Exploring the applicability of biological and socioeconomic tools in developing EAFM plans for data absent areas : Spinner dolphin EAFM for Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka

Acknowledgements University of Aberdeen, UK and Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystems (BOBLME) project are acknowledged for partial funding of this research.Peer reviewedPostprin

Current perceptions and the need for a strategic plan for the whale watching industry in Mirissa, Sri Lanka

Marine mammal watching is a sub-category of wildlife tourism and has shown continual growth as a global industry. Sri Lanka is an island nation in the south of the Indian Ocean with one of the busiest whale watching industries. Three locations in Sri Lanka provide facilities for marine mammal watching enthusiasts namely Mirissa in the south-west, Trincomalee in the north-east and Kalpitiya on the west coast. This study attempts to explore the positive and negative factors associated with the whale watching industry in Mirissa which is predominantly based on reviews posted on Tripadvisor’s travel website. In addition to this, statistics gleaned by Sri Lanka Coast Guard were also taken into consideration. According to the respondents’ views, the study found five positive factors, two moderate factors and four negative factors affecting the whale watching industry in Mirissa. According to these factors authors have discussed the requirement for a strategic plan in order to ensure sustainability and improve the quality of services provided of the whale watching industry in Sri Lanka

A study of the effects of human disturbance on habitat use, behaviour and diet composition in red deer (Cervus elaphus L.)

The impacts of disturbance were explored for red deer (Cervus elaphus) in the Scottish Highlands, by studying the distribution, behaviour and diet composition of deer in areas that were disturbed or less disturbed by human recreation, in different habitat types (grassland, heather moorland and woodland) and at different times of year.  The human-caused predation risk hypothesis states that there are similarities between the responses elicited by wild animals towards human recreational disturbance and predation.  This hypothesis was tested by comparing behaviour during the recreation season (spring and summer) and the hunting season (autumn and winter). Deer densities were lower in disturbed areas than less disturbed areas throughout the year, although there was no difference in relative habitat use as a result of disturbance. Habitat selection was primarily influenced by season, with grasslands having higher deer densities during the spring and summer and heather moorlands having higher densities during the winter. Behaviour was monitored using scan sampling of groups.  The percentage of animals that were vigilant was higher, resulting in a smaller number of deer feeding in disturbed than less disturbed areas during the recreational season.  Vigilance was higher in disturbed grassland and heather moorland than undisturbed woodland, while behaviour was similar in disturbed woodland and the less disturbed habitats.  In disturbed heather and woodland and in all less disturbed habitats, the majority of animals were standing while vigilant, whilst in disturbed grassland, lying was the main mode of vigilance.  Deer were more likely to be close together when vigilance levels were high.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

FIGURE 13 in Taxonomy and distribution of irregular echinoids (Echinoidea: Irregularia) from Sri Lanka

FIGURE 13. Echinolampas alexandri (WUSL/EI/1): A, aboral view; B, oral view; C, lateral view

FIGURE 73 in Taxonomy and distribution of irregular echinoids (Echinoidea: Irregularia) from Sri Lanka

FIGURE 73. Distribution map of Lovenia elongata recorded in this study

FIGURE 69 in Taxonomy and distribution of irregular echinoids (Echinoidea: Irregularia) from Sri Lanka

FIGURE 69. Metalia sp. (WUSL/EI/138), aboral view

FIGURE 71 in Taxonomy and distribution of irregular echinoids (Echinoidea: Irregularia) from Sri Lanka

FIGURE 71. Distribution map of Metalia sp. recorded in this study

FIGURE 17 in Taxonomy and distribution of irregular echinoids (Echinoidea: Irregularia) from Sri Lanka

FIGURE 17. Echinolampas ovata (WUSL/EI/3): A, aboral view; B, oral view; C, lateral view

FIGURE 18 in Taxonomy and distribution of irregular echinoids (Echinoidea: Irregularia) from Sri Lanka

FIGURE 18. Distribution map of Echinolampas ovata recorded in this study