Conservation evaluation of nine Hong Kong mangals

A comparative analysis of the conservation value of nine Hong Kong mangals spread across Hong Kong has been undertaken. The analysis is based on both biological and socio-economic attributes. Biological attributes used in the analysis include plant species richness, benthic and arboreal gastropod species richness, occurrence of rare species within each site, and site representativeness. A review of the past and present development and development plans around and within each site has been undertaken to assess the comparative degree of hazard to each mangal. The drastic decline of mangal habitats throughout Hong Kong highlights the need for conservation of what remains today. Priorities and strategies for conservation of these nine mangals are discussed with particular emphasis on the preservation of biodiversity and the management of these habitats as education and research sites.Department of Applied Biology & Chemical Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic     

香港淡水及海产贝类感染吸虫幼虫期的调查研究

作者于1983年4月及1986年4月二次在香港检查该地区20个村庄11种淡水螺(共11680粒),及14个海区包括红树林地带和无红树林的海滩中的22种海产贝类(共12580粒)。查获26种吸虫幼虫期,其中12种见于淡水螺(5种〕,8种寄生于红树林地带的海螺(7种),5种寄生于无红树林海区的贝类(6种),1种见于在红树林地带和无红树林海滩生存的海螺(5种)。寄生淡水螺的吸虫幼虫期分隶于Cortrematidae;Maseniidae;Schistosomatidae;Notocotylidae;Strigeidae;Paramphi-stomidae;Plagiorchidae;Philophthalmidaes;Microphallidae及Heterophyidae等科。寄生于海产贝类的吸虫幼虫期分隶于Philophthalmidae; Heterophyidae;Fellodistomidae; Cyathoco-tylidae;Echinostomatidae;Opecoelidae等科及Plagiorchioidea总科。     

SAND-DWELLING OPISTHOBRANCHS FROM HONG KONG

Five species of interstitial opisthobranch gastropod includingone new species, Pseudovermis chinensis are reported from coarsesand in littoral and sublittoral habitats around Hong Kong andthe south China Sea. (Received 15 August 1989; accepted 4 April 1991)     

A biological survey of ballast water in container ships entering Hong Kong

The role of ballast water in the introduction of exotic species has recently received extensive attention. The aim of this study is to assess the importance of ballast water discharge as a vector for the introduction of exotic species into Hong Kong waters. Twelve ballast water samples were collected from 5 container ships entering Hong Kong between June1994 and October 1995. The ballast water originated from ports on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. At least 81 species from 8 animal phyla and 5 protist phyla were found. Most of the major marine taxonomic groups were represented and many planktonic larval stages were included. Species richness in the ballast tanks decreased with the age of ballast water. Copepoda was the most diverse and abundant taxonomic group. The density of calanoid and cyclopoid copepods decreased with the age of ballast water, but that of harpacticoid copepods did not change significantly with time. Bivalve, crustacean, polychaete and ascidian larvae from ballast water samples were observed to settle in laboratory culture tanks. The mussel Mytilopsis sallei which was introduced to Hong Kong in 1980, was one of the bivalves that settled readily. Results of this study indicate that ballast water can be a major source for the introduction of exotic species to Hong Kong waters. Regulatory guidelines on the discharge of ballast water should be established. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Hong Kong’s rich marine biodiversity: the unseen wealth of South China’s megalopolis

Hong Kong is famous as a bustling harbour and financial centre, with a dense burgeoning population impacting its coastal environment. Yet, away from the skyscrapers and the pressures of anthropogenic influence, Hong Kong supports a rich marine biodiversity, including corals and mangrove communities. Despite having a small marine area (1651 km²), a total of 5943 marine species have been recorded in Hong Kong waters. Most of these species were reported during the 1980s and 1990s, but new species continue to be discovered, and ~6500 species are estimated. Even though Hong Kong’s marine area is only ~0.03 % of that of China, the number of marine species recorded in Hong Kong already accounts for ~26 % of the total recorded in China. Hong Kong also contributes to a considerable amount (>30 %) of the species records for several taxa including amphipods, cephalopods, polychaetes and fish in the South China Sea, and ~29 % of the hermit crab species in the largest global marine species database, the World Register of Marine Species. These findings demonstrate the rich marine biota found in Hong Kong, which probably reflects Hong Kong’s location within the fringes of the world’s marine biodiversity hotspot.     

Exotic plant invasion in the highly degraded upland landscape of Hong Kong, China

Plant communities in the continental tropics have suffered less from exotic plant invasions than their oceanic island counterparts. Most studies have focused on near-pristine communities. By contrast, we examine the resistance of semi-natural continental plant communities in Hong Kong, which have been suffering from chronic and massive human impacts. We compiled a list of all naturalized non-native species recorded in Hong Kong and then sampled the plant communities for exotic species along roadsides, a stream through semi-natural vegetation, and in semi-natural vegetation away from both roads and streams on Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong’s highest peak (957 m). Similar surveys were repeated in other areas of Hong Kong. More than 162 naturalized exotic plant species have been recorded in Hong Kong. On Tai Mo Shan, 29 exotic species were recorded in roadside vegetation, with the diversity but not percentage cover declining significantly with altitude. Fifteen exotic species were found along the stream, including two not found along the roadside. Only six exotic species were found away from roads and streams, all in unshaded areas disturbed by feral cattle. In all surveys, no exotics were found in closed woody vegetation or in open areas without feral cattle, except for one species. The shade-tolerant tropical Asian tree Syzygium jambos was found invading along some streamsides without anthropogenic disturbance. Despite centuries of massive human impacts, exotic plant invasions in Hong Kong are still largely confined to habitats that suffer from chronic human disturbance. Feral cattle promote invasion where people are absent, but this problem still seems potentially reversible. Only Syzygium jambos is of possible current conservation concern.     

Morphological, allozymic, and karyotypic distinctions between Neritina (Dostia) violacea and N. (D.) cornucopia (Gastropoda: Neritoidea)

Two species of mangrove gastropod, Neritina (Dostia) violacea Gmelin, 1791 and N. (D.) cornucopia Benson, 1836, from Hong Kong have been compared morphologically, allozymically, and karyotypically. The two can be identified by differences in shell pigmentation patterns, ventral shell characters, and radular teeth characters. Allozymic variations at 15 presumptive gene loci were examined. Average heterozygosities were 0.058 in local populations of N. (D.) violacea and 0.138 in N. (D.) cornucopia. Six enzyme encoding loci were typically diagnostic for individuals of each species and no hybrid patterns have been recorded. Nei's standard genetic distance and genetic identity between the two species were estimated to be 0.814 and 0.443, respectively. Karyotypic investigations have revealed that both species are diplonts, with two X-chromosomes in females and one in males. Diploid numbers are 2n = 20 + XX (or XO) for N. (D.) violacea and 2n = 26 + XX (or XO) for N. (D.) cornucopia.     

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.     

An investigation into some physical and biotic effects of flooding on reservoir mud previously subjected to a period of aerial exposure

A series of laboratory experiments were carried out in order to investigate the effects of selected physical and biotic processes on the substratum of a recently flooded gently sloping marginal zone of Plover Cove Reservoir, Hong Kong. The physical effects of disturbance of the sediments promoted the redistribution of organic matter, as shown by differences in the percentage of organic matter in the supernatant and residue resulting when reservoir mud was stirred. It is suggested that such a process would promote the transfer of allochthonous organic carbon from the marginal zone (the area of input of such material) to the rest of the water body. Substrate characteristics were also influenced by the activities of two species of benthic gastropod,Sinotaia quadrata andMelanoides tuberculata. These animals increased the rate of production of particles from soaked blocks of parent mud when compared with experimental treatments in the absence of snails. Additionally both species enhanced the production of aggregates from fine sediments with a particle size of less than 125 µm. The magnitudes of both processes were statistically significant. Laboratory observations showed thatM. tuberculata had a significantly faster rate of aggregate and fine particulate production thanS. quadrata and it is possible that the former species may have the capacity to modify the substrate characteristics of the newly flooded marginal zone of Plover Cove.Department of Zoology, The University of Hong Kong     

入侵我国红火蚁的三种单倍型

红火蚁Solenopsis invicta Buren是重要的经济害虫,特别是在农业和生态系统危害方面。2004年底在广东和香港的部分地区发现红火蚁入侵。本文用线粒体细胞色素氧化酶Ⅰ（CO Ⅰ）基因对境内的13个种群进行了入侵蚁巢是否独立传入进行了分析。通过对共计28个蚁巢56个体的包含904个碱基的CO Ⅰ基因分析,发现入侵中国的红火蚁中存在3种单倍型。基于未修正的配对序列变异分析表明,单倍型Ⅱ与单倍型Ⅲ之间的变异最小。而香港种群同时具有这三种单倍型,是入侵中国的红火蚁种群中多样性最丰富的地区。这三种单倍型都分别在阿根廷红火蚁种群中有记录。同源性分析显示,中国的红火蚁可能起源于阿根廷或南美洲,而香港可能是所研究种群的第一入侵地点。     

中国热带黏菌的已知种类

我国广东、广西、云南和台湾4省区的南部及海南、香港和澳门全境均在北回归线以南,属于地理上的热带。为了全面系统地开展我国热带地区黏菌资源的多样性和分类学研究,文中通过标本采集、鉴定和复核以及文献考证研究了已知的发生于中国热带地区的黏菌种类,对一些物种分类地位和名称变化进行了更新,同时记述了每个物种的生境和在我国热带地区的分布。结果表明:中国热带地区现知黏菌6目13科35属160种,其中,广东南部为23种,广西南部为61种,海南为33种,云南南部为67种,台湾南部为26种,香港为66种,澳门为10种。从黏菌的目级水平来看,中国热带地区现知黏菌鹅绒菌目1种,刺轴菌目5种,无丝菌目22种,团毛菌目32种,绒泡菌目73种,发网菌目27种。     

喜盐草属在中国香港特别行政区的新记录及分类补注

报道小喜盐草Halophila minor (Zoll.) den Hartog在香港的首次记录, 同时也是除沿海岛屿(海南及南沙群岛)以外中国大陆的首次记录。喜盐草属在中国最早的记录可追溯至1856年(香港九龙湾), 包括喜盐草H. ovalis及贝克喜盐草H. beccarii在内, 目前已知3种喜盐草属植物分布香港。尽管从前小喜盐草及圆叶喜盐草H. ovata曾作同种处理, 现已有最新证据清楚区别这两种喜盐草(本文证实圆叶喜盐草不产香港)。因本属的世界分布及分类最近已被全面修订, 使得准确鉴别各种喜盐草成为可能。香港的海岸面对高速发展, 海草的保育尤需关注。     

中国香港淡水鱼类的生物多样性与保护

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,China,has an area of1095km2and is located at the edge of thenorthern tropical zone.The landscape is dominated byhills and ravines withflat landrestrictedtothe lowflood-plains and coastal regions.Inthis hilly domain,the smallrocky streams are typically fast flowing at their uplandsources,and graduallyreduceinspeed asthey wind alonghill cuttings to reach the lowlands.While streams arecommonlyfound,rivers are very limited in number.Thefewlong and meanderi…     

香港索罟群岛植被与植物物种多样性研究

索罟群岛植被的次生性很强,以常绿灌丛为主,兼有次生性常绿阔叶林、滨海沙生灌草丛及少量半红树植物,其中灌木、草本植物种类丰富。群岛共有维管植物259种,隶属于85科207属,其中本土野生植物70科193属245种,包括2种受国家或地方保护的植物。其植物区系热带性质明显,56.47%的科属于泛热带分布,94.69%的属为热带分布类型,83.40%的种为热带分布,与邻近的广东内伶仃岛植物区系具有较高的相似性。受岛屿面积、海拔、隔离程度及人类活动等因素影响,群岛各岛屿的植物物种多样性各有特点,其中大鸦洲、小鸦洲植物种类最丰富。     

Javan mongoose or small Indian mongoose–who is where?

The Javan mongoose Urva javanica and the small Indian mongoose Urva auropunctata have been recently shown not to be conspecific. However, the limits of their respective distribution ranges have not been fully defined. In particular, Chinese populations were not attributed to either species using molecular data. Furthermore, the small mongooses found on Hong Kong Island (discovered at the end of the 1980s) were not clearly attributed to U. auropunctata or U. javanica, nor their status (native or introduced) established. The main aims of this study were to: (1) investigate the intraspecific genetic diversity and structure within these two species; and (2) clarify the distribution limits of U. auropunctata and U. javanica, and in particular, to identify Chinese populations, and determine which species occurs on Hong Kong Island (and whether they are native or introduced). The analyses of one nuclear and three mitochondrial genes confirmed the separation of U. javanica and U. auropunctata, and showed that the populations from southern China and Hong Kong Island belong to U. javanica. The intraspecific geographical structure of the two species is clarified, and the taxonomic implications are discussed. In particular, we found a strong divergence of Javan individuals of U. javanica, which should be considered a separate subspecies.     

Selection and characterization of crystalviolet-and malachite-green-resistant mutants in Volvariella volvacea

Volvariella volvacea, the straw mushroom, has long been considered as a primary homothallic species. However, great variations in monosporous isolates have ralsed a considerable debate on the sexuality pattern of this edible Basidiomycete fungus. Because clamp connection is absent in V. volvacea, the production of genetically marked strains offers a possible means of resolving this problem. In this study, ultraviolet irradiation of basidiospores and mycellal fragments was used to induce crystal-violet- and malachite-green-resistant mutants. Cross-resistance to crystal violet and malachite green occurred between both classes of mutant. The difficulties of inducing mutants in this multinucleate fungus and the significance of mutant markers are discussed.The authors are with the Department of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.     

Are Hong Kong and Taiwan stepping‐stones for invasive species to the mainland of China?

Understanding the origins and introduction pathways of invasive species is a fundamental issue for invasion biology, which is necessary for predicting and preventing future invasion. Once an invasive species is established in a new location, this location could serve as a stepping‐stone for further invasions. However, such “stepping‐stone” effect has not been widely investigated. Using the published literature and records, we compiled the first found locations of 127 top invasive species in China. Our study showed that the most common landing spots of these invasive species were Hong Kong (22 species) and Taiwan (20 species), which accounted for one‐third of the invasive species in China. Our analysis revealed that the invasive species in mainland China were more likely to transport from Hong Kong than Macau, a neighboring region with a similar area and colonial history. Similarly, more invasive species were also first landed on Taiwan than Hainan, a nearby island sharing similar climate conditions. Together, our findings indicate that Hong Kong and Taiwan are the most important stepping‐stones for invasive species to the mainland of China and suggesting that the increasing trade exchange of China's coastal ports constitutes a potential risk for the spread of more invasive species. We suppose that they would be the future stepping‐stones for invasive species to the mainland of China and these coastal ports regions where improved biosecurity is needed now.     

香港蕨类植物分布新记录和名称修订(三)

报道了近年在香港再发现的两个属－黄腺蕨属（叉蕨科）和网藤蕨属（藤蕨科）,并对港产的黄腺蕨、有盖黄腺蕨和网藤蕨的标本和文献进行整理,及对国产的相近种类作分类处理,把钩形黄腺羽蕨和广西黄腺羽蕨归并于黄腺蕨中。此外,亦对网藤蕨进行了长期观察,证实了Holtum关于该种的叶轴顶端的形态修正。黄腺蕨属和网藤蕨属在香港的再发现,对华南蕨植物地理区系的研究具有一定的意义。由于这两属在本地均为罕见之种类,故可考虑到入得法珍稀蕨类名单之内。     

Missing teeth: Discordances in the trade of hippo ivory between Africa and Hong Kong

As the global epicentre of wildlife trade, Hong Kong plays an important role in the preservation or demise of biodiversity, including species found continents away. If mismanaged, legal trade in threatened species can lead to unsustainable exploitation. Inaccurate and incomplete trade records from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) undermine the regulation of this trade. We examine the trade of hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius) teeth to illustrate the extent of mismatched data between key trading nations. More than 90% of global hippo teeth trade is imported to, and re‐exported from, Hong Kong. Of that imported, over 75% originated in Tanzania or Uganda, but there are notable disparities in declared trade volumes. In most transactions, Hong Kong declares more volume imported than the volume declared exported by Uganda. Overall, Hong Kong has reported the import of 3,176 kg more hippo teeth than declared exported by Tanzania. This indicates that actual trade levels may exceed internationally agreed quotas. In total, over 14,000 kg of hippo teeth is unaccounted for between Uganda and Hong Kong, representing more than 2,700 individual hippos—2% of the global population. This gross discordance in trade data undermines regulatory measures and challenges the persistence of hippo populations in Africa.     

A comparative study of chemical contamination in sediments of East River (Dongjiang) and selected reservoirs in Hong Kong

Abstract

The levels of TKN, orthophosphate, heavy metals and trace organics including total PCBs and PAHs in the sediments of the East River (Dongjiang) and various reservoirs in Hong Kong were chemically analyzed. It was found that the sediments of various sections of Dongjing and the Shenzhen Reservoir were contaminated by heavy metals at slight to medium levels. Generally speaking, the highest levels of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were recorded in the middle and lower tributaries of Dongjaing, particularly those near Tangxia and Guanlan. Slight amount of PCBs, PAHs were also detected in the lower sections of Dongjiang, indicating industrial contamination due to economic growth in the 1980–90s. Comparatively, only slight amounts of heavy metals were detected in the sediments of some Hong Kong reservoirs that store imported Dongjiang water. Moreover, trace organics including PCBs and PAHs were rarely detected in the reservoirs of Hong Kong. Nevertheless, the high acidity in the sediments of Hong Kong reservoirs is noteworthy. Results revealed that the Dongjiang waters were purified to a certain extent before being imported to and stored at the Hong Kong reservoirs. At present, health risks from the drinking water of Hong Kong are not apparent. However, the long-term trend of organic and inorganic contamination in Dongjiang should not be overlooked and remedial actions should be taken as early as possible. Collaboration between the governments of Hong Kong and Mainland China in tackling chemical pollution in drinking water is an example of cross-border cooperation and control measures should be stepped up as soon as possible.