Ecology and Biogeography in Sri Lanka

1. Geology, with special reference to the Precambrian.- Precambrian.- Highland series.- Extent.- Lithology.- Metamorphism.- Structure.- Southwestern group.- Extent.- Lithology.- Metamorphism.- Structure.- Vijayan complex.- Stratigraphic relations of Precambrian units.- Age of Precambrian units.- Influence of the Precambrian on ecology and biogeography.- Soils and vegetation.- Groundwater.- Landforms.- Mesozoic and Tertiary.- Jurassic.- Tertiary.- Post-Miocene.- ‘Older’ group.- ‘Younger’ group.- Secondary formations.- Influence of the sedimentary formations on ecology and biogeography.- Soils and vegetation.- Groundwater.- Settlement.- Intrusive rocks.- References.- 2. Land forms and drainage.- Land forms and drainage.- General.- Circum-Island Peneplain.- Coastal plain and continental shelf.- Central Massif.- Sabaragamuwa Hills.- Gal Oya Hills.- Elahera Ridges.- General discussion.- References.- 3. Environmental geochemistry and its impact on humans.- General geology and geochemistry.- Geochemistry in agriculture.- Patterns in element migration.- Environmental geochemistry of nitrates.- The nitrate distribution in Kandy Lake and Mid-canal.- Nitrates in the Jaffna Peninsula.- Fluorine geochemistry and the incidence of dental diseases.- Geochemistry of well water and the incidence of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.- Cancer.- Cardiovascular diseases.- Environmental geochemistry of copper.- Conclusions.- Acknowledgements.- References.- 4. Grasslands.- Patana grasslands.- Origin of patanas.- Classification of patanas.- Ecology of five patanas.- Geographic distribution.- Environmental heterogeneity.- Floristic heterogeneity.- Heterogeneity within individual patanas.- Savannas.- Lowland grasslands.- Wet-zone pastures.- Intermediate-zone pastures.- Dry-zone pastures.- Arid-zone pastures.- Grassland productivity.- Biotic impact on grasslands.- Conclusions.- References.- 5. Some aspects of the ecology of ricefields.- Ricefields and their soils.- The dry zone.- The intermediate zone.- The wet zone.- Methods of cultivation.- Physico-chemical changes.- Flora.- Weeds microflora.- Fauna.- Acknowledgements.- References.- 6. Freshwater invertebrates: some comments.- References.- 7. Monogenea from freshwater fishes.- Species recorded.- List of species, localities and fish hosts.- Comments.- Notes on zoogeography.- References.- 8. Freshwater zooplankton.- Composition and distribution.- Protozoa.- Rotifera.- Cladocera.- Copepoda.- Ostracoda.- Other fauna.- General comments.- Seasonality, long term changes and production.- Notes on zoogeography.- References.- 9. The freshwater Ostracoda.- Superfamily Darwinulinacea.- Subfamily Paracypridinae.- Large species.- Medium sized species.- Small species.- Discussion.- Endemic species.- Species which are rare but comparatively widespread geographically.- Species which are fairly common and widespread geographically.- Species which are very common and widely distributed.- Species often common and geographically widespread but not known from northern Sri Lanka.- Future work.- References.- 10. The ecology and distribution of free-living Meso and Macrocrustacea of inland waters.- Subclass Branchiopoda.- Subclass Malacostraca.- Amphipoda.- Decapoda.- Atyidae.- Palaemonidae.- Penaeidae.- Potamonidae.- Parasites and associated organisms.- Economics of Crustacea in Sri Lanka.- Zoogeography.- References.- 11. Mountain stream fauna with special reference to the Mollusca.- Climate, vegetation and chemical and physical conditions of streams.- Stream gradients, currents and bottom formation.- Remarks on fauna.- Mollusca.- Remarks on biology and distribution.- Zoogeography.- References.- 12. Ephemeroptera of Sri Lanka: an introduction to the ecology and biogeography.- Ecology.- Biogeography.- Leptophlebiidae.- Baetidae.- Caenidae.- Ephemerellidae.- Ephemeridae.- Heptageniidae.- Oligoneuriidae.- Polymitarcyidae.- Prosopistomatidae.- Tricorythidae.- Systematic accounts.- Baetidae.- Caenidae.- Ephemeridae.- Heptageniidae.- Leptophlebiidae.- Oligoneuriidae.- Polymitarcyidae.- Potamanthidae.- Prosopistomatidae.- Tricorythidae.- Acknowledgements.- References.- 13. Notes on Simuliidae (Diptera) in Sri Lanka.- Sri Lankan Simuliidae.- Notes on species.- Acknowledgements.- References.- 14. Ecology of rocky shores and estuaries of Sri Lanka.- Rocky shores.- Distribution.- Zonation.- Group I shores.- Group II shores.- Group III shores.- Estuaries.- Salinity structure and variation.- Zooplankton of the Moratuwa Panadura estuary.- Bottom sediments and benthos in the Moratuwa Panadura estuary.- Prawn and fish fauna of the Moratuwa Panadura estuary.- Fishing activity in estuaries.- Sand bar formation.- Pollution.- References.- 15. Coastal lagoons.- Hydrography.- Salinity and temperature.- Jaffna lagoon.- Puttalam lagoon.- Negombo lagoon.- pH and dissolved oxygen.- Flora.- Phytoplankton.- Macroflora.- Fauna.- Invertebrates.- Vertebrates.- Methods of capture.- Biological studies.- Community studies.- Aquaculture.- Acknowledgements.- References.- 16. Parasites of the endemic and relict vertebrates: a biogeographical review.- Distribution of fauna and flora.- Endemics and relicts.- Derivation of biota.- Fauna.- Flora.- Comparative endemism and parasitism.- Discussion and conclusions.- Pisces.- Amphibia.- Reptilia.- Ayes.- Mammalia.- Acknowledgements.- References.- 17. Ecological aspects of some parasitic diseases in Sri Lanka.- Ecological stimuli for disease.- Some parasitic diseases of man in Sri Lanka.- Malaria.- Parasite and vector.- Physiography and climatic zones.- Deforestation.- Epidemiology and epidemics.- The internal environment and malaria.- Development projects and malaria.- Filariasis.- Parasites and vectors.- Bancroftian filariasis and C. quinquefasciatus.- Ecological aspects.- Zoonotic infections.- Proven zoonoses.- Hydatid infection.- Dirofilariasis.- A potential zoonosis.- Discussion and conclusions.- References.- 18. Composition and origin of the ground beetles.- Classification of Caraboidea.- Synopsis of the Sri Lankan fauna.- Faunal connections.- Size.- Discussion.- Acknowledgements.- References.- 19. Land snails: distribution and notes on ecology.- Dry zone.- Climate, vegetation and soils.- Land snails and ecological notes.- Intermediate zone.- Climate, vegetation and soils.- Land snails and ecological notes.- Dry zone snails in intermediate zone.- Wet zone.- Climate, vegetation and soils.- Land snails and ecological notes.- Snails distributed in all three zones.- Endemic species.- Conclusions.- References.- 20. Ecology and biogeography of mammals.- The mammals of Sri Lanka.- Order Insectivora.- Order Chiroptera.- Order Primates.- Order Carnivora.- Order Proboscida.- Order Artiodactyla.- Order Pholidota.- Order Rodentia.- Order Lagomorpha.- Geographic relationships.- Distribution within Sri Lanka.- Mammal species showing variation within Sri Lanka.- References.- 21. Man-made lakes: ancient heritage and modern biological resource.- The ancient irrigation system.- The modern system of irrigation.- Biological studies.- Limnology.- Fish and fisheries.- Biology of indigenous fishes.- Biology of introduced fishes.- Fisheries.- Fisheries in the future.- References.- 22. Natural resources, settlements and land use.- Pre-historic period.- Proto-historic period.- The dry zone civilization (500 BC-1200 AD).- The dry zone environment.- The evolution of the land use pattern.- Development of water conservation.- Population and settlement types.- Land classification and agriculture.- The decline of the dry zone civilization.- Late medieval period (1200-1500).- The period of western colonial rule (1905-1947).- The growth of plantation agriculture.- Re-colonization and settlement in the dry zone.- Post-Independence period (after 1948).- Extension of settlement and cultivation in the dry zone.- The green revolution.- The Mahaweli project.- Population and settlements.- Overview and future outlook.- References.- Generic index.