Supun Madhumadhawa Pawuluwage
Maîtrise
Below-ground facilitation between tree species in the revegetalization of a degraded site
Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Directeur: Philippe Marchand Codirecteur: Nicole Fenton
I am Supun Madhumadhawa Pawuluwage from Sri Lanka. I am an enthusiastic postgraduate student, specialized in the field of Plant Science, who wishes to pursue a career as a researcher.I aspire to engage myself in a research that involves Plant Systematics., Ecology and Taxonomy with special emphasis on conservation of biodiversity
Academic Background
- B.Sc. (Special Degree in Plant Science with Zoology, Chemistry, Environmental Science) – Department of Plant Sciences, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (2013- 2017).
- GCE Advanced Level – Biology , Chemistry and Physics – Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda, Sri Lanka (2011).
Professional Work Experience
- Teaching assistant, Department of Botany, Open University of Sri Lanka (2018 – 2019).
- Teaching assistant, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Colombo (2017 – 2018).
Internships & Career Developing Activities
- Two months internship program related to Next Generation Sequencing related to the mycorrhizal identification, The University of Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, France, (October 2019 to December,2019).
- Successfully completed the three days’ workshop on Bioinformatics, Next Generation and Whole Genome Sequencing in University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka (2018).
- Researcher of ‘Hill top flora project’, National Herbarium, Department of National Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (July,2016 to February,2017).
- A one-month internship program related to courses covered in plant science special degree was completed in Hakgala Botanical Garden, Sri Lanka (2016).
- Successfully completed the two weeks training program on Developing Leadership and Positive Thinking conducted by Ministry of Higher Education, Sri Lanka (2013).
Previous Research Experience
- Undergraduate Final Thesis – “Floristic diversity of Adam’s Peak mountain in Sri Lanka
”.
- Undergraduate Final Assignment - "Threats to montane vegetation of Sri Lanka".
Awards and Scholarships
- Best Presenter award (Botany Section)- Proceedings of the 38th annual sessions of the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka (2018).
- Mahapola Scholarship for four year undergraduate degree based on high performance on GCE Advanced Level (2013-2017).
Research and Publications
- Pawuluwage, S.M., P. Marchand, N. Fenton, M. Roy and B. Lafleur. (2020), Are mycorrhizal fungi shared between trees recolonizing a post-mine site?, Canadian Botanical Association annual meeting 2020, Abstracts.
- Pawuluwage, S.M., P. Marchand, N. Fenton, M. Roy and B. Lafleur. (2019), Below-ground facilitation between tree species in the re-vegetalization of a degraded site, Proceedings of the 01st annual sessions of the Plant Canada conference 2019, Abstracts.
- H.T. Gamhewa, Pawuluwage, S.M., Kathriarachchi, H.S. and Attanayake, A.M.A.S. (2019), Patterns of plant richness, abundance and endemism of different life forms along an altitudinal gradient in Erathna-Kuruwita and Hatton-Nallathanniya trails of the Adam’s Peak Wilderness, Proceedings of the 39th annual sessions of the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka 2019, Abstracts, p.71.
- Pawuluwage, S.M., Kathriarachchi, H.S. and Attanayake, A.M.A.S. (2018), Determination of floristic diversity in Adam’s Peak mountain along the altitudinal gradient, Proceedings of the 74th annual sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Sri Lanka 2019, Abstracts.
- Pawuluwage, S.M., A.T.N. De Silva, Kathriarachchi, H.S. and Attanayake, A.M.A.S. (2018), Floristic diversity of Kikiliyamana mountain in Sri Lanka, Proceedings of the 38th annual sessions of the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka 2018, Abstracts.
- Pawuluwage, S.M., Kathriarachchi, H.S. and Attanayake, A.M.A.S. (2017), Floristic diversity of Kuruwita-Erathna trail of the Adam’s Peak mountain in Sri Lanka, Proceedings of the 37th annual sessions of the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka 2017, Abstracts, p.22.
Current Research Projects
Below-ground facilitation between tree species in the revegetalization of a degraded site
Sampling site on the tailings of the former Beattie gold mine
Mycorrhizal symbiosis plays a key role in ecological processes like plant succession through the redistribution of resources among host plants with different needs. Mycorrhizal mycelia produce common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) by colonizing roots of neighbouring trees, and these CMNs facilitate the uptake and transportation of nutrients among plants.
In this study, we aim to determine how seedling growth and survival is affected by below-ground facilitation via mycorrhizal networks. Specifically, we will i) determine which intraspecific and interspecific interactions affect seedling growth at an early successional stage on a former mining site, ii) identify existing mycorrhizae species and types using molecular analysis and iii) if evidence of facilitation is found in i), determine whether this facilitation is due to mycorrhizal networks or due to other factors.
Betula papyrifera , Populus balsamifera , Picea glauca and Thuja occidentalis were be used as focal species and the effect of neighbouring plants was identified. Content (mg) and concentration (mg/g) of C, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Mn in soil and leaf samples will be analyzed using CNS analyzer, colorimeter and atomic absorption methods. Communities of mycorrhizal fungi was sequenced and analyzed to detect possible species sharing using genetic analysis. Structural equation models was used to separate effects of tree age, soil nutrients and contaminants, CMNs and other possible factors on seedling growth. Findings coming out from this study will help to develop appropriate strategies for reforestation of boreal forests in mining sites.
