Overview
The purpose of this exercise is multi-fold: 1. to explore the primary literature on biodiversity, biogeography, species origins, ecology, and conservation of Sri Lanka and more broadly Southeast Asia; 2. to facilitate critical reading of the primary literature and various approaches to studying biological diversity across hierarchical and spatial scales; 3. to provide a series of one-page summaries that, together, result in a compendium and background for this course, providing a foundation for understanding what we will see, do, and experience in Sri Lanka.
Example of a handout: | Article Summary Example Sri Lanka 2026 |
For your presentation please begin with the citation details (year of publication, title, authors and affiliations and journal). For your presentation begin with an overview of the research area, scientific foundation, overarching questions that are the basis of the paper you are presenting (rather than simply diving into the nitty gritty details of the article), then the particular context of the paper and the overarching research questions. Thereafter provide an overview of the data, how they were gathered and analyzed to address the hypotheses/questions, and the most salient/important findings. You do not have to present everything but rather distill the paper. Provide an overview of the discussion, relating this to the major themes outlined at the outset of the paper and beyond. Be aware that some of the analyses presented may be a bit complex or outside your knowledge. You can also indicate any shortcomings that are evident. Do the best that you can and by all means ask us if you wish. The ultimate goal here of knowledge sharing and bringing us all up to speed on some of the primary literature. You can prepare a small slide deck of perhaps a maximum of 8-10 slides (include major figures, use large font, short form prose, simple tables). Please send these to Dilini and me in advance in both PowerPoint and PDF formats. For undergrads the presentation should be about 12-15 minutes with 5 minutes of class discussion and questions. For graduate students, aim for ~20 minutes followed by 5-10 minutes of discussion.
Peer evaluation form: | Here |
Biogeography and Biodiversity Origins
Datta-Roy, A., M.C. Brandley, C.C. Austin, A.M. Bauer, D.J. Harris, S. Carranza, K.D.B. Ukuwela, A. De Silva, K.A. Tolley, K.P. Karanth & M. Sil. 2025. The contemporary distribution of scincine lizards does not reflect their biogeographic origin. J Biogeogr. 52: 767-779. | Link | Presenter: Bailly
Hamilton, AR., N. Amano, C.J.A. Bradshaw, F. Saltré, R. Patalano, D. Penny, J. Stevenson, J. Wolfhagen & P. Roberts, 2024. Forest mosaics, not savanna corridors, dominated in Southeast Asia during the Last Glacial Maximum. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 121 (1) e2311280120, | Link | Presenter: Tawa
Ranasinghe, S.W, K. Nishii, M. Möller, H.J. Atkins, J.L. Clar & M. Perret, M., et al. 2024. Biogeographic history of the pantropical family Gesneriaceae with a focus on the Indian plate and diversification through the Old World. Frontiers of Biogeography, 16(2). | Link | Presenter: A. Smith
Wang, Z., J.H. Brown, Z. Tang & J. Fang. 2009. Temperature dependence, spatial scale, and tree species diversity in eastern Asia and North America. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 106: 13388-13392. | Link | Presenter: Gómez Sánchez
White, A.E., K.K. Dey, M. Stephens & T.D. Price. 2021. Dispersal syndromes drive the formation of biogeographical regions, illustrated by the case of Wallace’s Line. Global Ecol Biogeogr. 30: 685–696. | Link | Presenter: Russell
Bossuyt, F. et al. 2004. Local endemism within the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka Biodiversity Hotspot. Science 306,479-481. | Link | Presenter: Menikrama
Tropical Ecology
Kulkarni, M.R., S.V. Paripatyadar, R. Naniwadekar & J. Joshi. 2023. Local-scale abiotic factors influence the organization of rock pool arthropod communities in a biodiversity hotspot. Limnol Oceanogr, 68: 2375-2388. | Link | Presenter: Haffner
Ong, L., Tan H. Wei, L.C. Davenport, K.R. McConkey, M.K. A. bin Mat Amin, A. Campos-Arceiz & J.W. Terborgh. 2023. Asian elephants as ecological filters in Sundaic forests. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change. 6 – 2023. DOI=10.3389/ffgc.2023.1143633 | Link | Presenter: Blyskosz
Sanjeewani, N., D. Samarasinghe, H. Jayasinghe et al. 2024. Variation of floristic diversity, community composition, endemism, and conservation status of tree species in tropical rainforests of Sri Lanka across a wide altitudinal gradient. Sci Rep 14, 2090 | Link | Presenter: H. Smith
Anthropogenic Impacts
Amano, N., P. Faulkner, O. Wedage et al. 2024. Early Sri Lankan coastal site tracks technological change and estuarine resource exploitation over the last ca. 25,000 years. Sci Rep 14, 26693. | Link | Presenter: Ramkumar
Dayananda, B., S.B. Bezeng, S. Karunarathna & R.A. Jeffree. 2021. Climate change impacts on tropical reptiles: Likely effects and future research needs based on Sri Lankan perspectives. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.688723 | Link | Presenter: Hanna
Schmid, S., A. Heinimann & J.G. Zaehringer. 2021. Patterns of land system change in a Southeast Asian biodiversity hotspot. Applied Geography. 126, 102380. | Link | Presenter: McNeice
Wijerathne, I. Y. Deng, E. Goodale, A. Jiang, S. Karunarathna, C. Mammides, M. Meegaskumbura, D.R. Vidanapathirana & Z. Zhang. 2025. The vulnerability of endemic vertebrates in Sri Lanka to climate change. Global Ecology and Conservation 59,e03515. | Link | Presenter: Beer
Manes, S. et al. 2021. Endemism increases species’ climate change risk in areas of global biodiversity importance. Biological Conservation. 257, 109070. | Link | Presenter: Udara
Conservation Solutions
Atupola, U., & N. Gunarathne, N. 2023. Institutional pressures for corporate biodiversity management practices in the plantation sector: Evidence from the tea industry in Sri Lanka. Business Strategy and the Environment, 32: 2615–2630. | Link | Presenter: Britt
Rahman, M. M., Md. A.A. Mahmud & M. Shahidullah. 2017. Socioeconomics of biodiversity conservation in the protected areas: a case study in Bangladesh. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 24(1), 65–72. | Link | Presenter: Campanaro
Wilcove, D.S. & L.P. Koh. 2010. Addressing the threats to biodiversity from oil-palm agriculture. Biodivers Conserv 19,:999–1007. | Link | Presenter: Kowal
Yashmita-Ulman, S.M., A. Kumar et al. 2021. Conservation of wildlife diversity in agroforestry systems in eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. Proc Zool Soc 74, 171–188. | Link | Presenter: Brandt
Srivathsa, A., et al. 2023. Prioritizing India’s landscapes for biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being. Nat Sustain 6, 568–577. | Link | Presenter: Habarakada-arachchi