Browsing by Author "Gunawardena, M.P."

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    Assessment of Avifaunal Diversity in a Municipal Waste dumping site: A case study from Karadiyana, Sri Lanka
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2020) Gunawardena, M.P.; Hathurusinghe, D.; Madurasinghe, E.H.D.D.M.; Dompage, D.M.
    Waste disposal sites have become factitious feeding sites for some avifauna, especially in the urban and suburban ecosystems. Tentatively these sites are assumed not only to provide the organic food sources but also refuge to different prey species such as invertebrates and small mammals for the avifauna composed of different feeding requirements. As a consequence of this rich and easy food availability, a significant number of bird species are assumed to be allured to these dumping grounds. On account of this phenomenon, a study was designed to ascertain the bird species diversity at Karadiyana in the Colombo District, of the western province of Sri Lanka to assess the overall avifaunal diversity and abundance. Two different habitat types viz. Drainage channel along with terrestrial land habitat and dumping area habitat were studied using variable plot count method. Two plots were allocated to each of the habitats with equal intervals between the two stations respectively. Bird species were observed within 50 m either side were recorded twice per day, 6.30-8.30 h and 15.00- 17.00 h., from January to May 2019. A total of 2586 individuals belonging to 18 species, 14 families, and 8 orders were recorded in an area of 10.12 ha. For the Simpson’s index and Shannon diversity index, 0.86/2.08 and 0.74/1.44 were obtained for the two habitats respectively. The most dominant bird species recorded were the House Crow (Corvus splendens) and Blackheaded ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) with relative abundances of 34.1% and 28.5%. The least abundant bird species recorded was Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos). The abundance of certain bird species is very high and therefore causes overpopulation, which causes a threat to other avifauna in the area. Therefore, proper management practices should be implemented on direct and open dumping of waste in urban ecosystems to control the indirect impacts of the adjacent wildlife communities. . Keywords: Karadiyana, Avifauna, Waste dumping, Diversity, Shannon diversity
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    Diurnal Avifaunal Diversity at Pallemalala, Bundala, Sri Lank
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2020) Gunawardena, M.P.; Hettiarachchi, C.J.; Kahandawa, D.D.; Rathnayaka, T.S.B.; Mahamoor, F.M.; Malwattage, S.D.P.; Chandrawansa, P.H.N.R.; Mandawala, E.N.
    In a world of rapid development influences such as anthropogenic land use, effects of invasive fauna and flora, suburbanization, and pollution are major causes for declining of biodiversity and it is needed to understand the state of biodiversity to aid management and conservation. To successfully manage land use in ways that are least harmful to biodiversity it is vital to be able to identify habitats that are of most important for biodiversity beyond the protected areas. In this study diurnal avifaunal diversity was studied at unprotected natural habitat (Pallemalala, Bundala) adjacent to Bundala National Park, during two months (from March to April 2018), using the fixed distance line transect method. A total number of 2540 of individuals belonging to 52 species, 34 families and 13 orders were recorded during the study period. The relative abundance of each bird species indicates that the Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus) was the most common bird (7.40) followed by Yellow wattled lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus) (7.25) and Yellow billed Babbler (Turdoides affinis) (6.50). Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis), Pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis), Indian paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi), Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) and White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliastur leucogaster) were the least observed birds. The Shanon diversity index was 3.5106. Even though the study site is close to populated residential areas; it still provides vital habitat to a large number of bird species. However, due to the increasing number of invasive species and pollution around the area, there is a potential increasing threat to the avifaunal composition in the non-protected area natural habitats outside the Bundala National Park. In conclusion, the unprotected habitat at Pallemalala, Bundala can be considered as an important habitat for avifaunal diversity thus suitable integrated measurements should be implemented with the help of residents to conserve biodiversity in the area. Keywords: Avifauna, Bundala, Diversity
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    Feeding Ecology and Avifaunal Distribution at Henarathgoda Botanical Garden, Sri Lanka
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2020) Gunawardena, M.P.; Weerasinghe, W.P.S.H.; Herath, H.M.I.M.; Manohari, S.H.M.
    Botanical gardens play a major role in providing habitats and niches to many species. Among the species groups, avifaunal distribution and feeding ecology can be observed simply. Therefore, a study was conducted to assess the avifaunal diversity distribution and feeding ecology at Henarathgoda botanical garden from February 2019 to February 2020. Data were collected in the morning (6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.) and evening (3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.) in different habitats using 7 transect lines of 150 m for 10 minutes in each transect. As a percentage around 17% of the total number of bird species in the country was recorded in the study area. During the study, 6395 individuals belonging to 81 species were recorded (42 families and 16 orders) including 07 endemics and 06 migratory species. The Shannon Weiner diversity, Shannon evenness, Simpson’s, Brillouin, Margalef, and Menhinick indexes indicated 3.32, 0.34, 0.94, 3.29, 9.13, and 1.01, respectively. The highest percentage of feeding ecology was indicated by Insectivores (33.33%) bird species while Carnivores, Granivores, Frugivores, Nectivores, Omnivores, and Herbivores were 28.03, 16.67, 12.88, 5.30, 3.03, and 0.76% respectively. The transect which comprises of Paddy field, Aquatic habitat, and Garden had the highest number of individuals (1545) and species (68). Avifaunal distribution on the terrestrial habitats of the understory layer, sub-canopy, canopy, emergent layer, and the ground was 21.37, 17.56, 14.50, 12.98 and 11.45% respectively and 22.14% of the species were aquatic species. According to the study, distribution and feeding ecology of avifauna at Henarathgoda Botanical Garden represent relatively wide-ranging variability while having a considerable avifaunal diversity. Therefore, Botanical gardens' services can be extended to places for biodiversity education/awareness and nature tourism in addition to the ex-situ conservation of flora and recreation. Keywords: Feeding ecology, Avifauna, Henarathgoda, Botanical garden
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    Preliminary Survey on Avifaunal Diversity in a Suburban Ecosystem: Nadeniya Estate, Kandy, Sri Lanka
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2020) Gunawardena, M.P.; Hathurusinghe, D.; Chandrasekara, T.A.; Madurasinghe, E.H.D.D.M.
    The rapidly expanding human population in Sri Lanka has ensued in the reduction of natural habitats which have been converted to human settlements such as industrial sites, agricultural lands, and other infrastructure development. In consequence of these events, the avifauna is forced to ensure their survival by adapting themselves to human-altered settlements like home gardens, plantations, and estates. Therefore, a study was designed to ascertain the avifaunal diversity and abundance: Nadeniya Estate alias Yakange Watta (3.237km2 ) situated at Kiriwaula of Udunuwara in the Kandy district, Central Province (N 7°15'19" E 80°32'41"), to assess the contribution of suburban habitats for the conservation of avifaunal species. Two different habitat types’ viz. Tea plantation habitat and home garden habitat were studied using 600 m transects, and bird species within 50 m either side were recorded two times per day, in the morning (6.00-09.00 h) and the evening (16.00-18.00 h), within a period of 5 months from August to December 2019. A total of 480 birds belonging to 33 species, 25 families, and 9 orders were recorded within the area. The Simpson’s index and Shannon diversity index were 0.97/2.61, and 0.99/2.78 in the tea plantation habitat and home garden habitat respectively. The most dominant species recorded were the House crow (Corvus splendens), Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis), and Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer cafer), with a relative abundance of 10.81, 11.52, and 11.24% respectively. The least recorded species was the Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (Sitta frontalis) with a relative abundance of 0.22%. According to the results, it is evident that more anthropogenic activities have influenced the avifaunal diversity. Alternatively, garden and forest birds were also recorded in the area. Therefore, proper management of the land use is recommended for sustainable conservation of the suburban ecosystems. Keywords: Avifauna, Diversity, Ecosystem, Suburban, Nadeniya Estate