RESCON 2024

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https://ir.lib.pdn.ac.lk/handle/20.500.14444/2080

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Browsing RESCON 2024 by Subject "Activity overlap"

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    Activity pattern variations of large mammals during the 'paada yaathra' pilgrimage in Kumana national park, Sri Lanka
    (Postgraduate Institute of Science (PGIS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2024-11-01) Anawarathna, M. A. D. C. K.; Weerasinghe, H. M.; Rodrigo, B. K. P. D.; Dhananjani, D. M. T.; Jayasekara, E. G. D. P.; Mahaulpatha, W. A. D.
    Human activities inside protected areas can have an impact on wildlife. We conducted a camera trap survey to study the temporal variation of large mammal activity during varying human disturbances within Kumana National Park (KNP). Data were collected using seven camera traps placed along the traditional road used by the pilgrims attending the “Paada Yaathra” (PY) annual pilgrimage. A systematic random sampling method was followed to install the camera traps. The study site was divided into 2 × 2 km² plots, and traps were placed randomly within 300 m from the road inside the plot. All traps were placed 30 cm above the ground, approximately 3 m away from animal trails. Cameras were active 24 hrs a day for 48 days, from 27ᵗʰ May 2023 to 13ᵗʰ July 2023. This period was divided into three 16-day segments; before, during and after the PY period. Activity time was collected using the timestamp on the camera trap recordings. Collected data were used to generate activity graphs (overlap package in R 4.3.3) and calculate the activity overlap of each species before and during the PY, as well as after and during the PY. The activity overlap of detected Panthera pardus kotiya, Melursus ursinus, Elephas maximus, Cervus unicolor, Axis axis, Sus scrofa, and Bubalus sp. were analysed during the study. Among them, the lowest activity overlap was recorded for Panthera pardus kotiya in both comparisons: an activity overlap of 0.04 before and during the PY and 0.02 after and during the PY. This indicates a change in their activity that was not recovered even after the PY. The Axis axis, and E. maximus exhibited a high activity overlap in both comparisons. However, all large mammal species displayed reduced diurnal activity and increased nocturnal activity during the PY period compared to before and after PY. Understanding these changes in activity patterns during the PY period can help implement conservation efforts to reduce the negative interactions between large mammals and human pilgrims due to temporal activity overlaps.
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    Impact of anthropogenic activities on wildlife: a case study of the fishing cat, Prionailurus viverrinus in two protected habitats of Sri Lanka
    (Postgraduate Institute of Science (PGIS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2024-11-01) Rodrigo, B. K. P. D.; Bandara, A. M. P. W.; Anawarathna, M. A. D. C. K.; Jayasekara, E. G. D. P.; Mahaulpatha, W. A. D.
    The fishing cat, Prionailurus viverrinus is a medium-sized carnivorous species native to South and Southeast Asia, typically inhabiting areas adjacent to water bodies. The fishing cat was selected as the model species for the study due to its occurrence in both human-populated areas and pristine habitats. To examine the activity patterns and activity overlaps of fishing cats in two habitats, two passive infrared camera-trap were installed each in Colombo Ramsar Wetland City (CRWC) and Kumana National Park (KNP) between June 2021 and March 2024, targeting the water bodies. A total of 26 (out of 27) fishing cat camera footages were recorded in eight CRWC and 18 KNP footages. Google satellite imagery was used to identify the settlements inside the study areas. The time of footage capture of fishing cats, stray animals, and humans was used for the activity level (𝒶) and overlap of activity (Δ1) analysis using kernel density estimation. The satellite images showed no human or commercial settlements inside the KNP. The activity overlap between the human-fishing cat and stray animal-fishing cat (Δ1 > 0.2) at CRWC was relatively higher than KNP. The fishing cats exhibited nocturnal activity at both study sites. The fishing cat at KNP had a higher level of activity (𝒶 = 0.45), whereas the fishing cat at CRWC displayed a lower level of activity (𝒶 = 0.19). The values demonstrated that the animals in the two study sites were active for 45% and 19% of the day, respectively. These findings revealed a significant decrease in the activity of the fishing cat at CRWC, suggesting that the anthropogenic activities may influence behavioural changes. This study offers insight into the impact of human activities and stray animals on wildlife habitats using fishing cats as a model species in Sri Lanka.