, distributed over seven majorvegetation communities at Muthurajawela; marsh, lentic flora, reed swamp, shortgrassland, scrubland, stream bank flora and mangrove swamp. The vertebratefauna documented included 40 species of fish, 14 species of amphibians, 31species of reptiles, 102 species of birds and 22 species of mammals. Among thetotal vertebrate species documented, 17 are endemic, 26 are considered asnationally threatened, while 36 are new records to Muthurajawela. The selectedinvertebrate species documented consisted of 48 species of butterflies and 22species odonates, the latter which turned out to be a useful indicator of habitatquality. The threats documented included direct exploitation (poaching, cutting oftrees), habitat degradation/modification (land reclamation, dumping of garbage,clearing of natural vegetation, pollution and eutrophication) and the spread ofseveral alien invasive species (including unmanaged domestic animals). Thenorthern part of the marsh serve as an ecotone, with a mixture of the above plantcommunities/habitat types which were relatively undisturbed. Analysis carriedout using ecological indices highlighted the northern region as a high biodiversityzone, which is critical for the conservation and future sustenance of biodiversity atMuthurajawela. Ground truthing of vegetation maps, supported with results of thevegetation survey showed that the composition of dominant flora has changedover a period of 10 years, in most places in the Muthurajawela Wetland, as aresult of human disturbances. Data on the avifauna also highlighted aconsiderable decrease in migrant birds at Muthurajawela, possibly due to habitatdeterioration.The findings have important conservation and managementimplications, in particular greater emphasis need to be placed on the more ciritcalareas of the marsh. An important policy implication would be the need

Bird communities and feeding guilds in Monaragala, an isolated hill in the eastern intermediate zone of Sri Lanka

The bird communities and foraging guilds were studied in the entire forest of Monaragala hill, by recording species and their abundances, in 33 plots (each 100x20 m), in four transects laid along its altitudinal gradient. Bird calls and sightings were noted for 30 minutes between 7.00-9.30 am, twice each month from 2004-2008.The communities were determined, by cluster and ordination analyses of data in all plots. For each community, relative abundance (RA) and frequency (RF) were calculated. Species were assigned to bird guilds based on their habitats, main food types and feeding strategies, from published informationWithin and outside the plots sampled, 112 bird species (23% of Sri Lanka‟s avifauna, including eight endemics) in 84 genera, 44 families and 13 orders, were recorded. Three communities were identified: i. a low/mid-elevation disturbed forest community (LDFC), inhabited by 40 species (including seven endemics). The Crimson-Fronted Barbet, Black Crested Bulbul and Tickell‟s Blue Flycatcher co-dominated it. ii. a ridge/upper-elevation undisturbed forest community (RUFC) of 45 species that included eight endemics, nine restricted species, the wet zone Sri Lanka Yellow Fronted Barbet and Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon. The Black Bulbul and Sri Lanka Yellow Fronted Barbet were its dominants. Thirty three species were common to both forest communities. iii. a grassland community, with only 10 non-endemic species, dominated by the Crested Tree Swift and Indian Swiftlet. Three grassland species were also seen in the forest communities.In each forest community ten bird guilds were present. The arboreal frugivore and gleaning insectivore guilds ranked highest in them, followed by the hawking/hovering insectivore guild in the LDFC, and the omnivore gleaning guild in the RUFC. The grassland community had only three guilds. Based on RA the sweeping insectivore guild and on RF the aerial carnivore and the sweeping insectivore guilds were co-dominant. The arboreal granivore guild was restricted to the grasslandThe study revealed that this intermediate zone, 43 km2 isolated hill (1,100 m amsl) harbors a rich avifauna, including some typical wet zone species, and rich populations of the rare Sri Lanka Spur fowl and the Sri Lanka Wood pigeon, justifying its high conservation value

AN ASSESSMENT OF BIODIVERSITY IN THE REKAWA, USSANGODA AND KALAMETIYA INLAND COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS IN SOUTHERN SRI LANKA

The survey was carried out to document the status of inland biodiversity in the Rekawa,Ussangoda and Kalametiya area along the Southern coastal zone of Sri Lanka. Thesurvey extended from October 2002 - March 2003 (6 months). A reconnaissance surveyof the inland areas was conducted, prior to the regular field sampling, in order to selectrepresentative sampling sites within the Ruk area. Eight sites were selected for regularfield sampling at fortnightly intervals, and the plants and animals of the area weresurveyed in a scientific manner, using appropriate sampling techniques.The survey area harbours a variety of natural and man-made vegetationlhabitat types,including both terrestrial and wetland systems. A total of 287 plant species belonging to222 genera under 94 families were documented from the above inland vegetationlhabitattypes of the Ruk area. Several sub types of Mangroves, based mainly on floristics, couldbe found in the RUK area. These include the Lumnitzera dominated stands (Rekawa),Ceriops dominated stands (Rekawa), Avicennia dominated stands (Rekawa), Mixedstands (Rekawa, Kahanda), Excoecaria dominated stands (between Lunawa andKalametiya) and Sonneratia dominated stands (Kalametiya, Malpeththawa). It isinteresting to note that some mangrove stands are represented by only a single species.A total of 328 species of vertebrates were recorded from the RUK area, of which 14species (4%) are endemic, while 27 species (8%) are nationally threatened. Thevertebrates include 52 species of fish, 17 species of amphibians, 49 species of reptiles,184 species of birds, and 26 species of mammals. The invertebrates include 72 species ofcolorful butterflies, 25 spec.es of terrestrial molluscs an": 9 species of aquatic molluscs.Three beach stretches that are important turtle nesting sites, eleven birding hotspots andthree bird roosting sites were identified within the RUK area.The study area has been identified for major development initiatives, under the SouthernDevelopment Programme of the Government of Sri Lanka. Therefore, the relevantconservation agencies should take steps to ensure that, biodiversity conservation concernsare adequately addressed in specific developmental activities planned for the area.

An appraisal of select insect taxa in Sri Lanka

© Springer Science+Business Media Singapore 2016.The chapter provides information on diversity of selected insect taxa, namely, Isoptera, Aphididae, Thysanoptera, Formicidae, and Apidae, and of the rice fields in Sri Lanka. Isoptera of the island comprises 76 species in 29 genera and 4 families, with 33 species restricted to the island. Fauna is rich in wood-feeding foragers and fungus-growing wood feeders and poor in humus and soil feeders. Seventy-four species of aphids in 40 genera and 8 subfamilies have been documented with the exception of subfamily Anoeciinae. Host plant specificity is not so pronounced among aphids except for a few restricted to endemic plants and specific weeds. Thysanoptera are represented by 113 species in 63 genera. Among them are many cosmopolitan pests and several potential viral vector species with vegetables, ornamentals, and cut flowers harboring a large majority of thrips. Ants comprise 181 species in 61 genera and 12 subfamilies. Of special interest is the endemic SF Aneuretinae, solely represented by the relict ant, Aneuretus simony, now known to be widely distributed and abundant. Bees comprise 144 species of pollen bees and 4 species of honeybees in 38 genera and 4 families. Pollen bees are best known for their nesting habits as ground, hollow stem (leaf-cutter bees), and wood (carpenter bees) nesters. Among them are several specialist bees. Rice fields are rich in insects, due to their habitat heterogeneity, harbored 317 species, belonging to 19 orders and 104 families, during the two cultivation cycles, Yala and Maha

Species composition, status and feeding ecology of avifauna in high altitude forests of Sri Lanka

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