The Maha Oya is one of Sri Lanka’s largest perennial rivers providing invaluable ecosystem services during its 130 kilometer journey from Nawalapitiya through Aranayake to reach the Indian Ocean at Kochchikade. It supports a diverse range of ecosystems that include riverine, coastal and estuarine environments.
Maha Oya is seriously threatened due to various human activities. Sand and clay mining and industrial pollution are leading causes of degradation and the river and its fragile ecosystems are severely affected. Unregulated sand mining destabilizes the environment. Why? Because when sand is extracted from the river faster than the natural rates of replenishment, it becomes unsustainable for the dependent ecosystems. This is the reason why sand mining on rivers has been banned altogether in some places.
During this project we ,group of Undergraduate students ,Studied the effects of urbanization on it's associated Fauna Both vertebrates and invertebrates which are sensitive to Environmental changes,along with an Urbanization gradient.
we were able to identify 32 species of fishes,30 speceis of Odonates and Five species of Freshwater Molluscs.There was a significant reduction of the species diverity and abundance along the urbanization gradient.and it was signified by highly varied physical and chemical parameters, which are Total dissolved solids,Conductivity,dissolved oxygen,Nitrate,Phosphate and CaCO3 levels.
Our team with helpful village kids at Rambukkana station
Flying Barb
Banded Mountain Loach
Crimson Dropwing
Indigo Dropwing
Yellow waxtail Mating
Oriental Scarlet
Publication link 01 - Effects of Urbanization on spatial distribution,threats and conservation of freshwater fishes in Mahaoya,Sri Lanka
Publication Link 02 - Pollution Driven by Urbanization, Pressures the Odonate distribution in Maha oya, Sri Lanka
Publication Link 02 - Pollution Driven by Urbanization, Pressures the Odonate distribution in Maha oya, Sri Lanka
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