Faunal Diversity and the Ecological Aspects of a Community-Based Fragmented Lowland Rainforest Patch in Western Province, Sri Lanka
Wawekale Rainforest Reserve (WRR) is a primary lowland tropical rainforest area in the Western Province of Sri Lanka, established with diversity, but disturbed by human activities such as rubber cultivation, logging, poaching, chemical release, and the collection of firewood. Visual Encounter Survey...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Mahidol University
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Environment and Natural Resources Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://ph02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ennrj/article/view/250594/170183 |
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| author | Buddhika Abeyrathne Nilanga Ranatunga Sahani Chandrasiri Indrakheela Madola |
| author_facet | Buddhika Abeyrathne Nilanga Ranatunga Sahani Chandrasiri Indrakheela Madola |
| author_sort | Buddhika Abeyrathne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Wawekale Rainforest Reserve (WRR) is a primary lowland tropical rainforest area in the Western Province of Sri Lanka, established with diversity, but disturbed by human activities such as rubber cultivation, logging, poaching, chemical release, and the collection of firewood. Visual Encounter Surveys (VES) were conducted for 100 hours in the year 2022, which covered wide habitat distribution. The herpetofaunal diversity was measured in the WRR which can indicate broader ecological shifts, environmental changes, or habitat degradation. Water quality was measured in the WRR area to determine the ecosystem health and human impact. The study reports 171 species in 73 families, including two Critically Endangered (1.17%), six Endangered (3.51%), 16 Vulnerable (9.36%), and 14 Near Threatened (8.19%) species according to the IUCN Red List. The study area showed 51 endemic faunal species in Sri Lanka, which represented 29.83% of endemism. Based on the observations conducted on the herpetofauna diversity, the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H) was calculated and the overall herpetofauna (H’H) showed high diversity within the forest premises. The water quality of the forest fragment had an influence from anthropogenic activities such as removing forest cover, bathing, washing vehicles, and releasing agro-chemical compounds resulting in high water temperature, basic pH level, high electrical conductivity, and high total dissolved solid conditions. The WRR, designated under protection, exhibits the need for immediate remedial actions to mitigate human-induced pollution and deforestation, emphasizing the critical importance of implementing proactive conservation measures to sustain ecological integrity and preserve biodiversity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:46:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e172c62a2f1e4e7784e103b3c79256f0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1686-5456 2408-2384 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:46:02Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Mahidol University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environment and Natural Resources Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-e172c62a2f1e4e7784e103b3c79256f02024-03-15T07:29:05ZengMahidol UniversityEnvironment and Natural Resources Journal1686-54562408-23842024-03-0122211912810.32526/ennrj/22/20230220Faunal Diversity and the Ecological Aspects of a Community-Based Fragmented Lowland Rainforest Patch in Western Province, Sri LankaBuddhika Abeyrathne0Nilanga Ranatunga1Sahani Chandrasiri2Indrakheela Madola3Centre for Water Quality and Algae Research, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri LankaDepartment of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Makandura, Gonawila (NWP), Sri LankaFaculty of Graduate Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri LankaDepartment of Horticulture & Landscape Gardening, Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Sri LankaWawekale Rainforest Reserve (WRR) is a primary lowland tropical rainforest area in the Western Province of Sri Lanka, established with diversity, but disturbed by human activities such as rubber cultivation, logging, poaching, chemical release, and the collection of firewood. Visual Encounter Surveys (VES) were conducted for 100 hours in the year 2022, which covered wide habitat distribution. The herpetofaunal diversity was measured in the WRR which can indicate broader ecological shifts, environmental changes, or habitat degradation. Water quality was measured in the WRR area to determine the ecosystem health and human impact. The study reports 171 species in 73 families, including two Critically Endangered (1.17%), six Endangered (3.51%), 16 Vulnerable (9.36%), and 14 Near Threatened (8.19%) species according to the IUCN Red List. The study area showed 51 endemic faunal species in Sri Lanka, which represented 29.83% of endemism. Based on the observations conducted on the herpetofauna diversity, the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H) was calculated and the overall herpetofauna (H’H) showed high diversity within the forest premises. The water quality of the forest fragment had an influence from anthropogenic activities such as removing forest cover, bathing, washing vehicles, and releasing agro-chemical compounds resulting in high water temperature, basic pH level, high electrical conductivity, and high total dissolved solid conditions. The WRR, designated under protection, exhibits the need for immediate remedial actions to mitigate human-induced pollution and deforestation, emphasizing the critical importance of implementing proactive conservation measures to sustain ecological integrity and preserve biodiversity.https://ph02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ennrj/article/view/250594/170183faunal diversityrainforest fragmentationecological aspectswater qualitywawekale rainforest reserve |
| spellingShingle | Buddhika Abeyrathne Nilanga Ranatunga Sahani Chandrasiri Indrakheela Madola Faunal Diversity and the Ecological Aspects of a Community-Based Fragmented Lowland Rainforest Patch in Western Province, Sri Lanka Environment and Natural Resources Journal faunal diversity rainforest fragmentation ecological aspects water quality wawekale rainforest reserve |
| title | Faunal Diversity and the Ecological Aspects of a Community-Based Fragmented Lowland Rainforest Patch in Western Province, Sri Lanka |
| title_full | Faunal Diversity and the Ecological Aspects of a Community-Based Fragmented Lowland Rainforest Patch in Western Province, Sri Lanka |
| title_fullStr | Faunal Diversity and the Ecological Aspects of a Community-Based Fragmented Lowland Rainforest Patch in Western Province, Sri Lanka |
| title_full_unstemmed | Faunal Diversity and the Ecological Aspects of a Community-Based Fragmented Lowland Rainforest Patch in Western Province, Sri Lanka |
| title_short | Faunal Diversity and the Ecological Aspects of a Community-Based Fragmented Lowland Rainforest Patch in Western Province, Sri Lanka |
| title_sort | faunal diversity and the ecological aspects of a community based fragmented lowland rainforest patch in western province sri lanka |
| topic | faunal diversity rainforest fragmentation ecological aspects water quality wawekale rainforest reserve |
| url | https://ph02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ennrj/article/view/250594/170183 |
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