Cryptogamic epiphytes as indicators of successional changes in tropical lowland rainforests in Sri Lanka
Summary
Cryptogams include bryophytes, lichens, ferns and fungi. They form an important component in many ecosystems and play a significant role in the vital functioning of these ecosystems. Due to the difficult taxonomy and lack of expertise in the country, this important group of organisms remain under-explored in Sri Lanka. The tropical lowland rainforests of Sri Lanka harbours the highest diversity of cryptogams but they remain poorly researched and do not contribute much to the biodiversity statistics of the country. Given the expansion of population and impacts of agriculture and forestry, explorations of the existing cryptogams is a matter of urgency. Although epiphytic cryptogams have been used as indicators of different environmental conditions in other countries, the potential of Sri Lankan cryptogams as indicators have not been revealed. In light of the threats affecting the diverse lowland rainforests of Sri Lanka, understanding the patterns and dynamics of cryptogamic epiphyte diversity in a scenario of forest succession is urgent and necessary for forest recovery actions and implementation of effective conservation strategies. The main goal of this study is to explore the diversity of cryptogamic epiphytes and to investigate their response to forest succession in tropical lowland rainforests of Sri Lanka. The
proposed research will serve as the first detailed study on Sri Lankan cryptogams in lowland rainforests in Sri Lanka and will open up avenues for further studies on this important group of organisms. The outcomes of the study will provide novel information necessary for forest recovery actions and the implementation of effective conservation strategies. Species new to science and new species records to Sri Lanka will be revealed through DNA barcoding studies, which will increase the biodiversity indices of Sri Lanka.
Objectives
1. to explore the diversity of cryptogamic epiphytes in three lowland rain forest refugia in Sri Lanka
2. to investigate their response to forest succession
3. to interpret the patterns and dynamics of cryptogamic epiphyte diversity in forest successions in Sri Lanka
4. to identify the cryptogams with difficult taxonomy using DNA barcoding.
5. to prepare a reference collection of herbaria of bryophytes, lichens, ferns and macrofungi encountered during the study to be deposited at the National Herbarium, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.