Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the islands and lagoons of northern Sri Lanka

Abstract

After the 30-year long civil war was over, the Government of Sri Lanka commenced an accelerated programme to develop the Northern Province. If not carefully planned, such a programme will result in the loss of biodiversity and the consequent loss of services that ecosystems provide humans. Therefore, documenting the biodiversity found within coastal, nearshore and offshore islands of the Northern Province was identified as a need that would help both planners and conservation biologists alike. This report presents the results of a rapid biodiversity assessment of a 949 km stretch from Mannar to the Kokkilai Lagoon, including 22 coastal islands, five coastal stretches and four lagoons, extending across four districts (Jaffna, Mannar, Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu), 20 Divisional Secretariats Divisions and 264 Grama Niladhari Divisions. For terrestrial ecosystems, assessments were carried out during November 2015 and March 2016, and for marine surveys in the coastal waters of Palk Bay and Palk Strait, during November 2015 and March 2016.

Population status and distribution of the critically endangered Indian Courser (Cursorius coromandelicus) on Delft Island, Sri Lanka

“…The study area in Deft Island is located in the northern avifaunal region which belongs to the arid climatic zone of Sri Lanka (Figure 1). 21 The northern avifaunal region is one of six avifaunal regions in Sri Lanka 22 that shares similarity with the south Indian avifauna. 4 Delft Island is the largest island in the Jaffna Peninsula (9°30 ′ 31.69 ″ N and 79°41 ′ 39.42 ″ E).…”

“…13,29 Part of Delft Island was declared as National Park in 2015 mainly to protect the introduced feral horses ( Equus caballus ). 21

Figure 1.The study area and sampling points located in Delft Island within the northern avifaunal region of Sri Lanka.

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Morphological characterization of culturable cyanobacteria isolated from selected extreme ecosystems of Sri Lanka

“…However, the difference in mean conductivity in hot water and the other three ecosystems was significantly higher. Salt marshes and pans, mangroves, and lagoons are considered as natural coastal ecosystems, and they are usually affected by arid /semi-arid climate and coastal saline conditions (Weerakoon et al, 2020). Especially, coastal wetlands such as salt marshes are subjected to regular submerging conditions with seawater due to tidal effects.…”

“…Especially, coastal wetlands such as salt marshes are subjected to regular submerging conditions with seawater due to tidal effects. Lagoons are also lying along the boundary between the ocean and land, being frequently subjected to the effect of seawater (Weerakoon et al, 2020). Thus, the salinity and levels of dissolved ions of the water in these marine ecosystems are significantly higher (Weerakoon et al, 2020) compared to hot water springs.…”

“…Lagoons are also lying along the boundary between the ocean and land, being frequently subjected to the effect of seawater (Weerakoon et al, 2020). Thus, the salinity and levels of dissolved ions of the water in these marine ecosystems are significantly higher (Weerakoon et al, 2020) compared to hot water springs. It could be a reason for higher conductivity in water and it also creates extreme conditions for cyanobacteria growth.…”