RESUMEN
Five species of wild Oryza (O. nivara, O. rufipogon, O. eichengeri, O. rhizomatis and O. granulata), including the endemic species O. rhizomatis, have been recorded in Sri Lanka. These species are facing continuous decline in their populations due to natural and anthropogenic processes, with habitat loss being the main threat. This study aimed to provide information on the distribution, the current status of ex situ and in situ conservation, and to identify high-priority species and sites of wild rice in Sri Lanka, in order to improve the effectiveness of conservation efforts. Occurrence records of Sri Lankan wild rice species were collected from literature, gene banks, and field surveys. The distribution of these species was mapped, and areas with high species richness were identified. A gap analysis was conducted to determine the high-priority areas and species for ex situ and in situ conservation. It was found that about 23% of the wild rice populations in Sri Lanka were within protected areas, and by expanding these protected areas by 1 km, an additional 22% of the populations located on the border of these areas could be effectively conserved. Our analysis also revealed that 62% of Sri Lankan wild rice populations were not represented in gene banks. The species-rich areas were found to be in only two districts (Polonnaruwa and Monaragala), and less than 50% of these areas were within protected areas. Based on these findings, O. rhizomatis, O. eichengeri, and O. rufipogon were identified as high-priority species for in situ conservation. Ex situ collections were also deemed necessary for O. granulata and O. rhizomatis to ensure diversity representation in gene banks.
RESUMEN
The tropical island of Sri Lanka, with a land area of 65,610 km2 and 1340 km of coastline, is highly vulnerable to impacts of climate change, with detrimental effects on agriculture, water resources, human health, coastal zones, infrastructure, industry, and biodiversity. A general increase in temperature and precipitation patterns, rising sea levels, and increase in weather-related natural disasters, such as floods and droughts, have been traced over the years. Bryophytes (liverworts, mosses, hornworts) occupy a pivotal position in the land plant evolution and form a unique part of the vegetation. Many taxa of bryophytes exhibit observable, distinct adaptations in response to changes in environmental conditions quickly. Bryophytes can be used to monitor climate change in two ways; (i) presence or absence in the ecosystem and (ii) changes in morphology and physiology that can be used for monitoring. Sri Lanka has a rich bryophyte flora consisting of 575 species of mosses, 338 species of liverworts, and 07 species of hornworts. It is estimated that 11% of mosses are endemic; there are no endemic thalloid liverworts or hornworts found in Sri Lanka, and the endemicity of leafy liverworts is yet to be investigated. The taxonomic status of endemic taxa and the biogeographic affinities of many taxa remain unexplored. Further, the potential use of bryophytes as indicators of climate change in Sri Lanka has not yet been investigated. This paper compiles the information on morphological and physiological responses of bryophytes to elevated temperature, increase in greenhouse gases, increased ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, and fluctuations in humidity. In the light of this gathered global knowledge, possible species of bryophytes to be used in assessing and predicting climate change and developing a climate change model in Sri Lanka are proposed. Asian bryophytes, in general, have poorly been represented in climate change literature. We believe that this knowledge will form the foundation for future research focused on climate change mitigation in other tropical and Asian countries.