A vifaunal diversity associated with different habitats in Wasgomuwa national park

Abstract

Wasgomuwa National Park (WNP) is the forth largest National Park in the Country. It has unique features due to its location in between the intermediate zone and dry zone. The main objectives of this study were to determine the avifaunal diversity, distribution, and abundance in different habitats, and provide information for the scientific management of the WNP.

The survey was carried out at 05 different habitats, with two replicates per habitat. Birds were recorded along a line transect covering 150 X 100 m. Direct observations as well as bird calls were used to confirm the existence of birds in the study sites. Birds were recorded at three time frames and each habitat was covered on 21 occasions during the 03 months field study. The species diversity was analyzed under three categories: species richness indices (Margalef 's diversity index, Menhinick’s index), species abundance model and indices based on the proportional abundances (Shannon diversity index, Simpson’s index) of species. The vegetation of each habitat was described by drawing vegetation profiles.

Within the study period a total of 114 species, belonging to 43 families under 16 Orders . were recorded from the Wasgomuwa National Park. The total number of birds recorded