Diurnal Avifaunal Diversity at Pallemalala, Bundala, Sri Lank
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Date
2020
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Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
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
Description
Keywords
Ecology, Environmental Science, Biodiversity – Sri Lanka, Biology, Animal Sciences