Conservation of biodiversity in a hotspot: Sri Lanka's amphibians and reptiles.

摘要

Sri Lanka is a continental tropical island that is considered a hotspot for amphibian andreptile diversity. During the last decade herpetological research has substantially improved ourknowledge of species and their taxonomic status. However, additional work is needed on ecologyand population viability within the framework of human impacts on natural ecosystems. These humaninduced activities have led to severe fragmentation of formerly continuous forest in the wetzone and central hills of Sri Lanka, where most endemic and threatened species occur. Here I discusscurrent development in biodiversity issues regarding the Convention on Biological Diversityand their effects on the future of herpetofaunal conservation in Sri Lanka. To better understand SriLanka’s conservation challenges and threats I discuss the following topics: Sri Lanka’s biogeography;its extant ecosystems and landscapes along with the changes resulting from patterns of humansettlement; human population growth and its concomitant impact on natural ecosystems; anda brief history of herpetological studies in Sri Lanka. Further, I discuss major conservation issuesrelated to the ecoregional and hotspot approach to biodiversity conservation, the IUCN specieslists, and the institutional framework in biodiversity conservation. Finally, I propose an integratedaction plan for the conservation of Sri Lanka’s herpetofauna that includes cooperation betweenrelevant institutions, future scientific studies, education, capacity development, in situ and ex situconservation, and encouragement of increased collaborative effort in biodiversity conservationwith the Western Ghats of southern India.