Rough-nosed horned lizards (Ceratophora aspera) live specifically in Sri Lankan jungles and offer crucial hints for environment repair. Credit: Shanelle Wikramanayake
A research study released June 16, 2021, in Biotropica by a group of scientists at the University of Washington, the UW Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, WWF Hong Kong and the University of Colombo has actually offered a crucial plan to saving rough-nosed horned lizards in Sri Lanka.
Rough-nosed horned lizards, or Ceratophora aspera, are little lizards that reside in Sri Lankan jungles and aren’t discovered anywhere else worldwide. Characterized by the popular horn in males, rough-nosed horned lizards reside in wet, damp microhabitats in jungles and palm groves. These lizards are especially appropriate to comprehend the effects of jungle environment damage, environment modification and the family pet trade, as they are discovered throughout the lowland jungles of Southwestern Sri Lanka.
By evaluating the specific kinds of anomalies in the genome of these lizards, the group had the ability to identify how location and historic occasions affect the circulation of the staying wild populations of rough-nosed horned lizards. Recent UW graduate Shanelle Wikramanayake led the research study as part of her undergraduate work, and is now finishing her master’s degree at California State University, Northridge.
Rough-nosed horned lizards (Ceratophora aspera) live specifically in Sri Lankan jungles and offer crucial hints for environment repair. Credit: Shanelle Wikramanayake
The group gotten DNA from the rough-nosed horned lizards by a catch-and-release technique of recording wild lizards and taking tissue samples from the ideas of their tails prior to launching them back to the wild, which reduces tension to the animals. Samples were taken throughout 8 forests representing 4 forest groups from July through September 2018 and 2019, respectively. The staying tissue samples will be housed in addition to pictures of the lizards at the Department of Zoology and Environment Sciences at the University of Colombo. In addition, the DNA analysis from the group’s work is likewise readily available online, where the samples and analysis are readily available for other scientists around the world to study.
In addition to environment damage, nonnative types like felines and chickens consume these lizards, triggering additional damage to them and other victim animals. The group advises a preservation technique that thinks about the population structure, history, and ecology of rough-nosed horned lizards to protect hereditary variety.
Sanoj Wijayasekara (left) and Shanelle Wikramanayake (right) take a look at and take a tissue sample from a rough-nosed horned lizard. Credit: Shanelle Wikramanayake
The arises from the DNA analysis discovered rough-nosed horned lizards are separated by range into 4 forest groups: Southern Lowlands, Sabaragamuwa Hills, Central Highlands, and Kithulgala. With the Sri Lankan federal government vowing to bring back jungle environments, the arise from the research study can assist notify standards for forest landscape repair. For example, the resemblances in populations and close geographical distance in between the lizards residing in the Hiyare and Kottawa forest reserves in the Southern Lowlands forest group is an excellent prospect for environment repair. The 2 populations might be reconnected, increasing the possibilities for interbreeding, which might lead to a more powerful gene swimming pool for future generations and less vulnerability to termination.
Lead author Shanelle Wikramanayake holds a rough-nosed horned lizard in the field. Credit: Sanoj Wijayasekara
“I hope this study brings attention to the unique and obscure biodiversity in the rainforests of Sri Lanka that require urgent conservation action,” stated Wikramanayake. “It’s important to consider the genetic diversity in populations across their range when looking at conservation planning and strategies. This principle should also be considered in other forest ecosystems, where conservationists are planning restoration and habitat connectivity at landscape scales.”
In addition to these lizards, the scientists are presently thinking about extending this work to other animals and other areas of Sri Lanka of high preservation worth. In Sri Lanka, around 14% of mammals, 6.5% of birds, 75% of reptiles and 29% of blooming plant types aren’t discovered anywhere else worldwide. The approaches of DNA analysis in this research study not just notify preservation preparation in Sri Lanka, however they likewise can be used to types residing in other jungles that are at danger, consisting of Madagascar, Borneo and the Amazon.
“I am proud and impressed with the hard work and passion that Shanelle Wikramanayake put into her project,” stated Adam Leaché, UW biology teacher and Burke Museum manager of herpetology and hereditary resources. “The Burke Museum is lucky to recruit such amazing undergraduates.”
Reference: “Integration of genetic structure into conservation of an endangered, endemic lizard, Ceratophora aspera: A case study from Sri Lanka” by Shanelle A. Wikramanayake, Eric D. Wikramanayake, Nirmalie Pallewatta and Adam D. Leaché, 16 June 2021, Biotropica.
DOI: 10.1111/btp.12970
GenBank accession numbers: MT955097 through MT955112 and SRR12586520 through SRR12586535
