RESEARCH ARTICLE

AVIFAUNAL DIVERSITY IN THREE SELECTED HABITATS, IN THE EASTERN BORDER OF THE FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES, RAJARATA UNIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA

Abstract

Mihintale Sanctuary is one of the high biodiversity protected area located in the dry zone. The present study was carried out in three different habitat types at the eastern border of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka in 2014. The main objective of the study was to determine the species diversity and study feeding ecology of birds within the selected habitats.

The current study was conducted in the morning from 0600-0730 hr and 1630-1800 hr in the evening during the period from July to October 2014.Line transect and point counts were conducted daily both in the morning and evenings. A total of 45 species of birds belonging to 20 families including 42 breeding residents, 04 winter visitors were recorded. Out of 45 species, 31 were very common, 14 were common and 03 were nationally threatened bird species. There were 04 endemic and 02 proposed endemic species were also recorded in this study area.

The results indicate that diversity of birds was significantly higher (p = 0.05) in the semi -aquatic habitat than edge area. Due to more suitable niches and high availability of food resources for wide variety of birds. Therefore, species diversity near semi -aquatic habitat was higher compared to that of the other habitats (p = 0.05). Morning hours (H´=2.97 ) are more prefer time for the bird species, because of higher food availability than evening (H´=2.87). Species distribution of this study area was change due to the human influences, and climatic conditions of the area.

Keywords: diversity, feeding, ecology, niche, species

How to Cite: Bopearachchi,D,Wickramasinghe,S, (2017). AVIFAUNAL DIVERSITY IN THREE SELECTED HABITATS, IN THE EASTERN BORDER OF THE FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES, RAJARATA UNIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA.WILDLANKA, 5(3):Pages 084-089

Published On:2017-09-30

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