Kithsiri Ranawana

Kithsiri Ranawana
University of Peradeniya | UOP · Department of Zoology

Doctor of Philosophy

About

195
Publications
119,300
Reads
How we measure 'reads'
A 'read' is counted each time someone views a publication summary (such as the title, abstract, and list of authors), clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the full-text. Learn more
932
Citations
Introduction
Ecology & Conservation

Publications

Publications (195)
Article
Full-text available
Cervids exhibit an antler cycle closely tied to environmental cues, notably photoperiod, which regulates growth, mineralization, velvet shedding, and casting stages, aligning with seasonal shifts in temperate regions. However, in a tropical country like Sri Lanka, where photoperiod variation is minimal, it remains unclear how introduced cervid spec...
Article
Full-text available
Albinism is a result of cells that are unable to make melanin or pigments which are necessary to color the skin. It occurs very rarely in the wild animal. Although several species of monkeys with albino individuals have been recorded in other parts of the world, it has never been recorded in Grey Langur and endemic Toque Macaque. Hence this would b...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Introduction: Annually, due to HEC, 70 humans and 250 elephants lose their lives, and about 14 elephant calves become orphans. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage (PEO) is an institution for taking care of orphaned elephants in the wild in Sri Lanka. As a decent indicator of health and management, the body condition score (BCS) index is being subjectively...
Article
Full-text available
Background: The available information on terrestrial pest gastropods and their impact on the environment worldwide is scarce and outdated. The present study aimed to address this gap by conducting the first comprehensive survey of pest gastropods in the Nuwara Eliya District, an important vegetable growing area in the highlands of Sri Lanka. Eighty...
Article
Full-text available
Human activities have resulted in extensive changes in population of animals that occupy the earth, some more favorable than others. The purpose of this research is to delve into the fascinating world of the Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica), to discover the failings of human treatment of wildlife and analyze the population dynamics of this...
Article
Full-text available
Sri Lanka is home to 253 terrestrial gastropod species, most of which are endemic. However, limited research has explored the diversity, distribution, and influencing variables of these gastropods. This study sampled gastropods in tropical montane rainforests by establishing 10-50 1-m2 sampling plots across 60 randomly selected sites. Among the 46...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Axis porcinus is the rarest deer among the four deer species in Sri Lanka which is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) according to the 2012 National Red List of Sri Lanka. It has been subjected to a low number of studies and neglected by the ecologists. Thus, the present study intended to investigate the current distribution within the Galle Dist...
Article
We estimated the population density and investigated the social organization of sambar ( Rusa unicolor unicolor ) in Horton Plains National Park (HPNP), Sri Lanka. Distance sampling was conducted along six strip transects every month for a period over 3 years (2018–2020) to estimate the density of the sambar population in grasslands of HPNP (9.4 km...
Article
Full-text available
Lumnitzera littorea is a critically endangered mangrove species in Sri Lanka. It presently faces threats from many aspects. One of the main threats that it faces is the parasitic pressures from Loranthus spp. Hence the present study is trying to assess the threats from Loranthus spp. and the other common threats. The transect and quadrant method wa...
Article
Full-text available
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage (PEO) was established in 1975 to rehabilitate orphaned wild elephants. Elephants at the PEO have the freedom to roam in the facility during the day. Captive breeding was encouraged at PEO and the first captive-born elephant was reported in 1984. Up to now, there have been a total of 70 successful births by 32 female...
Article
Full-text available
Small mangrove ecosystems in Sri Lanka have not been properly studied and neglected by mangrove ecologists. Hence, their species composition and diversity are poorly known. Kosgoda Lake has such a small mangrove that has been neglected. The main objective of this study is to find the present status and the diversity of mangroves in Kosgoda Lake. Th...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Lumnitzera littorea is a critically endangered true mangrove species recorded only from the Madu Ganga RAMSAR site until the recent past. A new population was recently recorded from the Bentota estuary, indicating an expansion of its population size and distribution range in Sri Lanka. The objective of this study was to discuss the stand structure...
Presentation
Full-text available
Lumnitzera littorea is a critically endangered true mangrove species recorded only from the Madu Ganga RAMSAR site until the recent past. A new population was recently recorded from the Bentota estuary, indicating an expansion of its population size and distribution range in Sri Lanka. The objective of this study was to discuss the stand structure...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage (PEO) was established in 1975 to house abandoned wild Asian elephants in Sri Lanka. The elephants are housed in semi-captive conditions where they have the freedom to roam within large enclosures during the day. Elephant Orphanage currently houses 66 elephants. The first captive-bred elephant birth was reported in 1984...
Presentation
Full-text available
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage (PEO) was established in 1975 to house abandoned wild Asian elephants in Sri Lanka. The elephants are housed in semi-captive conditions where they have the freedom to roam within large enclosures during the day. Elephant Orphanage currently houses 66 elephants. The first captive-bred elephant birth was reported in 1984...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Macaques are group-living primates, and their unit of reproduction and social life is the troop. The Toque macaque (Macaca sinica) found in Sri Lanka is the smallest macaque among the recognized 22 species and is endemic to the island. Studies on population, behaviour, and ecology have been carried out extensively but mainly on a single or few troo...
Conference Paper
Gastropods are highly sensitive to biotic and abiotic environmental factors. Sri Lanka has a high terrestrial gastropod diversity with 81% endemism. However, only a few studies have investigated how anthropogenic activities such as agriculture affect the distribution and composition of terrestrial gastropods. Hence, the present study analyzed the s...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Some of the terrestrial gastropods are important herbivores that tend to be generalists and are serious pests of agriculture. The current study, from 2017 to 2019, estimated the degree of damage caused by these pests in the agricultural lands in Nuwara Eliya district. Ten plots were established in random agriculture fields and polytunnels throughou...
Article
Full-text available
Although Sri Lanka has small areas under mangrove cover compared to some other countries in Asia, most of the mangrove ecosystems have not been properly studied hence little known. Maggona River Estuary supports a small area of mangrove within a highly-populated area. Its species composition and diversity have never been studied, hence completely i...
Article
This is the first study to record cases of predation and scavenging of the family Agamidae and related foraging behaviour within a social group of Macaca sinica (the toque macaque). We observed three incidences of the capture and consumption of two species, Calotes liolepis and, Calotes versicolor, and one case of scavenging of a carcass of C. liol...
Conference Paper
Sri Lanka is home to a total of 18 confirmed terrestrial exotic pest gastropods. Most of these exotic pests cause severe damage to upcountry crop production. Though they cause severe economic loss, they are the neglected group of invertebrates, unlike the insect pests that remain to investigate their presence in the agricultural lands (AL) in Sri L...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Lumnitzera littorea (Jack) Voigt (E: Red Teruntum, S: Rathamilla) is a true mangrove species recorded in Sri Lanka which belongs to the family Combretaceae. Even though it has a wide distribution in tropical Asia, Northern Australia, and Polynesia, it's a very rare species in Sri Lanka with restricted distribution to a few locations. Hence, this sp...
Article
Full-text available
The seasonality of butterflies in the intermediate zone of Sri Lanka was assessed by monitoring the abundance, diversity and occurrence of butterflies in Maragamuwa Forest Regeneration Study Site (FRSS), which consists of two forest types: moderately mature forest of 30 years age (refers as Late Secondary Forest-LSF) and much younger forest of 10 y...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Population fluctuations of terrestrial pest gastropods (TPG) are important aspects when developing pest control strategies. Nuwara Eliya District (NED) has the highest production of upcountry vegetables in Sri Lanka and recorded the highest TPG infestations. The study evaluated changes in TPG populations during both the rainy (RS) and non-rainy (NR...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Many of the exotic terrestrial pest gastropods introduced to Sri Lanka, either intentionally or accidentally, are well established as pests in agricultural lands, but hardly any studies have been carried out to determine the factors affecting their occurrence. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the correlation between selected environment...
Article
Full-text available
The human-elephant conflict (HEC) has become major conservation, socioeconomic , and political issue across its entire range. The HEC has particularly jeopardized the lives of people and the survival of elephants in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. The traditional benevolent relationship between elephants and people is likely to reduce due to increased H...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Determining of gender in naturally existing species is essential in understanding mating behavior and population structure. The Indian Crested Porcupine (Histrix indica) belongs to the family of Old-World porcupines (Histricidae) of the order Rodentia. Determining the gender of this species has proven to be a challenge, pertaining to minimal distin...
Article
Full-text available
Opuntia dillenii (Ker Gawler) is an invasive plant species in Bundala National Park. The outstanding success of the cochineal insect, Dactylopius spp. in bio-control of the prickly pear, Opuntia spp. has been investigated worldwide. The present study reports the emergence of D. opuntiae as a pest of O. dillenii after several decades of its introduc...
Article
Spatial distribution patterns of coral reefs are maintained by a magnitude of chemical, physical and biological factors. Being a small continental island in the Indian Ocean, the extent of coral reef habitats around Sri Lanka has been limited and patchy showing unique, regional distribution patterns owing to these factors. However, the available da...
Book
Full-text available
This book presents photographs and short descriptions of 100 butterfly species in six families with four endemic species which recorded in Maragamuwa Forest Regeneration Study Site, Sri Lanka.
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Most of the alien gastropods in Sri Lanka are considered as agricultural pests. They have established in upcountry agricultural lands. Most of the agricultural lands are found in proximity to tropical rainforests (TR). There is a risk of these exotics invading the TR where many of the native species are found. This study design to evaluate the inva...
Article
Full-text available
Maragamuwa Forest Regeneration Study Site was established in a harvested eucalypt plantation (7 0 41' 39.16" N-80 0 42' 31.58" E) in the intermediate zone of Sri Lanka Based on the age from the disturbance, two vegetation types could be identified as early secondary forest (ESF) and late secondary forest (LSF). Abundance, Occurrence and diversity o...
Article
Full-text available
In earlier times, human-monkey interactions were not a severe problem in Sri Lanka, but has recently intensified as a result of habitat fragmentation and urbanization. Due to these changes, Semnopithecus vetulus nestor has been listed among the 25 most Endangered primates. The objective of our study was to evaluate the intensity of human-S. v. nest...
Conference Paper
Sri Lanka has a rich terrestrial gastropod diversity that includes 253 species belonging to 32 families. Majority of these gastropods are confined to wet zone forests. The present study was conducted to assess the gastropod diversity in natural forests and forest fragments in the Nuwara Eliya district (NE) located in the hill country of Sri Lanka....
Article
Full-text available
Sri Lanka is a biodiversity hotspot that is under high anthropogenic pressure. The long-term survival of its biodiversity, including primates, is under threat. Due to an increased rate of deforestation outside protected areas after the civil war in the northern dry zone, protected areas are key for the long-term persistence of primates. A rapid ass...
Article
Similar infectious agents may be shared among human and nonhuman primates due to their close proximity. Gastrointestinal parasitism is one of the main diseases which can be transmitted between human and nonhuman primates. It is vital to understand the potential transmissions of gastrointestinal parasites (GIP) and monitor their prevalence in free-r...
Article
Full-text available
This study examines the length of the estrous cycle in 16 Sambar deer hinds in National zoological gardens in Dehiwala and Kegalle, Sri Lanka (NZGDK) assessed with the use of changes in progesterone concentrations, along with the changes in the profile of this hormone and by the visual estrus manifestations. The objectives of the present study were...
Article
Full-text available
Grasslands are one of the tropics' most critically threatened habitats, while conservation attempts are rarely concentrated at these ecologically important landscapes. Sambar deer is a large wild ruminant found throughout Sri Lanka, in both grassland and forest ecosystems. Amidst their key position in the trophic web in 'wet patana' grasslands of t...
Article
Full-text available
Sri Lanka harbours 20 scorpion species belonging to four families, of which 15 are endemic. The distribution and ecology of scorpion fauna in Sri Lanka is poorly known. In this study, we surveyed the diversity of scorpions in the Polonnaruwa Archaeological Reserve in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Microhabitats were thoroughly observed using the direct...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Relatively few terrestrial gastropods are considered as agricultural pests. Thus far, 18 exotic terrestrial pest gastropods have been inadvertently introduced to Sri Lanka. Most of them are confined to the central highlands especially in the Nuwara Eliya district (NE). Only a few studies have been carried out to investigate the distribution and dam...
Article
Full-text available
We examined the distribution of genes for major ribosomal RNAs (rDNA) on holokinetic chromosomes of 74 species belonging to 19 genera of scorpions from the family Buthidae using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Our analysis revealed differences between the two main evolutionary lineages within the family. The genera belonging to the ‘Buth...
Conference Paper
Introduction The coral reefs are declining globally at a rapid rate. This has urged the conservation community to accelerate efforts towards a deeper understanding of species distributions, population trends, threats and conservation status of coral reefs. This growing concern of the species extinction crisis, and the recognition that there are lim...
Conference Paper
Sri Lanka has sixteen species of mammals belong to order carnivore. Six of them are locally endangered and habitat preference determines their distribution throughout the country. Sri Lanka is a densely populated country which has 329.1 people per sq.km but only 26% of forest covers remaining hence animals are threatened due to fragmentation and ur...
Article
Full-text available
This study is aimed at evaluating the relationship between endogenous testosterone levels and antler development in male sambar deer (Rusa unicolor unicolor) inhabiting the Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka. Seven antler growth stages of sambar were documented based on phenotypic observations for the first time in Sri Lanka as (a) cast, (b) gr...
Poster
Full-text available
INTRODUCTION  Deer population management depends on age-specific information because individuals' biotic potential within a population differs by age (Hollis-Etter et al., 2019).  Furthermore, the increasing popularity of wildlife Management has led to set age-based harvest of deer in all over the world. MATERIALS AND METHODS  Information on tee...
Presentation
Full-text available
Sambar deer population monitoring system to Horton Plains National Park Sri Lanka.
Conference Paper
Full-text available
The wet zone of Sri Lanka has the highest land mollusk's species richness and the highest number of endemics. The major vegetation types in the wet zone are wet and dry patana and lower and upper montane rainforests. Of these, montane rainforests has the highest land mollusk diversity. However, only a handful of studies have explored this rich gast...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Sri Lanka has a high terrestrial gastropods (TG) diversity and endemicity. The wet zone (WZ) harbors majority of the islandsTG and hence this area is of significant importance in the conservation of the Sri Lankan TG. Large number of the WZ gastropod species are restricted to montane rainforests (>1,067 m MSL). However, large extents of these fores...
Book
Full-text available
Sri Lanka’s location, historic and geologic isolation from the continental landmass, topography and climate act to shape its biogeography and biodiversity, including conferring a remarkably high level of endemism, given its close proximity to the mainland. The island hosts several ‘point endemic1 species and even monotypic endemic genera. However t...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Sri Lanka has a vast terrestrial gastropod diversity including 253 species belonging to 32 families. Majority of these gastropods are confined to montane rainforest in the wet zone (> 1067 m a.s.l.). This study was conducted to assess the gastropod diversity in natural and semi-natural habitats in the Nuwara Eliya (NE) district that is located in t...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Gastropods are highly sensitive to environmental factors such as atmospheric temperature (T), soil pH and relative humidity (RH). However, correlation studies between environmental factors and gastropod incidences are rare in Sri Lanka. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the correlation between environmental factors and gastropod occurr...
Preprint
Full-text available
This study establishes the relationship between testosterone concentration with the different antler phases in male sambar deer ( Rusa unicolor ) inhabiting the Horton plains National Park, Sri Lanka (HPNP). Antler growth of sambar was categorized into seven phases; Cast (C), Growing single spike (GS), Growing into a Y as first tine appears (GIY),...
Article
Full-text available
Heterometrus yaleensis sp. n. from Sri Lanka, Southern Province, Yale National Park is described and compared with other species of the genus. The presence of a unique dorsointernal carina on the pedipalp chela distinguishes H. yaleensis sp. n. from all other Heterometrus species. Additional information is provided on the taxonomy and distribution...
Article
Full-text available
Construction of dams across rivers is a common practice worldwide. However, obstructing free-flowing rivers could result in many negative impacts on riparian ecosystems, and are highly site-specific. In the present study, we evaluate the potential impacts of river regulation on the riparian vegetation by enumerating the vegetation at different dist...
Article
Full-text available
An island wide survey from 1999 to 2002 in Sri Lanka highlighted the presence of 18 species of exotic snails and slugs, of which most were identified as pests of agriculture crops. However, since this survey, no studies on pest gastropods have been carried out in the country. Hence, the present study was carried out in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya distri...
Article
Full-text available
An island wide survey from 1999 to 2002 in Sri Lanka highlighted the presence of 18 species of exotic snails and slugs, of which most were identified as pests of agriculture crops. However, since this survey, no studies on pest gastropods have been carried out in the country. Hence, the present study was carried out in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya distri...
Article
Full-text available
Sri Lanka is gifted with about 15,670 ha of mangrove habitats which are scattered along the coastal zone of the island. However, most of the studies on mangroves are confined to the western, northwestern and southern parts of the country. Although it is been neglected, Eastern province shares 28% of the mangrove cover of the country. Thus, the main...
Article
Full-text available
River Mahaweli in Sri Lanka was greatly altered by dams under the Mahaweli diversion Scheme. Fish assemblages in segments of five tributaries of Mahaweli; Badulu Oya, upstream of Ulhitiya Oya and Loggal Oya (unregulated streams) and, Minipe and downstream of Ulhitiya Oya (regulated streams) were compared. Sampling was carried out in three selected...
Article
Full-text available
River Mahaweli in Sri Lanka was greatly altered by dams under the Mahaweli diversion Scheme. Fish assemblages in segments of five tributaries of Mahaweli; Badulu Oya, upstream of Ulhitiya Oya and Loggal Oya (unregulated streams) and, Minipe and downstream of Ulhitiya Oya (regulated streams) were compared. Sampling was carried out in three selected...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Labeo fisheri is an endemic and critically endangered benthic freshwater fish which is known to be restricted to the rocky areas with strong water currents, in the upper parts of the Mahaweli River (Polgolla, Lewella, Gatambe around Hakkinda islands and Moragolla around upper part of the Gampola area) in Sri Lanka. New locality record of a species...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Some gastropods are serious pests of agriculture. Often they are exotic, invasive species introduced through trade and commerce. A previous study showed the presence of several pest gastropods in Sri Lanka and noted the damage to crops in the Nuwara Eliya district. However, since then the damage caused by these pests to crops has not been investiga...
Article
Full-text available
Changes in non-herbaceous species were recorded between 2006 and 2013 to understand the secondary succession in a harvested Eucalyptus camaldulensis plantation near Maragamuwa, Naula in Sri Lanka. Composition, mean abundance and absolute abundance were recorded in 40 cleared, 20 × 20 m2 quadrats placed in eight 1 ha blocks in two types of locations...
Article
Full-text available
Macaca sinica is the smallest of all 22 extant macaque species in the world. There are three geographically isolated endemic sub-species of M. sinica: M. s. sinica, M. s. aurifrons and M. s. opisthomelas in Sri Lanka. Macaques adjust their activities to deal with changeable environments like weather changes and food availability fluctuations, provi...
Article
Full-text available
Spiders are not a well-studied taxonomic group in Sri Lanka. Hence, this study was designed to evaluate the diversity of spider fauna and to identify microhabitats and foraging guild structures of spiders at three different habitats; namely natural forest, pine forest and grasslands in upper Hanthana mountain area. Line transects (2m × 100m) integr...
Article
Full-text available
Liocheles australasiae (Fabricius, 1775) is reported for the first time from Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan population is fully complemented with color photos of live and preserved females, as well as its habitat.
Article
Full-text available
Article
Full-text available
Abstract. Asian elephants feed on a wide variety of vegetation but their preference for particular plant species maybe an important factor in determining seasonal movements. We identified 63 elephant fodder plants in Udawalawe, consisting of 19 trees and 44 herbs and grasses. Elephant fodder species mainly occurred in scrub forest (40%) and grassla...
Article
Full-text available
Elephants are capable of dispersing seeds in the wild and hence, have the potential to affect the vegetation dynamics of forests. Only few studies have been conducted in Sri Lanka to study the seed dispersal capability of wild elephants. Thus, this study was initiated to determine the diversity of plant species that are dispersed by the elephants i...