Scientific studies on Poecilotheria in the wild are limited. In a broad perspective, their distri... more Scientific studies on Poecilotheria in the wild are limited. In a broad perspective, their distribution, identification and their speciation are poorly studied. Therefore, their life requirements and any conservation issues are less well known. Only 16 Poecilotheria have been discovered in the Indian continent (with only 5 identified Poecilotheria form Sri Lanka), but there may be more species in the wild. The objective of this research was to clear the doubts of a possible new Poecilotheria species found in northern parts of Sri Lanka, and to find its distribution, taxonomic description and ecological requirements. To assist understanding of the subject, a comprehensive literature search was conducted on reported Sri Lankan Poecilotheria and the one Indian species that show similar characteristics. This also assisted in finding out whether existing data support any evidence of a new species. The field data collection was carried out in the northern part of Sri Lanka, in the North a...
International Conference on Bird, Biodiversity and Tourism (ICBBT), 2016
Tree of Life Nature Resort, Kandy, Sri Lanka is set up at a scenic location in a 65 acre property... more Tree of Life Nature Resort, Kandy, Sri Lanka is set up at a scenic location in a 65 acre property at an altitude of 1,500 ft. from the mean sea level. Abandoned 100 years earlier as an old tea estate, the land is now growing to be a private owned habitat for wildlife. At present, the hotel is maintained as an environmental conscious nature resort, looking after its rich secondary 63 acre hill country forest. The given study signifies the observed faunal diversity (from April 2014- March 2016). The assessment identified Birds: 117, Reptiles: 28, Mammals: 17, Amphibians: 19, Butterflies: 49 and Dragonflies: 21. Out of which, 37 species are considered nationally and globally threatened (Critically endangered: 5, Endangered: 16, Vulnerable: 17). The incomparable species richness may be due to the habitat diversification, difference in terrain, habitat types, moisture, water quality, low disturbance, shade and also artificial aquatic habitats. Human activities and pressure from surrounding tea estates would have led biodiversity remain in the Hotel, not moving away. Artificially created water holes in Hotel might have been a reason for continuity of wildlife even during drought seasons. Theoretically, if abandoned the surrounding tea estates might also get converted into forest; which will be of more value in terms of wildlife habitat. Biodiversity valuation with evaluation of ecosystem services would be a vital step further to carry forward. Furthermore, Hotel sustainability initiatives is currently implementing a biodiversity corridor (Bio Bridge) to link wildlife habitat, with native vegetation, joining larger areas of similar wildlife habitats. These connections are known to be critical for the maintenance of ecological processes including allowing movement of animals and the continuation of viable populations. The program was the Hotels first long term major environmental conservation initiative. Selected Tree planting areas were primarily tea estates and home gardens that were already disturbed by human activities. The link will extend a living tree line that acts as a corridor to help bridging distinct forest areas to the Hotel forest in 5 years. The initiative enhances Hotels viewable biodiversity and in return and help fragmented gene pools to survive.
SPIDERS AND OTHER ARACHNID SPECIES OF DELFT ISLAND, SRI LANKA, 2014
The spider and its allied species diversity in the Delft Island have no records to date. Little w... more The spider and its allied species diversity in the Delft Island have no records to date. Little we know on spiders, with no information from the Delft area. Islands are hotspots of Biodiversity, Delft is crucially important, as it's geographically placed in tropics and also in between two mainlands; Sri Lanka and India. This study of the spiders and other arachnids were carried out from 2013 November to 2014 January as a part of an overall biodiversity survey/ assessment of the island. 43 species of spiders from 16 spider families were found and several other arachnids including scorpions, Tailless whip scorpions and whip scorpion were found too in the survey. The family Salticidae was found to be dominating with roughly 37% of total Spider species. The study may show that the island contributes to an average 10% of the spider diversity found in Sri Lanka (taking to consideration of the identified species of spiders), if taken to an estimate 502 identified from the country (Platnick, 2013). Thus, such assumptions should not be taken, if a thorough study has not been carried out. All the observed species were first records to the island and some species were only found in India while this is the first records of its existence in Sri Lanka according to the Platnick (2013) spider list. Occurrence of terrestrial spiders; such as the wolf spiders in the island is yet a doubt to be solved, as the landmass had no connectivity to Sri Lanka or India.
Flycatchers of the family Muscicapidae mostly prefer insects and they feed mainly by capturing in... more Flycatchers of the family Muscicapidae mostly prefer insects and they feed mainly by capturing insects in flight.
An extensive literature survey of the natural history and behaviour of Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher produced no evidence of frogs being a regular part of their diet and our observation appears to be the first record of this species eating a shrub frog.
Scientific studies on Poecilotheria in the wild are limited. In a broad perspective, their distri... more Scientific studies on Poecilotheria in the wild are limited. In a broad perspective, their distribution, identification and their speciation are poorly studied. Therefore, their life requirements and any conservation issues are less well known. Only 16 Poecilotheria have been discovered in the Indian continent (with only 5 identified Poecilotheria form Sri Lanka), but there may be more species in the wild. The objective of this research was to clear the doubts of a possible new Poecilotheria species found in northern parts of Sri Lanka, and to find its distribution, taxonomic description and ecological requirements. To assist understanding of the subject, a comprehensive literature search was conducted on reported Sri Lankan Poecilotheria and the one Indian species that show similar characteristics. This also assisted in finding out whether existing data support any evidence of a new species. The field data collection was carried out in the northern part of Sri Lanka, in the North a...
International Conference on Bird, Biodiversity and Tourism (ICBBT), 2016
Tree of Life Nature Resort, Kandy, Sri Lanka is set up at a scenic location in a 65 acre property... more Tree of Life Nature Resort, Kandy, Sri Lanka is set up at a scenic location in a 65 acre property at an altitude of 1,500 ft. from the mean sea level. Abandoned 100 years earlier as an old tea estate, the land is now growing to be a private owned habitat for wildlife. At present, the hotel is maintained as an environmental conscious nature resort, looking after its rich secondary 63 acre hill country forest. The given study signifies the observed faunal diversity (from April 2014- March 2016). The assessment identified Birds: 117, Reptiles: 28, Mammals: 17, Amphibians: 19, Butterflies: 49 and Dragonflies: 21. Out of which, 37 species are considered nationally and globally threatened (Critically endangered: 5, Endangered: 16, Vulnerable: 17). The incomparable species richness may be due to the habitat diversification, difference in terrain, habitat types, moisture, water quality, low disturbance, shade and also artificial aquatic habitats. Human activities and pressure from surrounding tea estates would have led biodiversity remain in the Hotel, not moving away. Artificially created water holes in Hotel might have been a reason for continuity of wildlife even during drought seasons. Theoretically, if abandoned the surrounding tea estates might also get converted into forest; which will be of more value in terms of wildlife habitat. Biodiversity valuation with evaluation of ecosystem services would be a vital step further to carry forward. Furthermore, Hotel sustainability initiatives is currently implementing a biodiversity corridor (Bio Bridge) to link wildlife habitat, with native vegetation, joining larger areas of similar wildlife habitats. These connections are known to be critical for the maintenance of ecological processes including allowing movement of animals and the continuation of viable populations. The program was the Hotels first long term major environmental conservation initiative. Selected Tree planting areas were primarily tea estates and home gardens that were already disturbed by human activities. The link will extend a living tree line that acts as a corridor to help bridging distinct forest areas to the Hotel forest in 5 years. The initiative enhances Hotels viewable biodiversity and in return and help fragmented gene pools to survive.
SPIDERS AND OTHER ARACHNID SPECIES OF DELFT ISLAND, SRI LANKA, 2014
The spider and its allied species diversity in the Delft Island have no records to date. Little w... more The spider and its allied species diversity in the Delft Island have no records to date. Little we know on spiders, with no information from the Delft area. Islands are hotspots of Biodiversity, Delft is crucially important, as it's geographically placed in tropics and also in between two mainlands; Sri Lanka and India. This study of the spiders and other arachnids were carried out from 2013 November to 2014 January as a part of an overall biodiversity survey/ assessment of the island. 43 species of spiders from 16 spider families were found and several other arachnids including scorpions, Tailless whip scorpions and whip scorpion were found too in the survey. The family Salticidae was found to be dominating with roughly 37% of total Spider species. The study may show that the island contributes to an average 10% of the spider diversity found in Sri Lanka (taking to consideration of the identified species of spiders), if taken to an estimate 502 identified from the country (Platnick, 2013). Thus, such assumptions should not be taken, if a thorough study has not been carried out. All the observed species were first records to the island and some species were only found in India while this is the first records of its existence in Sri Lanka according to the Platnick (2013) spider list. Occurrence of terrestrial spiders; such as the wolf spiders in the island is yet a doubt to be solved, as the landmass had no connectivity to Sri Lanka or India.
Flycatchers of the family Muscicapidae mostly prefer insects and they feed mainly by capturing in... more Flycatchers of the family Muscicapidae mostly prefer insects and they feed mainly by capturing insects in flight.
An extensive literature survey of the natural history and behaviour of Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher produced no evidence of frogs being a regular part of their diet and our observation appears to be the first record of this species eating a shrub frog.
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Papers by Palinda Perera
The given study signifies the observed faunal diversity (from April 2014- March 2016). The assessment identified Birds: 117, Reptiles: 28, Mammals: 17, Amphibians: 19, Butterflies: 49 and Dragonflies: 21. Out of which, 37 species are considered nationally and globally threatened (Critically endangered: 5, Endangered: 16, Vulnerable: 17). The incomparable species richness may be due to the habitat diversification, difference in terrain, habitat types, moisture, water quality, low disturbance, shade and also artificial aquatic habitats.
Human activities and pressure from surrounding tea estates would have led biodiversity remain in the Hotel, not moving away. Artificially created water holes in Hotel might have been a reason for continuity of wildlife even during drought seasons. Theoretically, if abandoned the surrounding tea estates might also get converted into forest; which will be of more value in terms of wildlife habitat. Biodiversity valuation with evaluation of ecosystem services would be a vital step further to carry forward.
Furthermore, Hotel sustainability initiatives is currently implementing a biodiversity corridor (Bio Bridge) to link wildlife habitat, with native vegetation, joining larger areas of similar wildlife habitats. These connections are known to be critical for the maintenance of ecological processes including allowing movement of animals and the continuation of viable populations. The program was the Hotels first long term major environmental conservation initiative. Selected Tree planting areas were primarily tea estates and home gardens that were already disturbed by human activities. The link will extend a living tree line that acts as a corridor to help bridging distinct forest areas to the Hotel forest in 5 years. The initiative enhances Hotels viewable biodiversity and in return and help fragmented gene pools to survive.
An extensive literature survey of the natural history and behaviour of Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher produced no evidence of frogs being a regular part of their diet and our observation appears to be the first record of this species eating a shrub frog.
Conference Presentations by Palinda Perera
The given study signifies the observed faunal diversity (from April 2014- March 2016). The assessment identified Birds: 117, Reptiles: 28, Mammals: 17, Amphibians: 19, Butterflies: 49 and Dragonflies: 21. Out of which, 37 species are considered nationally and globally threatened (Critically endangered: 5, Endangered: 16, Vulnerable: 17). The incomparable species richness may be due to the habitat diversification, difference in terrain, habitat types, moisture, water quality, low disturbance, shade and also artificial aquatic habitats.
Human activities and pressure from surrounding tea estates would have led biodiversity remain in the Hotel, not moving away. Artificially created water holes in Hotel might have been a reason for continuity of wildlife even during drought seasons. Theoretically, if abandoned the surrounding tea estates might also get converted into forest; which will be of more value in terms of wildlife habitat. Biodiversity valuation with evaluation of ecosystem services would be a vital step further to carry forward.
Furthermore, Hotel sustainability initiatives is currently implementing a biodiversity corridor (Bio Bridge) to link wildlife habitat, with native vegetation, joining larger areas of similar wildlife habitats. These connections are known to be critical for the maintenance of ecological processes including allowing movement of animals and the continuation of viable populations. The program was the Hotels first long term major environmental conservation initiative. Selected Tree planting areas were primarily tea estates and home gardens that were already disturbed by human activities. The link will extend a living tree line that acts as a corridor to help bridging distinct forest areas to the Hotel forest in 5 years. The initiative enhances Hotels viewable biodiversity and in return and help fragmented gene pools to survive.
An extensive literature survey of the natural history and behaviour of Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher produced no evidence of frogs being a regular part of their diet and our observation appears to be the first record of this species eating a shrub frog.