Floristic Richness and the Conservation Value of Tropical Humid Cloud Forests of Dothalugala Man and Biosphere Reserve, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Plant species in Tropical Montane Cloud Forests (TMCFs) of Dothalugala Man and Biosphere (MAB) Reserve were recorded in twenty six 10 x 15 m 2 experimental plots, aiming to reveal the total species richness and the richness of endemic and threatened flowering plant species in the forest canopy and the understory and, to find out the impacts of cardamom cultivation on the plant diversity of the study area. One hundred and forty eight plant species (77 tree, 46 shrub, 24 climber and one herbaceous species) belonging to 106 plant genera and 55 plant families have been found from the area examined. A high percentage endemicity of plant species (50%) was revealed in this site due to the presence of 74 (38 tree, 29 shrub, 6 climber and one hebaceous) species endemic to Sri Lanka. Similarly, 68 out of all plant species (45.9%) and 47 out of all endemic plant species (63.5%) in these forests were either globally or nationally threatened. The endemic and 'Critically Endangered' Stemonoporus affinis (Dipterocarpaceae) was also found to be thrive in the area. Cardamom cultivation had caused a tremendous reduction in the floristic diversity (total number of species and the number of endemic and threatened species) and the conservation value of TMCFs in Dothalugala MAB reserve. Therefore, the cardamom cultivation and other related disturbances within and adjacent to Dothalugala MAB Reserve should be arrested for the conservation of plant diversity in this fragile ecosystem and, this will eventually contribute towards the conservation of biodiversity not only in Sri Lanka but also in the globe as a whole.

Diversity, composition and richness of soil seed banks in different forest communities at Dotalugala Man and Biosphere Reserve, Sri Lanka

“…The Dotalugala Man and Biosphere (MAB) reserve is consist of three major forest physiognomies, which is identified as upper montane (UMF), mid-elevational dry (MDF) and mid-elevational wet forest (MWF) communities (Ekanayake et al, 2013). The study also revealed that the three forest communities are equally diverse in vegetation with high endemicity (Ekanayake, 2014).…”

Niche dynamics of Memecylon in Sri Lanka: Distribution patterns, climate change effects, and conservation priorities

“…It contains three elevation zones (Figure 2 ) known as (1) lowland: up to 300 m above sea level; (2) upland: 300–1000 m; and (3) highland: >1000 m (Katupotha, 2013 ) where forests within them are broadly categorized as lowland and montane forests (Werner & Balasubramanium, 1992 ). Occurrence records of Memecylon from Sri Lanka were collected from the following herbaria: B, BM, BR, FLAS, K, L, M, MO, NY, PDA, SING, and US (acronyms: Thiers, 2020 ), GBIF, and published literature (Ekanayake et al, 2014 ; Gunathilaka, 2019 ; Madurapperuma et al, 2014 ; Medawatte et al, 2011 ). Upon review, identifications of some herbarium specimens were found to be erroneous: ~15% of specimens in GBIF, ~13% deposited at the PDA, ~2% at the SING, ~5% at the US Herbaria.…”