Field visit to Kithulgala Rain forest in Sri lanaka. In the forest we were able to identify canopy layers. Also the adaptations of plants to the forest environment. Its a really nice rain forest.

1. Date : 22/06/2013
Title : Field visit to Kithulgala rain forest.
Objectives : .To identifying characteristic featuresof
Wet zone forests
.To identifying species distribution in
Wet zone forests
.To identifying the characteristics of
Climate in wet zone forests
INTRODUCTION
The main island of Sri Lanka, formerly calledCeylon, is an island in the Indian
Ocean belongs to Sri Lanka, located in Southern Asia, southeast of India, in a
strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes. It has a total area of
65,610 km², with 64,740 km² of land and 870 km² of water. Its coastline is
1,340 km long. Sri Lanka's climate includes tropical monsoons: the northeast
monsoon (December to March), and the southwest monsoon (June to October).
TYPES OF FORESTS IN SRI LANKA
The natural vegetation of Sri Lanka varies according to the climatic zone.
Tropical rain forests are found in the wet zone. Sub montaneforests are found in
the central high lands. Dry monsoon forests predominant in the dry zone.
The types of forests are,
Tropical wet evergreen forests.
Dry zone forests.
Montane forests.

2. Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests.
This type of forests located between 10°N and 10°S.
Climate
It has high insolation during the whole year.
Monthly temperature is around 26°C – 27°C.
Annual rain fall is more than 2000mm.
Convection rain is common in these forests.
It is hot and wet throughout the year.
General characteristics of the vegetation
Evergreen
Dense and luxuriant
Have many species
Have four layers

3. Tropical rain forests have distinct stratification. It comprises with four layers,
Emergent layer
- 50m
Canopy layer
- 30-40m
Sub canopy
- 15-30m
Under storey
- 5-15m
Emergent layer
The trees that make up this layer are the tallest trees in a rainforest. There
are not many of these trees, only one or two per hectare. The trees in this level
have several clear advantages: they receive the most sunlight and they have lots
of room to spread out. These giants of the rainforest can grow to over 50 meters
in height.
The canopy
This layer is the thick branches and leaves of the taller trees. These can
grow to heights of 40 to 45 meters. This layer is somewhat like a roof. The
coverage is so dense that it blocks out 98 percent of sunlight. It is in this layer
that most of the animals of the forest make their home (approximately 90
percent). There is plenty of food in this layer, it is sheltered and the height
provides protection from some predators. This layer stops 80 percent of the
yearly rainfall.

4. The understory
This layer is between the canopy, which forms the 'roof', and the forest
floor. The understory is made up of tall shrubs and smaller trees, less than 10
meters in height. Because this layer is dark and hot, many varieties of moss and
algae flourish here, as they need very little sunlight and like the damp
environment. Ferns, palms and climbing vines also flourish at this level.
The forest floor
The forest floor is a carpet of dead organic matter. Little to no sunlight reaches
the forest floor. It is a perfect habitat for many insects and other organisms. The
conditions are best suited to fungi, which thrives on the forest floor. This is also
an ideal hunting ground for predators that can hide and await their prey. The
conditions at this level allow leaves that fall from the trees to decompose
rapidly. The trees then absorb the nutrients provided by the decomposed leaves.
KITHULGALA
The Kelani Valley Forest Reserve in Kitulgala was established to protect the
watershed of the Kelani River and is home to many of Sri Lanka’s endemic
fauna & flora. This area is also famous for its adventure activities including
rafting on Grade 3 and 4 rapids down the Kelani River and jungle treks or
mountain bike rides through jungle-clad
hills and plantations growing lowcountry tea and rubber.
Kitulgala forest reserve is a primeval
rain forest with lush tropical flora
including several species of trees and
Lianas that are endemic to this area.
Two main types of vegetation in forest
can be recognized. Remnants of
Dipterocarpus forest occur in valleys
and on their lower slopes, with hora (D.
zeylanicus) and bu hora(D.hispidus)
present in almost pure stands. MesuaDoona (Shorea) forest, the climax

5. vegetation over most of the reserve, covers the middle and upper slopes.
Stratification: Lowland rain forest
Size: 263ha
Status: Forest Reserve
Altitude: 100-820m
Temperature: Average 27 °C
Annual Rainfall: Average 3,500mm to 5,250mm
Some canopy trees grow over to over 100 meters high. Many have fruit that
provides food for animals and people. Many rainforest plants are gathered for
food or medicines. This is done without harming the rainforest.
Many 'every day' foods originated in rainforests, including tomatoes, peppers,
corn, rice, coconut, banana, coffee, cocoa, cassava (tapioca), beans and sweet
potatoes.
Tropical rainforest:
Plant Adaptations
In order to survive in the hot, wet tropics, plants of the tropical rainforest have
had to develop special features. This is called adaptation.
Because the weather is hot and wet, trees do not need thick bark to slow down
moisture loss and have instead thin, smooth bark.
Thelayers of rainforest are connected by vines and ferns, and mosses grow on
the trees. Liana is a climbing vine that grows on rainforest trees, climbing into
the canopy so its leaves get more sunlight.
Trees grown for shade, or as windbreaks, along roadsides and farm boundaries
also provide timber and fuel wood. Trees from such non-forest areas have
reduced the pressure on natural forests as sources of timber, fuel wood and other
small wood requirements.

6. Forests in Sri Lanka also play a pivotal role in providing supporting and
regulating ecosystem services. Among these are soil conservation, reducing
flood hazards, watershed functions and trapping moisture through fog
interception. They also continue to provide a range of essential goods and
services and support livelihoods of people, especially in the rural areas of the
dry and intermediate zones.
1. Bark
In drier, temperate deciduous forests a thick bark helps to limit moisture
evaporation from the tree's trunk. Since this is not a concern in the high
humidity of tropical rainforests, most trees have a thin, smooth bark. The
smoothness of the bark may also make it difficult for other plants to grow on
their surface.
2. Lianas
Lianas are climbing woody vines that drape rainforest trees. They have adapted
to life in the rainforest by having their roots in the ground and climbing high
into the tree canopy to reach available sunlight. Many lianas start life in the
rainforest canopy and send roots down to the ground.
3. Drip Tips
The leaves of forest trees have adapted to cope with exceptionally high rainfall.
Many tropical rainforest leaves have a drip tip. It is thought that these drip tips
enable rain drops to run off quickly. Plants need to shed water to avoid growth
of fungus and bacteria in the warm, wet tropical rainforest.

7. 4. Buttresses
Many large trees have massive ridges near the base that can rise 30 feet high
before blending into the trunk. Why do they form? Buttress roots provide extra
stability, especially since roots of tropical rainforest trees are not typically as
deep as those of trees in temperate zones.
5. Prop and Stilt Roots
Prop and stilt roots help give support and are characteristic of tropical palms
growing in shallow, wet soils. Although the tree grows fairly slowly, these
above-ground roots can grow 28 inches a month.
6. Epiphytes
Epiphytes are plants that live on the surface of other plants, especially the trunk
and branches. They grow on trees to take advantage of the sunlight in the
canopy. Most are orchids, bromeliads, ferns, and Philodendron relatives. Tiny
plants called epiphylls, mostly mosses, liverworts and lichens, live on the
surface of leaves.
The trees grow tall and straight to obtain as much sunlight as possible. Their
branches are spread out as far as possible so that they can obtain as much
sunlight as possible for photosynthesis to take place. And also they have broad
crowns.
Another special character iscauliflory. It means fruits are present in the trunk of
tree.
Many species have stipules for bud protection from rain drops.

8. Soil conditions of wet zone forest

9. Plant species in kithulgala rain forest
ShoriastipularisAcrocarpuspavoni
anisophylleacinnomomoidesartocarpusnobilis
ArtocarpusnobilisDilleniaretusa

10. mesuanagassariumshoreadistica
Current status about rain forests
Rainforests are also home to 50% of the world’s species, which are directly
impacted by deforestation. In addition, the forests act as a major carbon sink
and hold countless natural, historical and medicinal wonders. They’re also home
to some of the world’s last remaining indigenous peoples who are linked to past
civilizations including the Mayans, Incas and Aztecs. These cultures have
learned to live with the land and therefore uniquely understand the intricacies of
the rainforest and its animal and plant inhabitants.
One of the main reasons rainforests continues to be destroyed comes down to
basic economics: they’re worth more (monetarily) cut down than standing, at
least by today’s standards. Rainforests are also predominantly located in some
of the poorest regions on Earth, leaving local populations vulnerable to
corruption and foreign business advancement. Palm oil production, for example,
which consists of cutting down virgin rainforest in order to plant a mono-crop
of oil palm trees, trees that can only grow in tropical climates, is just one
example of rainforest development. Use lipstick or eat ice cream? Chances are
palm oil is listed as one of the ingredients.
What are the conservation methods
Ecotourism is one possibility as are bio-prospecting fees and carbon credits.
Nevertheless, economic demand for palm oil is strong and financial incentives
simply aren’t enough given rampant corruption. Cultural barriers also play a

11. significant role, creating rifts between developed nation priorities and
developing nation priorities. In light of all the challenges, however, five basic
steps we can each take every day to save rainforests have been broken down
into the acronym TREES, which stands for:
Teach others about the importance of the environment and how they can
help save rainforests.
Restore damaged ecosystems by planting trees on land where forests
have been cut down.
Encourage people to live in a way that doesn’t hurt the environment.
Establish parks to protect rainforests and wildlife.
Support companies that operate in ways that minimize damage to the
environment.
For many, Teach, Encourage and Support will likely make the most practical
sense, although if you’re able to donate to a worthy and credible conservation
organization, plant a tree, or do even more, then
Conclusion:Forests are very essential to humans for their existence. So we have to get
maximum benefits from forests and have to protect them for your future
generations. So it should be needed to conserve our forests.
Reference
http://www.reddottours.com/133/kitulgala-kelani-forest-reserve-activityprofile.htm(26/6/2013)
http://www.responsibletravel.com/holiday/9872/amazon-rainforest-internship
(30/06/2013)
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/rainforestprofile/(30/06/2013)

12. BOTA 31022
Ecology and Environmental Resources
Management
Field survey to Kithulgala rain forest
W.D.M.S.THILAKARATHNE
BS/2009/257
22/06/2013

13. AKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my sincere thankfulness to our lecture Prof.
Mala Amarasinghe and Dr.MrRathnayake for conducting lecture
series. Understanding and cheerful encourage not even throughout
this work, but all over our courseunit
All the same I would like to thank all demonstrators of the department
of botany for their unpredictable support on this work.
W.D.M.S.THILAKARATHNE

14. Content
Introduction
Types of forests in sri lanaka
General characteristics of a rain forest
Kithulgala
Tropical rainforest:
Soil conditions of wet zone forest
Plant species in kithulgala rain forest
Current status about rain forests
What are the conservation methods