香港瓮缸群岛野生植物资源调查研究

香港瓮缸群岛共有维管植物166种,隶属于69个科138个属,其中蕨类植物7科8属10种,裸子植物2科2属2种,被子植物60科128属154种。瓮缸群岛为香港著名离岛,植被生境无人为干扰,野生植物资源利用度较低,本文通过对瓮缸群岛的植被类型和野生植物资源进行统计分析,结果表明,该群岛可供利用的植物资源共10类,分别为：药用植物103种、观赏植物107种、食用植物21种、牧草及饲用植物23种、材用植物17种、油脂植物22种、芳香精油植物25种、纤维植物13种、鞣料植物11种、有毒植物26种等,都有很高的开发利用潜力,在此基础上提出相应的保育及开发利用建议,旨在更好地保护和合理利用该群岛的野生植物资源。     

Confronting SARS: a view from Hong Kong

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) emerged as a new disease in Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China in late 2002. Within weeks it had spread to Hong Kong and thence globally to affect over 25 countries across five continents. The disease had the propensity to cause clusters of pneumonia, particularly in healthcare workers or close family contacts. A global effort coordinated by the World Health Organization successfully defined the aetiology, epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the disease, and the implementation of case identification, isolation and infection control measures led to the interruption of the global outbreak by July 2003. The pattern of disease emergence and strategies for control of SARS provides lessons for coping with future emerging infectious disease threats.     

Nutrient flow in a major urban settlement: Hong Kong

A nutrient balance is established for the contemporary urban ecosystem of Hong Kong. The flow of nutrients in the Hong Kong food system in particular is examined, including current and potential nutrient recycling patterns. Losses of nutrients in food for human consumption are found to be up to 20% for major nutrients. The flow of mineral phosphorus in the Hong Kong food system is examined in detail. About 3600 tonnes of phosphorus are lost from the Hong Kong food system each year. A comparison is made between the land-based forage area demand of the Hong Kong population and a similar-sized Western population, that of Sydney, Australia. It is estimated that the average Hong Kong person consumes a diet which requires only half the land area needed to produce the diet of the average Sydney person. However, Hong Kong relies on the ocean for 25% of its animal protein supply compared with 2.5% for Sydney. Patterns of food production and nutrient recycling are proposed, with the aim of optimizing resource utilization in close association with contemporary urban settlements.     

Hong Kong: The Anthropology of a Chinese Metropolis

Hong Kong: The Anthropology of. Chinese Metropolis. Grant Evans and Maria Tarn Siu-Mi. eds. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1997.336 pp.     

Rodent Diversity in a Highly Degraded Tropical Landscape: Hong Kong, South China

The diverse ecological roles played by different rodent species mean that the loss of some species and superabundance of others could potentially influence a wide range of ecological processes. Hong Kong (22° N, 114° E), with seven million people in a land area of 1100 km², could be considered a `worst case scenario' for the survival of mammalian diversity. Existing information on rodents in Hong Kong was compiled from previous published and unpublished studies, and additional trapping was conducted at 17 non-urban sites. The rodent fauna of modern Hong Kong consists of eight species of rats and mice (Bandicota indica, Mus caroli, M. musculus, Niviventer fulvescens, Rattus norvegicus, R. rattus, R. tanezumi, R. sikkimensis: Muridae), one porcupine (Hystrix brachyura: Hystricidae), and one recently introduced tree squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus: Sciuridae). Six of the murids are urban or agricultural commensals, so only the porcupine and two murids, N. fulvescens and R. sikkimensis, are likely survivors of Hong Kong's pre-deforestation native rodent fauna. The two murids co-dominate in forest and shrubland, but can also move through grassland, which has probably enabled their survival through repeated cycles of fragmentation and regrowth. Additional forest rodents that may have inhabited Hong Kong in the past are tentatively identified from information on their recent distributions in the region. One possible ecological consequence of Hong Kong's depleted rodent fauna is a shift in the balance between seed predation and seed dispersal, in favor of the former.     

Cataractispora receptaculorum, a new freshwater ascomycete from Hong Kong

A new species of Cataractispora, C. receptaculorum, is described from freshwater habitats. This species is characterized by triseptate verruculose ascospores and polar appendages that unfurl in water. The ascospores lack polar chambers that enclose the appendages as in C. bipolaris and C. viscosa. An ultrastructural study of this species revealed that the ascus wall and apical ring of this species is typical of the Annulatascaceae, while the ascospore wall with verruculose ornamentations and the ontogeny of the ascospore polar appendages are similar to the other species of Cataractispora. Cataractispora receptaculorum is illustrated with interference light, scanning and transmission electron micrographs.     

Weather,season, and daily stroke admissions in Hong Kong

Previous studies examining daily temperature and stroke incidence have given conflicting results. We undertook this retrospective study of all stroke admissions in those aged 35 years old and above to Hong Kong public hospitals from 1999 through 2006 in order to better understand the effects of meteorological conditions on stroke risk in a subtropical setting. We used Poisson Generalized Additive Models with daily hemorrhagic (HS) and ischemic stroke (IS) counts separately as outcomes, and daily mean temperature, humidity, solar radiation, rainfall, air pressure, pollutants, flu consultation rates, day of week, holidays, time trend and seasonality as predictors. Lagged effects of temperature, humidity and pollutants were also considered. A total of 23,457 HS and 107,505 IS admissions were analyzed. Mean daily temperature had a strong, consistent, negative linear association with HS admissions over the range (8.2-31.8°C) observed. A 1°C lower average temperature over the same day and previous 4 days (lags 0-4) being associated with a 2.7% (95% CI: 2.0-3.4%, P < .0.0001) higher admission rate after controlling for other variables. This association was stronger among older subjects and females. Higher lag 0-4 average change in air pressure from previous day was modestly associated with higher HS risk. The association between IS and temperature was weaker and apparent only below 22°C, with a 1°C lower average temperature (lags 0-13) below this threshold being associated with a 1.6% (95% CI:1.0-2.2%, P < 0.0001) higher IS admission rate. Pollutant levels were not associated with HS or IS. Future studies should examine HS and IS risk separately.     

Particle-attached and free-living bacterial communities in a contrasting marine environment: Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong

Diversity of particle-attached and free-living marine bacteria in Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong, and its adjacent coastal and estuarial environments was investigated using DNA fingerprinting and clone library analysis. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of 16S rRNA genes showed that bacterial communities in three stations of Victoria Harbor were similar, but differed from those in adjacent coastal and estuarine stations. Particle-attached and free-living bacterial community composition differed in the Victoria Harbor area. DNA sequencing of 28 bands from DGGE gel showed Alphaproteobacteria was the most abundant group, followed by the Bacteroidetes, and other Proteobacteria. Bacterial species richness (number of DGGE bands) differed among stations and populations (particle-attached and free-living; bottom and surface). BIOENV analysis indicated that the concentrations of suspended solids were the major contributing parameter for the spatial variation of total bacterial community structure. Samples from representative stations were selected for clone library (548 clones) construction and their phylogenetic distributions were similar to those of sequences from DGGE. Approximately 80% of clones were affiliated to Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Cyanobacteria. The possible influences of dynamic pollution and hydrological conditions in the Victoria Harbor area on the particle-attached and free-living bacterial community structures were discussed.     

Ascominuta lignicola, a new loculoascomycete from submerged wood in Hong Kong

Ascominuta lignicola gen. et sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on a specimen collected on submerged wood in Hong Kong.Ascominuta lignicola is characterised by relatively small ascomata, globose, 4-spored asci, and ascospores with an elaborate sheath.Ascominuta lignicola is compared withMassarina, Mycosphaerella andWettsteinina. The placement ofAscominuta in the Ascomycetesincertae sedis is discussed.     

Seasonality of a forest bird community in Hong Kong, South China

We studied the composition of a secondary forest bird community in Hong Kong (22^°N) between December 1992 and June 1995, using the variable point count method. The visual detectability of each bird species had a significant positive relationship with body length. A total of 71 bird species was recorded but three resident habitat-generalists, the Great Tit Parus major, Light-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis and Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus, accounted for 65% of the mean total bird density of 38 per ha. The number of species seen was highest between December and April and lowest from July to September, but the total bird density was highest between December and June and lowest from August to September. The main breeding season was from March to August. Insectivores and insectivore-frugivores accounted for 80% of the species and 98% of the total bird density. The percentages of migrant species and individuals are similar to those reported at equivalent latitudes in North America. Bird community diversity and composition differed considerably from that of larger, older forest areas in South China, presumably as a result of differences in forest age, area and isolation.     

Taxonomy of Selaginella: a study of characters, techniques, and classification in the Hong Kong species

This study of 11 Hung Kong species of Selaginella indicates that sufficient characters exist by which they may be conveniently, consistently, and conclusively distinguished, and implies that the same is true for the rest of the genus, which suffers from chronic taxonomic confusion. Characters assessed are: leaf size, shape, epidermal cell patterns and mesophyll structure; ligule shape; patterns seen in stem transections; sporophyll shape; microsporangium shape; sporangial distribution; and spore surface ornamentation. Of these, the shape of median leaves, the maximum size of lateral leaves and epidermal cell patterns are the most significant and distinctive foliar features. These, together with spore surface ornamentation, are the most useful for distinguishing species. Correlations between the shapes of ligules, sporophylls, microsporangia, and vascular bundles indicate natural subgeneric groups.
These studies suggest that there are two ways by which taxonomic investigations of Selaginella can be improved. First leaves and spores should be prepared in permanent mountant (e.g. Hoyer's solution) for accurate observation of size, shape, and epidermal patterns. Secondly, data should be collected on a wide range of features.     

Ipomoea aquatica as a vegetable crop in Hong Kong

The aquatic plant Ipomoea aquatica is grown in southeastern Asia as a summer leaf vegetable. It is particularly common in south China and Hong Kong, where it has a very ancient history. Two methods of cultivation are used in Hong Kong: the dry-land method utilizing raised beds and the wet-land method on flooded paddy-fields. During the summer months I. aquatica supplies up to 15% of local vegetable production.     

Village Life in Hong Kong: Politics, Gender, and Ritual in the New Territories

Village Life in Hong Kong: Politics, Gender, and Ritual in the New Territories . James L. Watson and Rubie S. Watson. Sha Tin, NT: Chinese University Press, 2004. 490 pp.     

Prader--Willi syndrome: 16-year experience in Hong Kong

Prader-Willi syndrome(PWS) is an important,wellrecognized syndromic form of neurodevelopmental disorder. The incidence is about 1 in 15,000-25,000 live births,and it affects both males and females(Vogels et al.,2004).The underlying genetic defects occur at an imprinted region on chromosome 15q11-13.Within this region,some genes only express on the maternally inherited chromosome 15,like UBE3A and ATP10C;while other genes only express on the paternally inherited chromosome 15,like MKRN3,MAGEL2, NDN,C15orf2,SNURF-SNRPN,and a number of small     

Nodulation of native woody legumes in Hong Kong, China

Woody legumes can play an important role in forest restoration on degraded land but the knowledge of woody legumes has lagged behind their uses. This study is a pioneer investigation to explore the ability of native woody legumes to form root nodules and fix nitrogen in Hong Kong. Nine sites of different habitat types were surveyed during both wet and dry seasons for two years. Young plants of woody legumes along studied transects were excavated. The patterns of nodulation and nodule morphology were recorded and the nitrogen fixing ability was tested by acetylene-reduction-assay. Twenty-eight species in 16 genera were examined, of which 20 species were nodulating and eight non-nodulating, including all six species in the Caesalpinioideae. Five species were new records to the world’s nodulation inventory. Bowringia callicarpa was a new species and genus examined, which was non-nodulating. The overall nodulation pattern was consistent with previous studies. Nodulation was more profuse in some shrub species while inconsistent in most tree species. Species with higher proportion of nodulated individual plants also tended to have more nodules in each plant. Spherical nodules were common in shrub and woody climber species whilst tree species usually had woody indeterminate nodules. Seasonal difference in the amount of senescent nodules was noted in most species. All the nodules tested by acetylene-reduction-assay were effectively nitrogen-fixing, with nitrogenase activity ranging from 4 μmol C₂H₄ g^?1 h^?1 to 20 μmol C₂H₄ g^?1 h^?1, which was comparable to other tropical tree species. The findings in nodulation pattern and nitrogen fixing ability of these species are essential in their application in forest restoration on degraded lands.