Habitat quality and availability of the Sri Lanka Red Slender Loris Loris tardigradus tardigradus (Mammalia: Primates: Lorisidae) in the Kottawa Arboretum

Authors

  • S. Gamage
  • W. Liyanage
  • D. Weerakoon
  • A. Gunwardena

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o1988.65-71

Abstract

The Red Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus) is one of the three primate species endemic to Sri Lanka. Currently there are two recognized subspecies of the Red Slender Loris, the Sri Lanka Red Slender Loris (L. t. tardigradus) and the Sri Lanka Montane Slender Loris (L. t. nycticeboides). Of these, L. t. tardigradus inhabits rainforests in the southwestern region of the island while L. t. nycticeboides is restricted to the montane zone. Kottawa Arboretum harbors one of the few remaining L. t. tardigradus populations in the country. This study was conducted to determine the population density, habitat selection criteria and to asses the habitat availability of L. t. tardigradus in the Kottawa Arboretum. Using the line transect method, 34 sightings were made over a period of 21 months. Based on these observations the density of L. t. tardigradus in the Kottawa Arboretum and habitat selection criteria was ascertained. The calculated density of L. t. tardigradus in the Kottawa Arboretum is 41 animals/ km2. The average height of trees preferred by L. t. tardigradus is 13.97 m plus or minus 6.02. Most of the time lorises were observed at a height range of 3.5-15 m above the ground level. Average height from the ground level where L. t. tardigradus were observed to occupy the tree was 8.64 m plus or minus 5.00. Of the 50 tree species recorded in the Kottawa Arboretum, L. t. tardigradus was found to utilize only 16 species.

Author Biographies

S. Gamage

Mr. Saman Naliya Gamage obtained his B.Sc. in 2000 and M.Phil. degree in animal science in 2005 from the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka and is currently reading for a PhD in primate taxonomy at the University of Colombo. His research interests are biodiversity and forest ecology. He has contributed to more than 15 research papers to date.

W. Liyanage

Mr. Wasantha Kumara Dias Dombagoda Liyanage obtained his B.Sc. in 2000 and M.Phil. degree in animal science in 2005 from the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. Currently he is a Ph.D. scholar at the China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) in the field of environmental engineering. He has contributed to 13 research papers to date. His research interests are biodiversity and forest ecology.

D. Weerakoon

Dr. Devaka Kirthi Weerakoon is a conservation biologist and has worked on ecology of Asian elephants and human-elephant conflicts. He has compiled the 2001 IUCN list of threatened fauna of Sri Lanka. He has worked as technical consultant for several projects. He is working as a lecturer in the Department of Zoology, University of Colombo.

A. Gunwardena

Prof. Asoka Gunawardena obtained a Ph.D. in animal genetics from the ETH, Switzerland in 1991 and is currently working as senior professor in animal science at the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. He has contributed to numerous research papers in the field of livestock and animal genetics as well as biodiversity so far.

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Published

26-02-2009

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 2 (2009)

Section

Articles

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