Name : G. K. Achini Wathsala Fernando

 Contact information:    gkawf051@yahoo.com/achini_fernando@nara.ac.lk

 Academic qualification:

 Master of Philosophy in Zoology – Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS), University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.                                                                                                             

Bachelor of Science B.Sc. (Hons) Special Degree in Zoology – Second Class (Upper Division) Honours, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.

Research Interest

• Coastal Marine Ecosystem
• Population Dynamics of marine fauna
• Mangrove Ecology
• Wildlife conservation

Research Publications

Research Papers

• Fernando, G. A. W., Jayakody, S., Wijenayake, W. H. K., Galappaththy, G. N., Yatawara, M., & Harishchandra, J. (2018). A comparison of the larvivorous habits of exotic Poecilia reticulata and native Aplocheilus parvus. BMC ecology, 18(1), 25.
• K. Achini W. Fernando, Sevvandi Jayakody, W.M.H. Kelum Wijenayake, Gawrie N.L. Galappaththy, Mangala Yatawara, R.D. Jeevanie Harishchandra (2018). Assessing the nuclear level impacts upon exposure to Bispyribac–sodium and Carbosulfan in Poecilia reticulata and Aplocheilus parvus. Sri Lanka J. Aquat. Sci. 23(1).
• Fernando, A. W., Jayakody, S., Wijenayake, H. K., Galappaththy, G. N., Yatawara, M., & Harishchandra, J. (2016). Species composition and population dynamics of malaria vectors in three previously ignored aquatic systems in Sri Lanka. Malaria journal, 15(1):1-9.
• Fernando, G.K.A.W., Jayakody S., Wijenayake W.M.H.K., Galappaththy G., Yatawara M., Harishchandra R.D.J., Wanninayake T.M.B., Deniyage S.L., (2015) The feeding patterns and food preferences of Dwarf panchax (Aplocheilus parvus). Sri Lanka Journal of Aquatic Sciences. 20(2):19-29
• Fernando, G.K.A.W. and U.S. Amarasinghe (2011) Morphological differentiation of two cichlid species in Sri Lanka using truss networks. Sri Lanka Journal of Aquatic Sciences 16: pp 01-10

Abstracts/posters/Presentations

• Fernando G.K.A.W. (2010) Multivariate analysis of morphometric variability among Orechromis species in Beira Lake and Negombo Lagoon Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 16^th Annual Scientific Sessions of Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, pp.04: National Aquaculture Development Authority Baththramulla, Sri Lanka.
• Fernando G.K.A.W., Jayakody S, Wijenayake W.M.H.K., Yatawara M., Harishchandra R.D.J. Deniyage S.L., Galappaththy G.N.L. (2012). The feeding patterns and food preferences of Aplocheilus parvus: a potential biological control agents for malaria? Proceedings of the 18^th Annual Scientific Sessions of Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, pp.19: Foundation Institute, Sri Lanka.
• Harishchandra R.D.J., Liyanage P.K.N.C., Jayakody S., Wijenayake W.M.H.K., Jayanetti S.R. , Perera M.D.B. , Fernando A., Galappaththy G.N.L. , Deniyage S.L. , Wanninayake W.M.T.B. and Jayasinghe J.M.P.K. (2012) Anopheline breeding in man-made aquatic habitats in the dry and wet/intermediate zones of Sri Lanka Proceedings of the 18^th Annual Scientific Sessions of Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, pp.11: Foundation Institute, Sri Lanka.
• Jayakody S., Fernando, G.K.A.W., Wijenayake W.M.H.K., Harishchandra R.D.J., Wanninayake W.M.T.B., Jayasinghe J.M.P.K., Yatawara M.P.K. , Liyanage N.C., Deniyage S.L., Galappaththy G.N.L., Jayanetti S.R., Perera M.D. (2012) Malaria control in potable water and in biodiversity rich habitats: Need and opportunities for biological control agents, Malaria Journal 2012, 11(Suppl 1):P31.
• Fernando, G.K.A.W., Jayakody S., Wijenayake W.M.H.K., Harishchandra R.D.J., Wanninayake W.M.T.B., Jayasinghe J.M.P.K., Yatawara M.P.K. , Liyanage N.C., Deniyage S.L., Galappaththy G.N.L., Jayanetti S.R., Perera M.D. (2013) Using the functional roles of biodiversity in wetlands for better management: Can exploitation of existing piscifauna as biological control agents against malaria larvae help saving aquatic biodiversity?  INTECOL 2013, ExCel, London, UK from 18^th-23^rd August 2013. http://eventmobi.com/INTECOL2013/#!/session/183455/
• Fernando G.K.A.W., Jayakody S, Wijenayake W.M.H.K., Yatawara M., Harishchandra R.D.J. Deniyage S.L. , Galappaththy G.N.L. (2014) A comparative analysis of the diet composition of fishes Aplocheilus parvus and Poecilia reticulata in different habitats. Proceedings of the 20^th Annual Scientific Sessions of Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, pp.19: NARA, Sri Lanka.
• Wijenayake W.M.H.K., S.T. Gonapinuwala., W. Fernando (2014) Growth performance of exotic fish species in culture-based fisheries and interactions with indigenous species. Proceeding of the Wayamba International Conference (WinC 2014), pp.240: Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Kuliyapitiya, Sri Lanka.
• A. Ranaraja, B.P.A. Jayaweera, G.K.A.W. Fernando, G. Prathapasinghe, S. Jayakody (2017). Behaviours of mega herbivores and nutritional composition of fodder in Mailawewa reservoir of Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka. Proceeding of the Annual Session of Department of Wildlife Conservation, 15^th and 16^th August 2017, Colombo.
• Herath, G. K. A. W. Fernando, M. G. Arachchige, I.B. D.C. Senarathne, S.C. Wilson, K. yakandawala, M. Amaratathne, S. Jayakody (2017). Rapid assessment of flora, butterfly, dragonfly and avifauna to determine the baseline in Maila wewa reservoir of Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka. Proceeding of the Annual Session of Department of Wildlife Conservation, 15^th and 16^th August 2017, Colombo.
•  J.M. Gunasekara, P.B.T.P. Kumara, M.M. Subasinghe, S.A.N.H. Serasinghe & G.K.A.W. Fernando (2018). Present Status of marine debris management in Sri Lanka. Proceeding of the 4^th National Symposium on Marine Environment, 20^th October 2018 at BMICH, Colombo.
• Fernando G.K.A.W. (2020). Mangroves everywhere: No two stands similar. Commonwealth Blue Charter Webinar: Unlocking the Wealth of Mangrove Ecosystems, 27 July, 1400-1500 BST.

Other publications

• Jayakody, M. Amararathne, G. M. Arachchige, A. W. Fernando. Gap assessment on mainstreaming the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and their resources into national planning processes in Sri Lanka (2018).www.ramsar.org.https://www.ramsar.org/sites/default/files/documents/library/mainstreaming_wetlands_into_national_planning_sri_lanka.pdf
• Bandara, K. V. S. N., De Silva, J., Arachchige, G., Jayakody, S., Fernando, A. W. and Geekiyanage, N. (2019). Faunal diversity in proposed Endane biodiversity corridor connecting Walankanda and Iharakanda Forest Reserves in the Lowland Rainforest Region of Sri Lanka. Dilmah Conservation, Colombo, Sri Lanka. pp. 1-94.

 

 Research Experience:

• A rapid biodiversity assessment of mangrove flora in Dedduwa proposed development area.
• A survey on faunal diversity of proposed Endane Biodoversity corridor connecting Walankanda and Ihalakanda Forest Reserves in Lowlan Rainforest Region of Sri Lanaka
• A survey on faunal diversity of Seethawaka proposed hydro project.
• A survey for a protocol for rapid assessment of reservoirs in protected areas to determine restoration needs in Mila Wewa, Wilpattu National Park
• A survey on fish and mangrove Enhancing Biodiversity Conservation and Sustenance of Ecosystem services in environmentally sensitive Areas: Biodiversity Baseline Survey (ESA project).
• A study on Implementation of an EAFM (Essential Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management) plan for the spinner dolphin population of Kalpitiya
• A study on Assessment of water and sediment quality and associated sea urchin fauna of the Gulf of Mannar coastline (FAO)
• A study on Co-management strategies in culture-based fisheries (IDRC)
• A study on Shrimp farming and the environment (IDRC)
• A study on Characterization of Fresh Water Fish of Sri Lanka to Control Anopheline Larvae in Dry and Intermediate Zones of Sri Lanka (GFATM)
• A study on Multivariate analysis of morphometric Variability among Oreochromis species in Beira Lake and Negombo Lagoon Sri Lanka

Training programs:

• Participated in online training course on” Marine litter” organized by Open University, UN Environment, GPA & GPML-(50hour workload-completed both leadership and expert tracts) (April 2019-August 2019)
• Participated in online training course on” Facilitating Species Conservation Planning Workshops February 2019” organized by Conservation training -IUCN, SSC and Conservation Planning Specialist Group – (February 2019-April 2019)
• Participated in the workshop on” The Future of the Forests: REDD and REDD+ Science Presentation organized by Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya on 03^rd May 2013
• Participated in the workshop on Scientific writing organized by BOBLME (Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem project and SLAFAR (Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) on 29^th April to 2^nd May 2013
• Participated in the workshop on Science Presentation organized by BOBLME (Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem project and SLAFAR (Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) on 10^th May 2012

Scholarships and Awards:

• INTECOL Conference 2013 Travel Award (British Ecological Society UK)
• Full Bursary for attending the 3^rd Annual Commonwealth Residential School Program, held on 8^th-12^th August 2013 at the Cumberland Lodge, Windsor, Great Park, UK
• Received a National Research Council (NRC) Merit Award in 2016 for research paper titled “Species composition and population dynamics of malaria vectors in three previously ignored aquatic systems in Sri Lanka”