Dr Theja Abayarathna

Education

• Ph.D in Environmental Science – University of Technology Sydney, New South Whales, Australia (2019)

• M.Phil in Zoology – University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka (2009)

• B.Sc (Honors) in Zoology – University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka (2005)

Professional Qualification

• Certificate Course in Teaching in Higher Education (2020)

Research Interests

• Conservation Biology

• Wildlife Management

• Animal Behaviour

• Physiological and Behavioural Ecology

Teaching Courses

• Wildlife Conservation and Management

• Environmental policies and Management

• Limnonogy and Aquatic Resources

• Ecotourism

• General Biology for Physical Science Students

Current Researches and Projects

• Long term effect of climate change on egg incubation and survival of velvet Gecko population in Australia (Collaboration with Webb lab, UTS, NSW, Australia)

Memberships of Professional Bodies/Associations

• Member of Sri Lanka Association for the advancement of Science (SLAAS)

Publications

• Abayarathna M.G.T.H., Webb J.K., (2020), Effects of incubation temperatures on learning abilities of hatchling velvet gecko, Anim Cogn DOI 10.1007/s10071-020-01365-4

• Abayarathna M.G.T.H, Murray B.R and Webb J.K.Higher incubation temperatures produce long-lasting upward shifts in cold tolerance,but not heat tolerance,of hatchling geckos, Biol. Open doi:10.1242/bio.042564

• Abayarathna M.G.T.H., MahaulpathaW.A.D., De Silva A., and SundarabarathyT.V. (2010) Amphibian Diversity in the Giritale Nature Reserve, Sri Lanka, Lyriocephalus Special issue, 7:167-173.

• Abayarathna M.G.T.H., Mahaulpatha W.A.D. and De Silva A. (2010) Reptile Diversity of selected habitat types in the northern part of the Giritale Nature Reserve, Sri Lanka, Lyriocephalus Special issue, 7: 211-221.

• Abayarathna M.G.T.H. and MahaulpathaW.A.D, (2006)Activity budgets and habitat preference of land monitor, Thalagoya, Varanus bengalensis in a residential area,Vidyodaya j. of Science, 13:127-138.

• De Silva A., Bauer A.M., Austin C.C., Goonawardene S., Drake J. , De Silva P., Abayarathna M.G.T.H., Tharanga Dassanayaka, Samarawickrama G.S. , Dassanayaka R.D.C.S.K. , AmarakoonA.M.R.K. and Goonasekara M.M., (2005), The Diversity of Knuckles ecosystem: With special reference to its herpetofauna, Lyriocephalus Special issue, 6: 13-33

Abstracts

• Abayarathna M.G.T.H. and Mahaulpatha W.A.D. (2008), Species richness and diversity of reptiles of the Giritale Nature Reserve, North Central Province of Sri Lanka., 64th Scientific sessions, , Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS).

• Abayarathna M.G.T.H. and Mahaulpatha W.A.D., (2007) Activity budgets and habitat preference of land monitor, Thalagoya, Varanus bengalensis in a residential area. First annual research sessions, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.

Conference Presentations

• Presenter, Effect of Climate Change on Velvet Geckos in Australia, Australian Society of Herpetologists conference 2017, Western Australia, Australia

• Presenter, Reptile Diversity of Giritale Nature Reserve, Sri Lanka, Annual research Sessions of Sri Lanka Association for the advancement of Science, 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka

• Presenter, Amphibian Diversity of Giritale Nature Reserve of Sri Lanka, Annual research Sessions of Sri Lanka Association for the advancement of Science, 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka

• Presenter, Habitat Requirements of Land Monitor (Varanus bengalensis) in an urban area, 2007, Annual research Sessions of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka.