Upali Mallikarachchi Marine & Coastal Resources

Conservation Foundation (MCRCF)

Sri Lanka

States of seaweeds research in gulf of

Mannar and Palk bay area

Seaweeds are primary producers in the

food chain, Form an important habitat and provide

shelter for numerous marine fauna.

Maintaining the ecological balance of coastal habitats.

Used as plant indicators to monitor the

quality of the marine environment in the area.

Some species are economically important.

Why seaweeds?

History of Marine Algal Research

In Sri Lanka

Marine algal exploration in Sri Lanka

has a rich history (as early as mid 17th

century), unparallel with other

scientific fields with extensive

recordings coming from the 19th and

20th centuries.

Studies of Sri Lankan Marine Algae (Seaweeds)

Three phases:

Early phase – Paul Hermann (1672-1679) to F. Boergesen (1927-1928)

Second phase – Sri Lankans: M. Durairatnam (1952 –1979) and various others to (1994)

Recent studies –

Sri Lanka Sub-Aqua Club study (1986 - )

Ruhuna University study (1999 -2004)

Early Phase of algal exploration –

by Europeans

Early phase mostly done by European

phycologist and they were in the Island few

month only and collections concentrated in

southern part of the Island

Sri Lankan algal collections were made by

many European phycologists and their voucher

specimens are deposited in museums as

British Museum of Natural History,

Trinity College in Dublin,

Royal Rijksmuseum in Stockholm,

Algal Herbarium of J.G. Agardh in Lund and

National Herbarium in Peradeniya.

Second Phase of algal exploration –

by Sri Lankans

M. Durairatnam (1952) onwards

9 papers published between 1961 and 1979

Second checklist: 315 species

Described 171 species: 54 new records

S. Balasubramaniam (1979)

Checklist of the Marine Algae of Jaffna: 110

species, 1 new record (Asparagopsis taxiformis)

Second phase of algal studies mostly

concentrated in Northern part of Sri Lanka

(especially Jaffna peninsula and adjacent Island)

Recent Studies

• Studies concentrate Sothern and Western part of Island

• Sri Lanka Sub-Aqua Club (2002) Malik Fernando

Casual algal collections (Identified 49 species and

1 new record)

• Ruhuna University (2004) Upali Mallikarachchi

Identified 125 species, 12 new records, Herbarium

specimens deposited in NH Peradeniya

• ABC taxa (2009) Eric Coppejans

Sri Lankan Seaweeds Methodologies and field

guide to the dominant species (describe 142

common species)

INDIAN OCEAN SRI LANKA

Genera Species Genera Species

RED 390 1810 101 210

BROWN 96 5961 22 93

GREEN 77 5853 28 84

TOTAL 563 2991 151 387

Sri Lanka Checklist

Current Studies

Taxonomic Survey of Seaweed Along the Coastal Belt of Sri Lanka (2012-)

This survey will covered gulf of Mannar and Palk bay

only near shore areas (Intertidal and Subtidal)

Principle Investigator

Upali Mallikarachchi

Main Collaborator

National Herbarium Peradeniya

Funding Sources :

(1) Bio-diversity Secretariat, Ministry of Environment

(2) Marine & Coastal Resources Conservation

Foundation (MCRCF)

(3) In kind contribution of principle investigator

Identification and documentation of seaweeds taxa along the coastal belt of Sri Lanka

Preparation of Algal Herbarium to be deposited at the National Herbarium of Sri Lanka

Identification of economically importance seaweeds in Sri Lanka

Objectives

Research gaps in the Palk bay and Gulf of Mannar on Seaweeds

1. Not systematic taxonomic survey was done for

exploring seaweeds diversity at all biotops

including subtaidal, intertidal, lagoon seagrass bed

and Mangrove forest.

2. Not quantitative assessment done for seaweeds

in the area.

3. Not systematic survey done for understanding

seasonal variation and distribution pattern of

seaweeds in the area.

4. Not research conducted to ecological roale of

seaweeds in the area.

5. Not systematic survey done for exploring

commercially valuable seaweeds species

6. Not proper research done for seaweed farming

(local and foreign species) in the area

Economically voluble Gracilaria edulis species (up to 1987

export 50- 170 tons for human consumption) provide shelter

to cuttlefish eggs

Vankalai- gulf of Mannar……

Thank You !!!!!