When the late Professor Joachim Illies suggested in 1980 that I edit a volume of the Monographiae Biologicae on Sri Lanka, I was glad to accept the challenge. Although I had spent only six years of my research and teaching career in Sri Lanka, I had made personal contact or corresponded with many scientists who had worked in, still work in, or who have studied material from Sri Lanka. The present domicile of the authors of the chapters in this volume shows the wide geographic spread of interest in Sri Lanka, and indicates also the dispersion of Sri Lankan scientists like myself. Sri Lanka has had a relatively long history of indigenous scientific research in the natural sciences. From the early work of Kelaart (1852, Prodromous Fauna Zeylanicae, Ceylon Govt. Press, 250 pp.) to the present time, there has been a more or less sustained research effort in the natural sciences. The Colombo Museum, which celebrated its centenary only a few years ago, and the world famous Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, served as repositories and bases for continued research on the fauna and flora. There are a number of land marks in these studies.
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ISBN-13
978-94-009-6545-4 (9789400965454)
DOI
10.1007/978-94-009-6545-4
Schweitzer Klassifikation
1. Geology, with special reference to the Precambrian.- Precambrian.- Mesozoic and Tertiary.- Post-Miocene.- Intrusive rocks.- References.- 2. Land forms and drainage.- Land forms and drainage.- 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.- Fluorine geochemistry and the incidence of dental diseases.- Geochemistry of well water and the incidence of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.- Environmental geochemistry of copper.- Conclusions.- Acknowledgements.- References.- 4. Grasslands.- Patana grasslands.- Savannas.- Lowland grasslands.- 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.- Seasonality, long term changes and production.- Notes on zoogeography.- References.- 9. The freshwater Ostracoda.- Superfamily Darwinulinacea.- Subfamily Paracypridinae.- Discussion.- Future work.- References.- 10. The ecology and distribution of free-living Meso and Macrocrustacea of inland waters.- Subclass Branchiopoda.- Subclass Malacostraca.- Parasites and associated organisms.- Economics of Crustacea in Sri Lanka.- Zoogeography.- References.- 11. Mountain stream faunawith special reference to the Mollusca.- Remarks on fauna.- Mollusca.- References.- 12. Ephemeroptera of Sri Lanka: an introduction to the ecology and biogeography.- Ecology.- Biogeography.- Systematic accounts.- 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.- 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.- Flora.- Fauna.- 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.- Discussion and conclusions.- Acknowledgements.- References.- 17. Ecological aspects of some parasitic diseases in Sri Lanka.- Ecological stimuli for disease.- Some parasitic diseases of man in Sri Lanka.- 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.- Intermediate zone.- Wet zone.- Snails distributed in all three zones.- Endemic species.- Conclusions.- References.- 20. Ecology and biogeography of mammals.- The mammals of Sri Lanka.- 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.- 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).- Late medieval period (1200-1500).- The period of western colonial rule (1905-1947).- Post-Independence period (after 1948).- Overview and future outlook.- References.- Generic index.
