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Menikdena: A local herpetofauna hotspot
Abstract
Cited By (since 1996):2, Export Date: 14 June 2013, Source: Scopus
... The tropical dry-mixed evergreen forest is the most extensive forest type in Sri Lanka but the amphibian diversity of these ecosystems is very low (Wijeyamohan et al. 1994) with only four species confined to the dry zone. Some highly abundant dry zone and wet zone occupants expand their range into the intermediate zone (Somaweera et al. 2001). Only Nannophrys naeyakai is restricted to the intermediate zone (Fernando et al. 2005). ...
... Amphibians that undertake seasonal or frequent migrations between spatially separated spawning or feeding grounds are particularly predisposed to mortality on roads. Usage of machines in agriculture, particularly in paddy-fields has also been detrimental for amphibians (Somaweera et al. 2001). ...
Sri Lanka has an exceptionally rich amphibian biodiversity with high endemism. This paper describes 106 amphibian species, the majority confined to rainforests and many threatened with extinction. The key factors causing amphibian decline in Sri Lanka are of anthropogenic origins; habitat destruction and fragmentation, alien invasive species, wildlife diseases/pathogens, climate change and environmental pollution. Only 750 km2 of Sri Lanka are covered with tropical rainforests and this area is broken into 100 km2 fragments or less. It is difficult for amphibians to tolerate disturbances and to maintain a sustainable population size under these conditions. Alien and domestic species impose threats by direct predation, competition, disease contraction and habitat alteration. Parasites and pathogens, especially the chirtrid fungus, hamper the growth, reproductive success, and physical fitness of amphibians and can result in mortality. Climate change has reduced the distribution of amphibians by modifying vegetation and habitat structure rendering them unsuitable for some amphibians. Pollution, especially agro-chemicals, threaten amphibians causing anatomical malformations, physiological disorders and even mass mortalities. Furthermore, acid depositions causing diebacks in montane forests also destroy amphibian niches. This paper recommends a number of conservation initiatives including in-situ and ex-situ conservation, the establishment of buffer zones to protect core forests, promotion of research on biodiversity conservation, improvement of conservation policies and legal frameworks as well as community-based activities including raising public awareness, environmental education and the introduction of eco-friendly agricultural practices
... Field observations of both Polyalthia coffeoides and Polyalthia korinti were conducted in the Menikdena archaeological forest reserve, where the two species are dominant. The Menikdena reserve (7°289–569N, 80°359–459E) is located in an isolated hilly region (113–866 m elevation; Somaweera et al. 2001) in Matale District, Central Province, Sri Lanka (fig. 1). ...
... The forest lies in the boundary between the tropical dry-mixed/evergreen forest and semi-evergreen forest zones and therefore represents an ecotone of the two forest types. Mean annual temperatures are 22°–28°C, with total annual rainfalls in the range 1750–2500 mm, largely derived from the northeast monsoon during August to December (Somaweera et al. 2001). The Menikdena forest is legally protected and is relatively well sheltered from human disturbances. ...
The pollination biology of two sympatric species, Polyalthia coffeoides and Polyalthia korinti (Annonaceae),
is described in detail. An Endaeus species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is shown to be the major pollinator of
both species, with Carpophilus plagiatipennis (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) as the secondary pollinator of P.
coffeoides. Both Polyalthia species show intrafloral dichogamy (protogyny) with a reproductively inactive
phase between the pistillate and staminate phases, although there is no evidence of interfloral dichogamy. A
pollination chamber is formed by the inner petals throughout the reproductively active phases. Thermogenesis
occurs in P. korinti, with internal floral temperatures up to 6�C above ambient levels. The heat is presumably
an energy reward for the beetles. Although most pollination systems are regarded as diversified and opportunistic,
specialized pollination systems are typical of the Annonaceae. Although P. coffeoides and P. korinti
have overlapping distributions, habitats, and flowering seasons and share the same pollinators, the extent of
competition for pollinators is likely to be lessened due to the abundance and nonspecificity of the beetles.
... There are numerous examples of the high diversity of reptiles within and around these sites. For instance, Somaweera et al. (2001) discovered a rich herpetofauna diversity in the Archaeological Reserve of Menikdena (Sri Lanka). Baéz et al. (2016) reviewed the significance of the ancient city of Kaunos (modern-day Dalyan city, Mugla, Turkey) and found that a small area contained 13% of Turkey's reptile species. ...
... Las zonas arqueológicas y los ecosistemas adyacentes a éstas han demostrado ser ambientes adecuados para la conservación de la biodiversidad (Somaweera et al., 2001;Báez et al., 2016). Para el caso específico de la herpetofauna, se ha determinado cierta relación positiva entre el refugio que proveen los sitios arqueológicos y el mantenimiento de algunas poblaciones de especies (Kelly-Hernández et al., 2014;Márquez-Rodríguez, 2014;Olivera et al., 2016). ...
Se realizó un listado de las especies de anfibios y reptiles del sitio arqueológico Iglesia Vieja. Este sitio se localiza entre la costa y la Sierra Madre de Chiapas a 711 msnm. Los muestreos se realizaron mensualmente entre junio de 2014 y mayo de 2015 abarcando las temporadas de lluvias y secas en dos tipos de vegetación (herbácea y arbórea). La herpetofauna estuvo representada por 61 especies (12 anfibios y 49 reptiles). Los anfibios se agruparon en ocho familias, 10 géneros y 12 especies; para los reptiles, el grupo de las lagartijas se constituyó por 13 familias, 16 géneros y 20 especies; mientras que las serpientes estuvieron representadas por siete familias, 25 géneros y 29 especies. Los estimadores de riqueza Jackknife 1 y Bootstrap mostraron una adecuada representación de la composición. Las curvas de abundancia reflejaron una mayor dominancia de especies generalistas o asociadas a perturbación (Hemidactylus frenatus, Basiliscus vittatus, Rhinella horribilis). El 35% de las especies registradas se encuentra bajo alguna categoría de riesgo de acuerdo a la normativa federal. Aunque el área se localiza en una zona de transición fisiográfica, la herpetofauna mostró una alta afinidad con la Planicie costera del Pacífico (66.53%). Las áreas destinadas a preservar el patrimonio arqueológico constituyen también espacios que contribuyen a mantener los procesos biológicos. Estos espacios rara vez cuentan con inventarios faunísticos. Este trabajo representa una contribución al conocimiento de la biota asociada a sitios arqueológicos en Chiapas, y el inicio de una línea base para el manejo de una zona arqueológica y su biodiversidad, así como para futuras investigaciones sobre la ecología de un grupo prioritario.
... Within the few papers dealing with reptile diversity in archeological sites, Somaweera et al. (2001) found 47 species of reptiles at the site of Menikdena (Dambulla, Sri Lanka), an José C. Báez 1, 2 , Juan A. Camiñas 1 & Jacques Sacchi 3 ...
Based on a recent molecular phylogenetic study, the South Asian microhylid genus Uperodon (subfamily Microhylinae) currently comprises of 12 valid species that are largely restricted to India and Sri Lanka. Considering the revised generic-level status of its various members, here we review the taxonomy of all known species in this genus and clarify their nomenclatural status and geographical distribution, by integrating evidence from genetics, adult and tadpole morphology, breeding ecology, and bioacoustics. Our molecular analyses of a mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene fragment combined with external and internal morphological studies also revealed a distinct new species in the genus. This species, formally described as Uperodon rohani sp. nov., is endemic to Sri Lanka and widely distributed at lower elevations in the island. For nomenclatural stability of various previously known members, the following actions are also undertaken: (1) redescription of the poorly-defined species Ramanella anamalaiensis Rao (= Uperodon anamalaiensis) and Hylaedactylus montanus Jerdon (= Uperodon montanus); (2) neotype designation for Ramanella anamalaiensis Rao (= Uperodon anamalaiensis), Ramanella minor Rao, Ramanella mormorata Rao (= Uperodon mormorata), and Ramanella triangularis rufeventris Rao; (3) lectotype designation for Callula variegata Stoliczka (= Uperodon variegatus); and (4) synonymization of Ramanella minor Rao with Uperodon anamalaiensis.
A team of dedicated technical staff from IUCN was involved in implementing this extremely important national task. The work spanned across several years, and involved a comprehensive literature survey of fauna and flora in Sri Lanka, data compilation and analysis of the status of species using IUCN global red list criteria and preparation of the digital database on the species assessed. Although the team faced several constraints in attending to this task, they were able to address these issues with the active support of the experts who assisted in reviewing the draft lists of threatened fauna and flora.
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