http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10716 Thu, 14 May 2026 08:35:35 GMT 2026-05-14T08:35:35Z http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10839 An Analysis of the U.S. Wood Products Import Sector: Prospects for Tropical Wood Products Exporters Bandara, W.A.R.T.W.; Vlosky, R.P. The U.S. has dramatically altered its wood product imports and exports during the past few years, and at present, it is the second largest wood product importer in the world. Hence, an understanding of market structures, factors in selecting foreign suppliers, and the emphasis placed on environmental issues/certification are critical to understand from the perspective of wood products importers in the U.S. This study provides an analysis of the U.S. wood products import sector with special emphasis on current and future opportunities for tropical wood products exporters to the U.S. market. In this study, 158 wood products importers in the U.S. were surveyed using a mailing questionnaire. The adjusted response rate was 40.6 percent. Results indicated that most of the respondents were small to medium scale firms, but major importers of wood products. According to respondents, wood products to the U.S. mainly come from Brazil, Chile, and China. From the importers’ perspective, Brazilian wood products ranked first for its quality followed by wood products from Chile and Finland. Product quality, long term customer relationships, on-time delivery of orders, fair prices, and supplier reputation were the factors deemed important in selecting overseas suppliers. Majority of respondents were importing certified wood products. FSC, SFI, and ISO 14000 were the mostly accepted certification programs. However, certification was not a major factor in foreign supplier selection criteria. When considered the U.S. wood products importers’ tendency to diversify their products and species imported, attractive opportunities exist for wood products suppliers from tropical countries. Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10839 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10838 Agarwood-type Resin from Gyrinops walla Gaertn: A New Discovery Subasinghe, S.M.C.U.P.; Hettiarachchi, D.S.; Rathnamalala, E. Agarwood is an expensive resinous product extracted from some members of Aquilaria and Gyrinops species of the family Thymalaeaceae. Agarwood essential oil is a highly valued perfumery product in modern cosmetics and traditional Attar. Agarwood extraction from the above species and product manufacturing are done in India and Southeast Asian countries. However, overharvesting, low natural regeneration, and legal restrictions at present, have limited the supply of this product. Gyrinops walla is recorded in the wet zone of Sri Lanka, and it had been very rarely recorded in extreme Southwest India. However, recent reports of the abundance of G. walla in India are hard to find. Studies were not conducted in the past for G. walla on its ability of agarwood resin production and the quality of that resin. This study is the first to identify the agarwood resin formation and the quality of G. walla which can be used as a substitute for that of Aquilaria and other species of Gyrinops. Resinous tissues were extracted from six G. walla trees for the present study from two different areas, i.e., Labugama and Yagirala of the wet zone of Sri Lanka. The resins were solvent extracted in the laboratory and the resin quality was tested using gas chromatography analysis. The results indicated an extreme similarity of the compounds of G. walla resin with that of commercially available agarwood resins. However, further studies should be conducted to identify G. walla distribution and formation of agarwood Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10838 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10836 Species Composition of Odonate Fauna in Meegahawatta, a Wetland Area in Hanwella, Sri Lanka Lankika, M.D.H.; Karunaratne, M.M.S.C.; Conniff, K. Approximately 120 species of Odonata (Zygoptera and Anisoptera) have been recorded in Sri Lanka to date. There are many gaps in our knowledge of Odonata taxonomy and distribution. The present study, therefore, was carried out to investigate adult Odonata species present in Meegahawatta area (1000m2) in Hanwella. The study was carried out using two fixed quadrats (20m x 10m) randomly established in two selected sites. Total number of individuals belonging to each species was counted fortnightly by using binoculars. A total of 27 species, 11 Zygoptera and 16 Anisoptera representing eight families were recorded. This comprised of three endemic Zygopteran species (Libellago adami, Pseudagrion rubiceps ceylonicum and Prodasineura sita) and three endemic anisopteran species (Epopthalmia vittata cyanocephala, Cyclogomphus gynostylus and Macrogomphus lankanensis). Among those identified was one recently discovered and yet un-described Archibasis species. Of the three endemic Anisopteran species recorded, C. gynostylus and M. lankanensis are listed as vulnerable species in the IUCN Redlist of 2010. Although the Zygopterans showed higher Diversity Index and Evenness Index (H’= 1.99, E= 0.83) than the Anisopterans (H’=1.96, E= 0.32), their Richness Index (R=1.67) was less than that of the Anisopterans (R= 2.49). The most common Zygopteran species recorded was Pseudagrion malabaricum whereas Neurothemis tulia tulia was the most common anisopteran species. Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10836 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10833 Chlorpyrifos-induced Histopathological Alterations in Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider 1799) Tadpoles: Evidence from Empirical Trials Bandara, M. G. D. K.; Wijesinghe, M. R.; Ratnasooriya, W. D. This paper reports the histopathological responses of the gill, liver and tail muscle tissues in tadpoles of the Asian Common Toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider, 1799) exposed to chlorpyrifos a common organophosphorus pesticide. Tadpoles of Gosner stages 24-26 were continuously exposed to low, mid and high (500, 1000 and 1500 μgl–1) concentrations of chlorpyrifos for two weeks. Histological alterations in the tissues of the surviving larvae were microscopically examined both at the end of the exposure period and after a week following the final exposure. Several histological alterations were noted in the gills, liver and tail muscles of the larvae exposed to 1500 μgl–1 of chlorpyrifos. The gills of exposed larvae showed architectural distortion resulting from reduced primary and secondary gill lamellae and blood vessels, and alterations in the gill epithelium. In the liver sinusoidal congestion and dilation, cytoplasmic vacuolation and changes in hepatocytes such as hyperchromatic nuclei and nuclear fragmentation were observed. The tail muscle tissue suffered from severe atrophy and myotomal disintegration. Although histological alterations in the gill and liver tissues were noted only at the high concentration, changes in the muscle tissue i.e. muscle degeneration and atrophy, were apparent at both low and mid concentrations. The degree of damage in surviving larvae in a week following the final exposure was lower than that observed during the exposure, probably indicating recovery or resistance. The findings of the present study emphasize the need to investigate possible sublethal damage induced by pesticides in amphibians inhabiting agricultural habitats. Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10833 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z