RESEARCH ARTICLE

VERTEBRATE DIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION ASPECTS IN MANMADE HABITATS IN MATTAKELLE TEA ESTATE, SRI LANKA

Abstract

A biodiversity survey was conducted at Mattakelle Tea Estate with the objective of assessing the significance of a tea plantation ecosystem in maintaining vertebrates diversity. Seven different habitats (home garden, vegetable land, small scale reservoir, Eucalyptus forest, marshy land, tea field and secondary forest) were surveyed. The monitoring was conducted from January, 2013 to December, 2014 using line transect and quadrate sampling method. During the study period, a total of 99 vertebrates including 2 species of fresh water fishes, 10 species of amphibians, 9 species of reptiles, 68 species of birds and 10 species of mammals were observed. Among them, 23 endemic species, 10 critically endangered/ endangered species, 4 vulnerable species and 9 species in near threatened category were recorded. The study revealed that each of the habitats provided unique niches and supported maintenance of natural diversity. Vegetation structure and the complexity of the ecosystem in tea plantations play a vital role in sustaining animal diversity. Nevertheless very important information was gathered; especially numbers of observation were made on the threatened and endangered species, revealed that the well managed tea plantation can considered as a good agro-forestry system than open agricultural system. The outcome can be made use in developing strategies conserve the diversity and to make effective and critical decisions to minimize the impact of human activities on the ecosystem.

Keywords: Biodiversity Conservation, Herpetofauna, Birds, Tea Plantation, Home garden

How to Cite: Dananjaya Kottawa-Arachchi,J, Gamage,Rajika N, Gimhan Jayathilake,G, (2015). VERTEBRATE DIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION ASPECTS IN MANMADE HABITATS IN MATTAKELLE TEA ESTATE, SRI LANKA.WILDLANKA, 3(3):Pages 148-162

Published On:2015-10-31

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