WESTERN INDO-PACIFIC

The island country of Sri Lanka in South Asia - located in the Indian Ocean southwest of the Bay of Bengal and southeast of the Arabian Sea - lies south of the Indian sub-continent between 5° and 10° north of the equator. Geographically, Sri Lanka is separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait - situated within the Indo-Malayan realm.  Sri Lanka represents one of 25 biodiversity hotspots in the world. Although small in size, Sri Lanka has the highest biodiversity density in Asia. A remarkably high proportion of the species among its flora and fauna, 27% of the 3,210 flowering plants and 22% of the mammals, are endemic.

Dr. Alshuth studied nearshore and offshore marine communities, anthropogenic impacts on marine ecosystems, and culture and socio-economics of Sri Lanka in 1990. In particular, how local impacts of coastal societies - such as overexploitation of key species, illegal fishing methods, sewage input and pollution - influence hard coral communities and how this affects the system's resilience to various (climate change-related) perturbations.

Manuscript prepared for publication:

Alshuth, S. 1991: Paradiesisches Sri Lanka? (Heavenly Sri Lanka?) 12 pages. (German - Text & Photography).


Click on any picture below to start slide show.

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Exploring the waters and marine life around Sri Lanka.
Exploring the waters and marine life around Sri Lanka.
Square sail fishing boat from Negombo, Sri Lanka.
Square sail fishing boat from Negombo, Sri Lanka.
Dr. Alshuth exploring the reefs around Beruwela - located on the south-west coast of Sri Lanka.
Dr. Alshuth exploring the reefs around Beruwela - located on the south-west coast of Sri Lanka.
Christmas Wrasse (Thallasoma trilobatum). Reefs suffer from illegal fishing methods, pollution, sewage, and mining of corals.
Christmas Wrasse (Thallasoma trilobatum). Reefs suffer from illegal fishing methods, pollution, sewage, and mining of corals.
Sri Lanka is left with only 10 % of its live coral reefs. Blue-Black Urchin (Echinothrix diadema) - common in Indo-Pacific.
Sri Lanka is left with only 10 % of its live coral reefs. Blue-Black Urchin (Echinothrix diadema) - common in Indo-Pacific.
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) - though circumtropical, Indo-Pacific and Atlantic subpopulations exist.
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) - though circumtropical, Indo-Pacific and Atlantic subpopulations exist.
Early morning at the fish market in Beruwela - south-west Sri Lanka.
Early morning at the fish market in Beruwela - south-west Sri Lanka.
At the fish market of Beruwela, Sri Lanka.
At the fish market of Beruwela, Sri Lanka.
Large cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) - cephalopod from the Indian Ocean.
Large cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) - cephalopod from the Indian Ocean.
Seafood transporter in Sri Lanka.
Seafood transporter in Sri Lanka.
Catch of the day - for sale and trade.
Catch of the day - for sale and trade.
A bike does it too - common "seafood" transportation in Sri Lanka.
A bike does it too - common "seafood" transportation in Sri Lanka.
Destructive fishing methods such as the use of explosives and bottom-set nets are major causes of reef degradation.
Destructive fishing methods such as the use of explosives and bottom-set nets are major causes of reef degradation.
West coast of Sri Lanka. Drying the daily fish catch.
West coast of Sri Lanka. Drying the daily fish catch.
Local fishing activities at night - at fishing village in Negombo.
Local fishing activities at night - at fishing village in Negombo.
Negombo Lagoon's beaches are lined with fishing boats.
Negombo Lagoon's beaches are lined with fishing boats.
Outrigger boats and dugout canoes are coming fishing boats used for nearshore and offshore fishing.
Outrigger boats and dugout canoes are coming fishing boats used for nearshore and offshore fishing.
The water monitor lizard is native to coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea from Sri Lanka through southern China - grows to 9 ft.
The water monitor lizard is native to coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea from Sri Lanka through southern China - grows to 9 ft.

SRI LANKA

ශ්‍රී ලංකා ප්‍රජාතාන්ත්‍රික සමාජවාදී ජනරජය

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