Dr. W.N.C. Priyadarshani

Name : W.N.C. Priyadarshani

Contact : nilanthi_priyadarshani@yahoo.com

priya@nara.ac.lk

Education

  • P h. D in Marine Biogeochemistry
  • M Sc. in Environmental Science
  • Postgraduate certificate in ocean observatories
  • B.Sc. (Special) Degree in Zoology

Professional Experience

  • Senior Scientist, NARA (2008 to present).
  • Research Officer, NARA (2005 to 2008).
  • Research Assistant, APN Coastal Flux project, Sri Lanka. 2001-2003.
  • Teaching Assistant, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka 1998-1999.

Research Interests

  • Marine biogeochemistry
  • Plankton Ecology
  • Ocean Bio mixing and HABs study
  • Carbon flux and Climatology
  • Marine Biogeochemistry

 Projects

  • Monitoring of surface water quality and assessment of pollution loads into Maduganga Estuary, Sri Lanka. (2006-2007)

The study is intended to establish plankton distribution in respect nutrients dynamics. The study led to identify threats for endemic inland fisheries and facilitated implementing management plan for Maduganga Estuarine system, Sri Lanka

  • Impact of Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project on the Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar (2005-2007)

The study identified potential impacts of Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project and developed environmental issues and developed environmental monitoring plan by analyzing the biological properties of Sri Lankan northern and north western coastal water.

  • Impact of Ocean Status on Coastal fishery (2006- 2008)

The study was intended to establish the impact of the mixed layer depth (Thermocline) on the vertical distribution of tuna fish. My study was focused on impacts of nutrients and other physical processes on biological productivity.

  • Hydrodynamics & Bio-Physical Modeling of Coastal waters special emphasis on Puttalam Lagoon. (2008-2009)

The project is aimed at formulating a Bio physical model for understanding the bio physical interactions and hydrodynamic processes and its impact on plankton productivity. The study is intended to facilitate management of coastal lagoon (Puttalam Lagoon).  My contribution to the project was to establish the nutrient dynamics in relation to plankton diversity and abundance.

  • Environmental Monitoring of Colombo Harbor Expansion project (2008 -2010)

The environmental monitoring was designed to assess the environmental impacts of dredging on the marine ecosystem due to the expansion of Colombo Harbor especially on total suspended solids.

  • Variability of phytoplankton in relation to Carbon Flux in Bermuda Atlantic Time Series Study (BATS) station (2009-2010)

Phytoplankton abundance, biogenic carbon flux and silica flux were calculated and correlated to mesoscale changes in physical properties.

  • River plume influence on Coastal and marine ecosystems –Trincomalee (2010-2012)

Seasonal variation of Nutrient, primary production, plankton and other physical parameters are analyzed focusing on coastal mixing with relation to fresh water inputs by Mahaweli River and results are used for understanding marine mammal distribution and migration around Sri Lanka.

  • Impact monitoring study during construction of bridge opening at madabokka in Negombo lagoon under The Colombo- Katunayake express way, (2011-2012)
  • Monitoring of seasonal processes on marine aquatic environment coral health and Harmful algal blooms (HAB’s) in north western coast of Sri Lanka (2012-2013)

Assessment of Harmful phytoplankton species diversity and abundance, establishment of relationship between seasonal plankton blooms and nutrient dynamics of the area, quantification of seasonal primary production of the system with relation to upwelling and fresh water plumes, and to correlate the above results with coral reef ecology are set up as objectives of the study.

  • Ocean Acidification and the Changes of Marine Carbon System in Sri Lankan Waters (2019 onwards).

Publications

  • Wenqi Ye,  Xiao Ma,  Chenggang Liu,  Ruijie Ye,  Nilanthi Priyadarshani, Ruchi Jayathilaka, Ashoka Weerakoon, Udeshika Wimalasiri,  Kushlani Dissanayake,  Gayan Pathiranage, Anu Gamage, Yuanli Zhu,  Zhongqiao Li,  Bin Wang,  Lu Shou,  Lihua Ran,  Feng Zhou,  Jianfang Chen,  Ping Du  (2023). Vertical Variation of Bacterial Production and Potential Role in Oxygen Loss in the Southern Bay of Bengal. Frontier of Microbiology, (14).
  • Ruijie Ye, Feng Zhou, Xiao Ma, Lu Shou, Qicheng Meng, Dingyong Zeng, Chenggang Liu, Di Tian, Beifeng Zhou, Feilong Lin, Mingquan Xu,  Zhentao Hu, W. N. C. Priyadarshani,  Jiaying Zhang, R. M. R. M. Jayathilake, Gayan Pathirana, and R. G. A. Iroshanie (2023). An Energetic Mesoscale Anticyclonic Eddy in the Southern Bay of Bengal in June 2020: A Case Study. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 128 (8).
  • Anutaliya A., U. Send, J.L. McClean, J. Sprintall , M. Lankhorst , C.M. Lee L. Rainville , and W.N.C. Priyadarshani , S.U.P. Jinadasa, (2022). Seasonal and year-to-year variability of boundary currents and eddy salt flux along the Sri Lankan eastern and southern coasts observed by PIES and satellite measurements. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 52 (12).
  • Luc Rainville, Craig M. Lee, K. Arulananthan, S.U.P. Jinadasa, Harindra J.S. Fernando , W.N.C. Priyadarshani , and Hemantha Wijesekera (2022). Water mass exchanges between the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea from multi-year sampling with autonomous gliders. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 52 (10).
  • Yuanli  Zhu, Yuanyuan Feng, Thomas J. Browning, Zuozhu Wen, David J. Hughes, Qiang Hao, Ruifeng Zhang, Qicheng Meng, Mark L. Wells, Zhibing Jiang, P. A. K. N. Dissanayake, W. N. C. Priyadarshani, Lu Shou, Jiangning Zeng and Fei Chai (2022). Exploring Variability of Trichodesmium Photophysiology Using Multi-Excitation Wavelength Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometry. Journal of Frontiers, (13).
  • W.N.C. Priyadarshani, Lihua Ran, Martin G. Wiesner, Jianfang Chen, Zheng Ling, Shujie Yu, Ye Ying, (2018). Seasonal and interannual variability of coccolithophore flux in the northern South China Sea. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. Volume 145, March 2019, Pages 13-30.
  • Liang Wen, Priyadarshani, Wadanahaluge, Ran Lihua, Yang Zhi, Zou Yanghao and Chen Jiangang, (2017).Community structures of living Coccolithophores in the northern South China Sea and the western Philippines Sea.Acta Micropalaenontologica Sinica (3), 279-290. (In Chinese).
  • W. N. C. Priyadarshani,  Arulananthan, K.  and J. A. C. Prasad, (2014). Impact of Colombo-Katunayake Expressway bridge opening on water quality at Madabokka in Negambo lagoon, west Coast of Sri Lanka. Eighteenth Interational forestry and Environment symposium, 2013. 10-11 January, 2014 at MAS Fabric Park, Thulhiriya, Sri Lanka. (Abstract).
  • W. N. C. Priyadarshani and M. W. Lomas, (2013). Variability of phytoplankton in relation to carbon flux in Bermuda Time –Series Study Site. Annual scientific Sessions of National Aquatic Resource research and Development Agency (NARA), 29th  November, 2013. (Abstract)
  • N. C. Priyadarshani and K. Arulanathan, (2013). Sseasonal changes in physico-chemical characteristics and plankton population at Trincomalee bay and the adjacent sea, east coast, Sri Lanka. Proceedings of 1st national symposium on marine environment. 27-28 August 2013 at Induruwa Beach Resort, Bentota, Sri Lanka.
  • Jayasiri, H.B., and N.C. Priyadarshani, (2007). “Diversity and abundance of marine plankton and benthos of selected locations of Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay, Sri Lanka”, Journal of the National Aquatic Resources Research & Development Agency of Sri Lanka. Volume 37.
  • Jayasiri, H.B., N.C. Priyadarshani, (2006). “Distribution, Abundance and Diversity of phytoplankton Off Jaffna”. 12th Annual Scientific Sessions of Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resource, (SLAFAR). (Abstract)
  • Jayasiri, H.B., and N.C., Priyadarshani, (2005). “Diversity & abundance of marine plankton and Benthos in the Gulf and Palk Bay, Sri Lanka”. 11th Annual Scientific Sessions of Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resource, (SLAFAR) (Abstract)
  • Wickramanayake, P.N., Priyadarshini, W.N.C., Liyanage, B.C. and Wickremaratne, S. (2003). Fertilizer Runoff from Rain-fed Rice Cultivation, World Water & Environmental Resources Congress 2003, American Society of Civil Engineers, Philadelphia, and June 2003.