ORCID Profile
0000-0002-7470-8736
Current Organisations
University of Western Australia
,
Murdoch University
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2013
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2019
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 20-12-2019
Publisher: Brill
Date: 2011
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-06-2020
DOI: 10.1111/BRV.12625
Publisher: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
Date: 09-2012
DOI: 10.1670/11-056
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 05-07-2021
DOI: 10.1071/MF21059
Abstract: A common feeding association among reef fishes involves nuclear and follower species, where the former disturbs the bottom, during which the latter opportunistically feeds on items exposed. Here, we report such interactions between Western Australian common octopuses (Octopus (cf) tetricus) and brown-spotted wrasse (Notolabrus parilus) observed on eight occasions while snorkeling at four temperate-water reefs along the coast of Perth in Western Australia. We compare the interactions observed to other octopus-fish nuclear–follower associations known. In general, these interactions usually benefit the follower species and could play a significant role on reef trophodynamics.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-06-2011
Publisher: McMaster University Library
Date: 07-05-2019
Abstract: In this case study, we evaluated the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) initiative at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), an extracurricular programme that focuses on academic staff-student partnerships and collaborations. While not directly integrated into university degree programmes, SURF provides students with the opportunity to develop practical research skills related to knowledge they have acquired in class. Participating students receive an authentic research experience, which involves collaboration on research projects with academic staff. All students are required to present results of their projects at a public poster presentation event organised by the university. This case study is a partnership between Academic Enhancement Centre (AEC) staff, who organize and run SURF, SURF students, and a lecturer (M.B.N. Kouwenhoven), and it presents a reflection on their experiences of the SURF programme, and in particular on the notions of partnership and collaboration and the potential tension between those two concepts.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2023
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 06-11-2018
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Date: 06-2021
DOI: 10.1086/714483
Publisher: Authorea, Inc.
Date: 13-02-2023
DOI: 10.22541/AU.167631322.24665235/V1
Abstract: Opportunistic observation of Erabu sea snakes (Laticauda semifaciata) provide evidence that these species undertake a novel foraging tactic coordinated communal hunting. Erabu sea snakes prey on cryptic fish species in highly complex reef habitats. Intra- and interspecific cooperative hunting strategies may increase chances for all members of the hunting party to encounter and capture prey in these complex habitats. Here we recorded 52 instances of communal hunting by Erabu sea snakes with conspecifics and other predatory fishes at recreational e sites in Southern Lombok, Indonesia. These observations highlight the potential higher cognitive capacity of sea snakes to coordinate activities around communal hunting events.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2010
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 14-07-2015
DOI: 10.1111/BIJ.12610
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 20-02-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.YMPEV.2012.12.004
Abstract: Snake ersity in the island of Sri Lanka is extremely high, hosting at least 89 inland (i.e., non-marine) snake species, of which at least 49 are endemic. This includes the endemic genera Aspidura, Balanophis, Cercaspis, Haplocercus, and Pseudotyphlops, which are of uncertain phylogenetic affinity. We present phylogenetic evidence from nuclear and mitochondrial loci showing the relationships of 40 snake species from Sri Lanka (22 endemics) to the remaining global snake fauna. To determine the phylogenetic placement of these species, we create a molecular dataset containing 10 genes for all global snake genera, while also s ling all available species for genera with endemic species occurring in Sri Lanka. Our s ling comprises five mitochondrial genes (12S, 16S, cyt-b, ND2, and ND4) and five nuclear genes (BDNF, c-mos, NT3 RAG-1, and RAG-2), for a total of up to 9582bp per taxon. We find that the five endemic genera represent portions of four independent colonizations of Sri Lanka, with Cercaspis nested within Colubrinae, Balanophis in Natricinae, Pseudotyphlops in Uropeltidae, and that Aspidura+Haplocercus represents a distinct, ancient lineage within Natricinae. We synonymize two endemic genera that render other genera paraphyletic (Haplocercus with Aspidura, and Cercaspis with Lycodon), and discover that further endemic radiations may be present on the island, including a new taxon from the blindsnake family Typhlopidae, suggesting a large endemic radiation. Despite its small size relative to other islands such as New Guinea, Borneo, and Madagascar, Sri Lanka has one of the most phylogenetically erse island snake faunas in the world, and more research is needed to characterize the island's bio ersity, with numerous undescribed species in multiple lineages.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 26-09-2022
DOI: 10.3389/FMARS.2022.921542
Abstract: Declines in abundance of sea snakes have been observed on reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific, although the reasons are unknown. To date, surveys have occurred on shallow reefs, despite sea snakes occurring over a large depth range. It is not known if populations of sea snakes in deep habitats have undergone similar declines. To address this, we analysed deep-water video data from a historical hotspot of sea snake ersity, Ashmore Reef, in 2004, 2016, and 2021. We collected 288 hours of video using baited remote underwater videos and a remotely operated vehicle at depths between 13 and 112 m. We observed 80 in iduals of seven species with Aipysurus laevis ( n = 30), Hydrophis peronii ( n = 8), and H. ocellatus ( n = 6) being the most abundant. Five of the species ( A. duboisii , A. apraefrontalis , H. ocellatus , H. kingii , and Emydocephalus orarius ) had not been reported in shallow waters for a decade prior to our study. We found no evidence of a decline in sea snakes across years in deep-water surveys, although abundances were lower than those in early shallow-water surveys. A comparison of BRUVS data from 2004 and 2016 was consistent with the hypothesis that predation by sharks may have contributed to the loss of sea snakes in shallow habitats. Our study highlights the use of underwater video to collect information on sea snakes in the mesophotic zone and also suggests that future monitoring should include these depths in order to capture a more complete representation of habitats occupied.
Publisher: Magnolia Press
Date: 11-08-2008
DOI: 10.11646/ZOOTAXA.1847.1.2
Abstract: We describe a new species of coralsnake, Calliophis haematoetron, from central Sri Lanka. This is the second species of coralsnake known from the island country, after Calliophis melanurus. It differs from C. melanurus in coloration, possessing a relatively unpigmented head (vs. capped with black from rostrum to nuchal collar), no light spots posterolateral to the parietal plates (vs. one at each side), a banded body dorsum (vs. unicolored), a bright red body venter (vs. orange or yellow through most of the length), and red pigment lateral to the blue under-tail color (vs. no red on tail). It also differs from C. melanurus in aspects of lepidosis, in having a frontal that is shorter or equal in size (vs. longer) than the interparietal suture and a first sublabial that does not touch the second pair of chin-shields (vs. first sublabial broadly touching second pair of chin-shields). The new species is easily distinguished from all other Calliophis species in nearby India and Southeast Asia by characters of external morphology and coloration.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-11-2012
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-11-2021
Abstract: Despite important implications for human health, distribution, abundance and behaviour of most medically relevant snakes remain poorly understood. Such data deficiencies h er efforts to characterise the causal pathways of snakebite envenoming and to prioritise management options in the areas at greatest risk. We estimated the spatial patterns of abundance of seven medically relevant snake species from Sri Lanka, a snakebite hotspot, and combined them with indices of species' relative abundance, aggressiveness and envenoming severity obtained from an expert opinion survey, to test whether these fundamental ecological traits could explain spatial patterns of snakebite and envenoming incidence. The spatial intensity of snake occurrence records in relation to independent environmental factors (fundamental niches and land cover) was analysed with point process models. Then, with the estimated patterns of abundance, we tested which species' abundances added together, with and without weightings for aggressiveness, envenoming severity and relative abundance, best correlate with per capita geographic incidence patterns of snakebite and envenoming. We found that weighting abundance patterns by species' traits increased correlation with incidence. The best performing combination had three species weighted by aggressiveness and abundance, with a correlation of r = 0.47 ( p 0.01) with snakebite incidence. An envenoming severity and relative abundance‐weighted combination of two species was the most strongly associated with envenoming incidence ( r = 0.46, p = 0). Synthesis and applications . We show that snakebite risk is explained by abundance, aggressiveness and envenoming severity of the snake species most frequently involved in envenoming cases. Incorporating causality via ecological information of key snake species is critical for snakebite risk mapping, helping to tailor preventive measures for dominant snake species and deploying the necessary antivenom therapies.
Publisher: Sri Lanka Journals Online (JOL)
Date: 29-03-2009
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 06-2021
DOI: 10.3389/FMARS.2021.658756
Abstract: Over the past decade, vertebrate populations globally have experienced significant declines in distribution and abundance. Understanding the reasons behind these population declines is the first step in implementing appropriate management responses to improve conservation outcomes. Uncovering drivers of extirpation events after the fact, however, requires a careful forensic approach to prevent similar declines elsewhere. The once abundant and species-rich sea snake fauna of Ashmore Reef Marine Park, in the Timor Sea, collapsed dramatically in the early 2000s. No such decline has occurred on surrounding reefs. We synthesise the evidence for this collapse and the subsequent slow recovery and evaluate the plausibility of potential drivers for the declines, as well as provide evidence against certain explanations that have been proposed in the past. Our systematic review shows that of seven possible hypotheses considered, at least three are credible and require additional information: (1) stochastic environmental events may have increased the snakes’ susceptibility to pathogens, (2) a resurgence in the abundance of top predators may have induced a localised change in trophic structure, and (3) an acute increase in local boat traffic may have had negative physical impacts. One or more of these factors, possibly acting in combination with as yet other unidentified factors, is the most plausible explanation for the precipitous decline in sea snake populations observed. Based on this position, we identify future research directions with a focus on addressing critical gaps in knowledge to inform and prioritise future management actions.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-01-2022
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-021-03629-6
Abstract: Biological invasions can modify the behaviour of vulnerable native species in subtle ways. For ex le, native predators may learn or evolve to reduce foraging in conditions (habitats, times of day) that expose them to a toxic invasive species. In tropical Australia, freshwater crocodiles ( Crocodylus johnstoni ) are often fatally poisoned when they ingest invasive cane toads ( Rhinella marina ). The risk may be greatest if toads are seized on land, where a predator cannot wash away the toxins before they are absorbed into its bloodstream. Hence, toad invasion might induce crocodiles to forage in aquatic habitats only, foregoing terrestrial hunting. To test this idea, we conducted standardised trials of bait presentation to free-ranging crocodiles in sites with and without invasive toads. As anticipated, crocodiles rapidly learned to avoid consuming toads, and shifted to almost exclusively aquatic foraging.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 07-12-2011
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2019
Publisher: Research Square Platform LLC
Date: 13-03-2023
DOI: 10.21203/RS.3.RS-2605687/V1
Abstract: Opportunistic observation of Erabu sea snakes ( Laticauda semifaciata ) provide evidence that these species undertake a novel foraging tactic coordinated communal hunting. Erabu sea snakes prey on cryptic fish species in highly complex reef habitats. Intra- and interspecific cooperative hunting strategies may increase chances for all members of the hunting party to encounter and capture prey in these complex habitats. Here we observed 52 instances of communal hunting by Erabu sea snakes with conspecifics and other predatory fishes at recreational e sites in Southern Lombok, Indonesia. These observations highlight the potential higher cognitive capacity of sea snakes to coordinate activities around communal hunting events.
Publisher: Herpetologists League
Date: 12-2013
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 27-02-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2020
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-05-2013
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 31-07-2013
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2019
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2011
DOI: 10.1071/WR11026
Abstract: Context The toxins produced by cane toads (Rhinella marina) are fatal to many Australian predators that ingest these invasive anurans. To date, the potential economic impact of the cane toad invasion has attracted little attention. Toads have recently arrived at a large impoundment (Lake Argyle) in north-eastern Western Australia, that supports a commercial fishery for silver cobbler (shovel-nosed catfish, Arius midgleyi), raising concern that the toads may inflict significant economic damage by killing fish. Aims Our research aimed to clarify the vulnerability of silver cobblers to the eggs and larvae of cane toads by determining (a) whether catfish are adversely affected if they prey on toad eggs or tadpoles, and (b) whether surviving catfish learn to avoid cane toad eggs and tadpoles in subsequent encounters. Methods We conducted laboratory feeding trials to examine feeding responses of catfish to cane toad eggs and tadpoles in early and late developmental stages. Fish that survived exposure to toad eggs and/or tadpoles were re-tested with potential prey of the same sizes and developmental stages four days later. Key results Our laboratory trials confirmed that some catfish eat toad eggs and die but most catfish avoided the eggs. Catfish readily consumed toad tadpoles at both early and late developmental stages, but without experiencing mortality and soon learned not to consume this toxic new prey type. Conclusions and implications Despite potential frequent episodes of mortality of small numbers of catfish during the wet season, the overall impacts of cane toads on the Lake Argyle fishery likely will be minimal.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2020
Publisher: Regional Euro-Asian Biological Invasions Centre Oy (REABIC)
Date: 2020
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-12-2019
DOI: 10.1111/FWB.13221
Publisher: Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
Date: 30-12-2016
DOI: 10.5252/Z2016N4A2
Publisher: Magnolia Press
Date: 17-04-2015
DOI: 10.11646/ZOOTAXA.3947.4.11
Abstract: The colubrid snake Chrysopelea taprobanica Smith, 1943 was described from a holotype from Kanthali (= Kantalai) and paratypes from Kurunegala, both localities in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) (Smith 1943). Since its description, literature pertaining to Sri Lankan snake fauna considered this taxon to be endemic to the island (Taylor 1950, Deraniyagala 1955, de Silva 1980, de Silva 1990, Somaweera 2004, Somaweera 2006, de Silva 2009, Pyron et al. 2013). In addition, earlier efforts on the Indian peninsula (e.g. Das 1994, 1997, Das 2003, Whitaker & Captain 2004, Aengals et al. 2012) and global data compilations (e.g. Wallach et al. 2014, Uetz & Hošek 2015) did not identify any record from mainland India until Guptha et al. (2015) recorded a specimen (voucher BLT 076 housed at Bio-Lab of Seshachalam Hills, Tirupathi, India) in the dry deciduous forest of Chamala, Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve in Andhra Pradesh, India in November 2013. Guptha et al. (2015) further mentioned an in idual previously photographed in 2000 at Rishi Valley, Andhra Pradesh, but with no voucher specimen collected. Guptha's record, assumed to be the first confirmed record of C. taprobanica in India, is noteworthy as it results in a large range extension, from northern Sri Lanka to eastern India with an Euclidean distance of over 400 km, as well as a change of status, i.e., species not endemic to Sri Lanka. However, at least three little-known previous records of this species from India evaded most literature and were overlooked by the researchers including ourselves.
Publisher: Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales
Date: 2011
DOI: 10.7882/AZ.2011.049
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-04-2017
DOI: 10.1002/ECY.1737
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2017
DOI: 10.1071/MF17038
Abstract: The Asian water monitor Varanus salvator is one of the largest species of lizard in the world and is widespread on the island of Sri Lanka. In the present study, we conducted a 7-month survey within a 5-km stretch in the urbanised Attanagalu-Oya river area to study habitat associations, mesohabitat use and behaviour of V. salvator in urban landscapes. The greatest number of monitor sightings was made in aquatic habitats, followed by terrestrial and arboreal habitats within the riparian zone. Sightings of different life history stages of V. salvator across major habitat types varied significantly. The adults and subadults associated mostly with aquatic and terrestrial habitats, whereas hatchlings and juveniles associated mostly with aquatic and arboreal habitats. Given variable sighting frequencies of distinct life history stages across different major habitat types, it is likely that there is substantial age-structured niche partitioning in V. salvator. The urban population of V. salvator studied seemed to be fairly abundant, and resilient to anthropogenic stressors and adversity of urbanisation. In species-depauperate urban environments, ecosystem functions provisioned by V. salvator as generalist predators as well as scavengers are arguably significant and deserve further investigation. No direct anthropogenic threats were observed during the study.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-2023
DOI: 10.1002/ECE3.10293
Abstract: Dynamic colour change is widespread in ectothermic animals, but has primarily been studied in the context of background matching. For most species, we lack quantitative data on the extent of colour change across different contexts. It is also unclear whether and how colour change varies across body regions, and how overall sexual dichromatism relates to the extent of in idual colour change. In this study, we obtained reflectance measures in response to different stimuli for males and females of six species of agamid lizards (Agamidae, sister family to Chameleonidae) comprising three closely related species pairs. We computed the colour volume in a lizard‐vision colour space occupied by males and females of each species and estimated overall sexual dichromatism based on the area of non‐overlapping male and female colour volumes. As expected, males had larger colour volumes than females, but the extent of colour change in males differed between species and between body regions. Notably, species that were most sexually dichromatic were not necessarily those in which males showed the greatest in idual colour change. Our results indicate that the extent of colour change is independent of the degree of sexual dichromatism and demonstrate that colour change on different body regions can vary substantially even between pairs of closely related species.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2022
DOI: 10.1002/ECE3.8933
Abstract: In tropical Australia, conditioned taste aversion (CTA) can buffer vulnerable native predators from the invasion of a toxic prey species (cane toads, Rhinella marina ). Thus, we need to develop methods to deploy aversion‐inducing baits in the field, in ways that maximize uptake by vulnerable species (but not other taxa). We constructed and field‐tested baiting devices, in situ with wild animals. Apparatus were set next to waterbodies and baited concurrently at multiple locations (over water, water's edge, and on the bank). Baits were checked and replaced twice daily during the trial remote cameras recorded visitation by native predators. Bait longevity was compared at sun‐exposed and shaded locations over 12 h. The strength required to remove baits from apparatus was measured in varanids and crocodiles. The device promoted high rates of bait uptake by freshwater crocodiles (47% baits consumed), varanid lizards (19% baits consumed), and non‐target taxa (34% baits consumed). Targeting specific predators can be achieved by manipulating bait location and time of deployment, as well as the force required to dislodge the bait. Crocodiles were best targeted with over‐water baits, whereas varanid lizards preferred baits located at the edges of waterbodies. When testing bait longevity in ambient conditions, during the daytime baits desiccated fully within 12 h, and faster in the sun than in the shade. Based on studies using captive animals, the “pulling force” strength of reptilian predators scaled with body size and was greater in crocodiles than in varanid lizards. We present the first conservation baiting protocol designed specifically for reptiles. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of widespread and taxon‐specific deployment of aversion‐inducing baits to buffer the impacts of invasive cane toads, and our methods are applicable (with modification) to other research and management programs globally.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-03-2020
DOI: 10.1111/BRV.12594
Publisher: Magnolia Press
Date: 26-02-2019
DOI: 10.11646/ZOOTAXA.4560.3.13
Abstract: A recent paper dealing with the systematics of Uropeltidae (Pyron et al. 2016) made several taxonomic changes affecting Sri Lankan species in the genera Platyplectrurus Günther, 1868 Pseudotyphlops Schlegel, 1839 Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 and Uropeltis Cuvier, 1829. Space precluded a full discussion of those changes, for which there was a wealth of additional photographs, data, and references. Here, we expand on those alterations and provide further justification with reference to the ICZN (1999) and additional questions for future research.
Publisher: Research Center for Climate Change, University of Indonesia
Date: 28-11-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-12-2019
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-019-55231-6
Abstract: Many species of lizard use caudal autotomy, the ability to self- utate a portion of their tail, regenerated over time, as an effective anti-predation mechanism. The importance of this tactic for survival depends on the degree of predation risk. There are, however, negative trade-offs to losing a tail, such as loss of further autotomy opportunities with the regenerated tail vertebrae being replaced by a continuous cartilaginous rod. The common consensus has been that once a tail has been autotomised and regenerated it can only be autotomised proximal to the last vertebral autotomy point, as the cartilage rod lacks autotomy planes. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that although the regenerated portion of the tail is unable to autotomise, it can re-regenerate following a physical shearing event. We assessed re-regeneration in three populations of the King’s skink ( Egernia kingii ), a large lizard endemic to south-west Western Australia and surrounding islands. We show that re-regeneration is present at an average of 17.2% across the three populations, and re-regenerated tissue can comprise up to 23.3% of an in idual’s total tail length. The ability to re-regenerate may minimise the costs to an in idual’s fitness associated with tail loss, efficiently restoring ecological functions of the tail.
No related grants have been discovered for Ruchira Somaweera.