Sri Lanka montane rain forests
Ecology | |
---|---|
Realm | Indomalayan |
Biome | tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests |
Borders | |
Geography | |
Area | 3,066 km2 (1,184 sq mi) |
Country | Sri Lanka |
Conservation | |
Conservation status | critical/endangered |
Global 200 | Sri Lanka moist forests (with Sri Lanka lowland rain forests) |
Protected | 636 km² (21%)[1] |
The Sri Lanka montane rain forests is an
Part of a series on |
Wildlife of Sri Lanka |
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Forest cover
Sri Lanka's montane forests are located above 1,220 m.[4] The montane rain forests cover 3,099.5 ha in total, or 0.05 percent of Sri Lanka's total area. These forests are found in the mountain tops, such as Pidurutalagala, Kikilimana, Meepilimana, Agrabopaththalawa, Adam's Peak and Hakgala. In lower elevations, at altitudes ranging 1,000–1,500 m, submontane forests occur; those forests account for 1.04 percent of the nation's area, totalling 65,793.3 ha.
District | Montane forests in ha |
Submontane forests in ha |
Nuwara Eliya | 1,940.1 | 29,384.1 |
Kandy | 935.1 | 8,633.3 |
Badulla | 94.5 | 3,030.3 |
Matale | 89.0 | 4,780.4 |
Ratnapura | 40.8 | 15,711.4 |
Kegalle | — | 3,705.4 |
Monaragala | — | 11.2 |
Matara | — | 536.2 |
Total | 3,099.5 | 65,792.3 |
Geological history
Sri Lanka detached from the Deccan peninsula during the end of the Miocene epoch, but its origin lies within Gondwanaland.[2] According to biogeographic patterns southwestern lowland wet forests became isolated from the nearest wet forests in the mainland soon after the separation when climatic changes created drier, warmer conditions in the lowland. Although the two lands bridged in the Pleistocene subsequently, intervening dry habitat prevented the exchange of wet climate adapted species with wet forests in India. This resulted in southwestern species to evolve and specialize separately, giving rise higher to the higher level of endemism that can be seen today.
Features
Some of the mountain peaks of the central highlands reach above 2500 m, although the average height is 1800 m. Knuckles rises to 1800 m, with an average elevation of 1500 m. Because of the elevation, ambient temperature is cooler than in the lowlands. The mean temperature in this area ranges between 15 °C-20 °C.[4] In the mornings of the winter months of December to February, ground frost appears.
The average annual rainfall ranges from 2000–2500 mm. The southwestern monsoon brings most of the rain from May to September, but the northeastern monsoon contributes a fair amount of rain as well. All of the island's major rivers arise in the central highlands, and montane rain forests act as the main catchment area.
Flora
The vegetation of this ecoregion is determined by the climate and the
Biodiversity
The montane forests accommodate more endemic species than the lowland rain forests.[2] Half of the country's flowering plants and 51 percent of the endemic vertebrates are confined to these forests. The isolated Knuckles range harbours several relict, endemic flora and fauna that are distinct from central massif. More than 34 percent of Sri Lanka's endemic trees, shrubs, and herbs are only found in these forests.
Fauna
Mammals
Montane rain forests harbours eight near-endemic mammals, and five are strict endemics.
- Sri Lankan long-tailed shrew
- Kelaart's long-clawed shrew
- Pearson's long-clawed shrew
- Sri Lankan shrew
- Jungle shrew
The near-endemic and strict endemic mammals harbours in the area listed below.[3] Strict endemic species marked with an asterisk.
- Asian highland shrew
- Kelaart's long-clawed shrew*
- Sri Lankan long-tailed shrew*
- Pearson's long-clawed shrew*
- Purple-faced langur
- Golden palm civet
- Layard's palm squirrel
- Dusky palm squirrel
- Travancore flying squirrel
- Ceylon spiny mouse
- Nolthenius's long-tailed climbing mouse
- Nillu rat*
- Ohiya rat*
Birds
Sri Lanka montane rain forests includes in
- Sri Lanka wood pigeon
- Sri Lanka grey hornbill
- Red-faced malkoha
- Sri Lanka junglefowl- The national bird of Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka blue magpie
- White-faced starling
- Sri Lanka myna
- Orange-billed babbler
- Sri Lanka whistling thrush*
- Dull-blue flycatcher*
- Yellow-eared bulbul*
- Sri Lanka white-eye*
- Sri Lanka bush warbler*
- Spot-winged thrush
- Kashmir flycatcher
- Brown-capped babbler
- Yellow-fronted barbet
- Sri Lanka hanging parrot
- Layard's parakeet
- Chestnut-backed owlet
Reptiles and amphibians
Reptiles in Sri Lanka show more endemism than birds and mammals.[6] Frogs and lizards are among the species is still being newly discovered, along with fishes and crabs.[2]
Threats and conservation
The 15 years from 1990 to 2005 Sri Lanka showed one of the highest deforestation rates of primary forests in the world.[7][8] During that period almost 18 percent of Sri Lanka's forest cover was lost, while the deforestation rate also accelerated. The fauna of Sri Lanka also threatened. A survey done in 2005 found 17 of Sri Lanka's frogs have become extinct in the past decade and another 11 species face imminent threat of extinction.[8] From 1820 large scale forest cleared for coffee plantations and later for tea in the montane forests. The remnant patches of forest corridors logged for agriculture crops. The illicit mining of gems happen even in restricted areas.
The reason for the dying back of montane forest is attributed toxicity of soil.[9] The Knuckles range face a different threat. Cultivation of spices especially cardamom at large scale threatens clearing of the forest.[10]
Invasive exotic plant species such as Mist Flower (
Currently the ecoregion is being protected by five protected areas. Those protected areas together accounts only 457 km2 of area.[2] These protected areas are;
Protected area | Area km2 |
IUCN Category |
---|---|---|
Pidurutalagala | 80 | VIII
|
Hakgala | 20 | I |
Knuckles | 217 | IV
|
Peak Wilderness Sanctuary | 120 | IV
|
Horton Plains National Park | 20 | II |
Total | 457 |
Gallery
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Rhododendron trees in clouds
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Ella rock in clouds
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Ella valley
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Ella rock
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Montane rainforest in Ella valley
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World's End provides a cross section to witness function of cloud forests
See also
References
- ^ Eric Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b. [1]
- ^ a b c d e f g "Sri Lanka montane rain forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
- ^ a b c d World Wildlife Fund, ed. (2001). "Sri Lanka montane rain forests". WildWorld Ecoregion Profile. National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
- ^ ISBN 955-573-401-1.
- ^ Jayawardene, Jayantha (2006-05-29). "Forests and other vegetarian types". Daily News. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
- ^ "Sri Lanka - a world Reptile Hotspot". pdn.ac.lk. University of Peradeniya. 30 May 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
- ^ de Livera, Lankika (September 9, 2007). "Regrowing lost Rainforests". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
- ^ a b Butler, Rhett A. (November 6, 2006). "An interview with Dr. Ranil Senanayake, chairman of Rainforest Rescue International". mongabay.com. Mongabay. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
- Bibcode:2008AGUFM.B43B0439R.
- ^ Wickramage, Florence. "Parasites' Knuckled fist casts long shadow over 'Lanka's Alps'". Daily News. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
- ^ Lalith Gunasekera “Invaders in Knuckles Mountain Range”, The Island, October 21, 2011. Accessed 12.5.2017.
- ^ Lalith Gunasekera, “Alien plants invasion in Horton Plains”, Sri Lanka Guardian, 23.9.2011. Accessed 12.5.2017.
- ^ Lalith Gunasekera, Invasive Plants: A guide to the identification of the most invasive plants of Sri Lanka, Colombo 2009, p. 95–96.
- ^ Lalith Gunasekera, Invasive Plants: A guide to the identification of the most invasive plants of Sri Lanka, Colombo 2009, p. 103–104.
- ^ Milan Lu, ““A growing threat” Archived 2016-08-13 at the Wayback Machine, Ceylon Today, 01.11.2011. Accessed 19.6.2016.
- ^ Ranwala S., Marambe B.*, Wijesundara S., Silva P., Weerakoon D., Atapattu N., Gunawardena J., Manawadu L. and Gamage G. “Post-entry risk assessment of invasive alien flora of Sri Lanka - present status, gap analysis, and the most troublesome alien invaders”, Pakistan Journal of Weed Science 10/2012; 18:863-871.