Biodiversity:: (International Man and The Biosphere Reserves

1.
Biodiversity of Sri Lanka
2. causes of its degradation
3. Conservation and sustainable use
(Policies, legal instruments and strategies)
Biodiversity:
 variety of life on earth at all levels of biological organization.

 ‘the variability among living organisms from all sources, including, interalia, terrestrial, marine,
and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are a part.
o Species Diversity: The variation among species is recognized as species diversity.
o Genetic Diversity: The genetic variation among individuals of a population.
o Ecosystem Diversity: The sum total of all interrelated and interacting organisms and all
the components of the physical environment(climate, soil, water, fire, rocks, wind,
landscapes etc
Ecosystem diversity of Sri Lanka
 Topography,
 climatic heterogeneity,
 coastal influence
caused (natural .semi natural)
1. marine and maritime or coastal ecosystems

2. natural forest ecosystems
3. natural and semi-natural grassland ecosystems
4. inland wetland ecosystems
5. man-made ecosystems (agro-ecosystem -home gardens, cash-crop fields, plantations.)
Internationally recognized ecosystems in Sri Lanka
Reason
 outstanding biological wealth

 Current conservation status.
1. Sinharaja lowland and lower montane rain forest (International Man and the Biosphere Reserves
2. Hurulu dry mixed evergreen forest and the Kanneliya -Dediyagala - Nakiyadeniya lowland
rainforest complex (International Man and the Biosphere Reserves)
3. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka together form one of the 34 Biodiversity Hotspots
4. Bundala, Anavillundawa and Maduganga estuary and mangrove ecosystem(Ramsar Wetland
Sites.)
5. 41 of the 83 wetland sites in Sri Lanka are included in the Asian Directory of Wetland Sites.
6. marine ecosystems:( coral reefs, sea grass beds, ocean that surrounds Sri Lanka)
 near-shore reefs, off-shore reef -183 species from 68 genera-
 1000 species of fish inhabit Sri Lanka’s coral reefs
a) The maritime ecosystems:
Influenced by sea, salt marshes, mangroves and seashore - strand vegetation
1. The salt marshes:
 northwestern and southeastern arid zones
 covering an estimated area of 34,000 ha
 dominated by the halophytic (salt-loving plant)
 about 17 species
 about 17 species and milkfish
 distinctive, sandy seashore vegetation
2. The mangroves,:
 Influenced by tidal amplitude,…scattered, ….
 restricted to coastal lagoons
 dominated by the plant families Rhizophoraceae Acanthaceae and Avicenniaceae
 18 true mangrove species
 Adapted to grow under saline conditions and a fluctuating water table.
 harboring a rich migrant
 provide nursery grounds for numerous marine organisms
 roosting sites for birds
3. The sea-shore vegetation:
 seen above the high-water mark on sandy, gently sloping beaches
 grades from a very short-statured creeping form near the seafront, through
herbaceous erect shrubs, to a 10–15 m tall littoral woodland
 The dominant vegetation is Ipomea pescaprae in the wet zone
 grass Spinifex littoreus in the drier parts
 common herbaceous species here include those of Vernonia, Hedyotis,
 the tree component comprises Pandanus spp.,
 special adaptations to root in unconsolidated sandy soil
 withstand strong winds , laden with salt spray
 The seeds of most species are also adapted to wind or water dispersal
 ideal habitats for nesting turtles- 5 species.( a coastline of 1,585 km)
b) The inland forest ecosystems:
 range from wet (aseasonal) zone rainforests to thorn scrub in the arid zone
 Between these extremes 15 different floristic regions have been recognized
 1. Tropical lowland wet evergreen forests or lowland rain forests,
 2. The lower montane forests
 3. The montane forests,
 4. Tropical moist evergreen forests
 5. Tropical dry mixed evergreen forests
 6. Thorn scrub forests
c) Natural / Semi Natural Grasslands :
 six types of grassland ecosystems are recognized in Sri Lanka
 1. The wet patana grasslands
 2. The dry patana grasslands,
 3. The savannas
 4. Damanas,
 5. Damanas,
 6. Villus
d) Seasonally flooded forests
e) Streams, Rivers and Reservoirs

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1.

Biodiversity of Sri Lanka

2. causes of its degradation

3. Conservation and sustainable use

(Policies, legal instruments and strategies)

 variety of life on earth at all levels of biological organization.

Ecosystem diversity of Sri Lanka

caused (natural .semi natural)

1. marine and maritime or coastal ecosystems

Internationally recognized ecosystems in Sri Lanka

 outstanding biological wealth

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