MAY 2002 NUMBER 25 Porcupine!

Newsletter of the Department of Ecology & , The University of The empty forest

In Hong Kong’s climate, forest is the natural vegetation everywhere. It can be suppressed by regular cutting or burning, but the harvesting of biomass for fuel ended decades ago and fires, although still common, are less often started and more rapidly controlled near urban areas than next to rural villages. An increase in the area of forest is therefore an inevitable, if paradoxical, consequence of the increasing urbanisation of the New Territories. Hong Kong Island, where the last grassland is disappearing under a tidal wave of shrubs and trees, illustrates the future for the whole territory. Within fifty years, forest will cover most of Hong Kong.

Good news for native biodiversity, surely? Well…yes… partly. It is true that many of our most diverse inland sites are in forest, but these are areas that have had continuous tree cover for centuries, as a result of inaccessibility or the protection of feng shui. The much larger areas of young secondary forest are a lot less diverse. Even at the best sites, the diversity is in the plants and invertebrates – organisms that can persist in the tiniest of forest patches. Vertebrates do not survive in such situations so Hong Kong has lost most species that require forest. The new forests are therefore empty in comparison with the larger, older forest areas in Guangdong, and even more so if compared with what must have been here a thousand years ago. There are no reliable records for Hong Kong from before the nineteenth century, when the vertebrate fauna was already impoverished. To get an idea of what has been lost, we must therefore extrapolate from recent and historical records for the South China region. These records suggest the local extinction, by the nineteenth century, of at least the following families of forest vertebrates: monkeys, gibbons, elephants, rhinoceroses, squirrels, flying squirrels, bamboo rats, pheasants, woodpeckers and trogons (Corlett, 2002). A species list would be much longer, since several major vertebrate groups, such as the babblers, , mustelids and rodents, are represented by just a few survivors of the original diversity.

But Hong Kong today does have squirrels and monkeys, and babbler list increases year by year. Doesn’t this suggest that forest vertebrate diversity will recover of its own accord? Unfortunately, the presence of these species is as much bad news as good. Almost all the increase in diversity over the past century was the result of the deliberate release of captive : the first monkeys in 1913, the squirrels around 1970, and most babblers within the last 20 years. Motivations have varied but few, if any, of the releasers have been concerned with the ecological consequences of their actions. The released species have been a random selection from those imported into Hong Kong, usually for sale as pets. Our monkeys are a hybrid mix, our squirrels are from Thailand and Shanghai, and while some of our new babblers were probably present in the region before deforestation, others are from Southwest China (Carey et al., 2001). A few bird species have made it to Hong Kong of their own accord, but the non-forest areas north of the border are an impenetrable barrier to most forest specialists.

Neither letting the new forests remain empty, nor filling them with exotic species released by kind-hearted Buddhists, makes any ecological sense. Only a program of planned reintroductions of species that used to be here in the past can restore a diverse, functioning forest ecosystem (see p.16). Such a program would have multiple benefits: it would restore ecological processes, such as seed dispersal, that have been truncated by local extinctions; it would enhance public awareness and support for conservation; and it would increase the security of the species concerned, by providing additional wild populations. Reintroduction of ecologically appropriate species would also reduce the risk that invasive exotics will fill the many vacant niches in our empty forests. Richard T. Corlett (For bibliography see back page.) 2 Porcupine! News from DEB

NUMBER 25 It is always good to start on a positive note. Accordingly, May 2002 as promised in my last Porcupine! missive, I am going to report some good news from the Department of Ecology & Biodiversity. Firstly, recruitment of ‘new blood’. DEB Newsletter of the Department of Ecology & has added not one, but two new members of staff to the ranks this year. Both have been appointed as Research Biodiversity, The University of Hong Kong Assistant Professors (more or less equivalent to a junior lecturer), and will have some teaching duties in addition INSIDE THIS ISSUE: to the responsibility (as the title suggests) of undertaking lots of research. Dr Kenny Leung joined us in January from Royal Holloway College in London; a profile is included elsewhere in this issue (p. 5). Dr Benny Chan was formerly a postdoctoral fellow in DEB and, for the The empty forest 1 tenure of his RAP post, will be based at SWIMS. An DEB news 2 account of his ongoing activities will appear in the next Editorial 2 issue of Porcupine!

Feedback 3 What else is new? Version 3.0 of the Biodiversity Survey Introducing Kenneth Mei-yee Leung 5 database has been completed, and was passed to Invertebrates 6 Government in February. Those of you with long memories may recall that the Survey was underwritten by Vertebrates 8 the Environment and Conservation Fund of Government, Flora 14 and that much of the fieldwork was undertaken in 1996 Miscellany 16 and 1997. Version 1.0 of the database was made available in 1999. Version 3.0 is more comprehensive and includes Book Review 24 over 5,000 species and around 100,000 records. The Wild Corner 24 biodiversity data have been complied and can be analysed Recent publications 27 using Geographic Information System software so that 2001 Postgraduate degrees from DEB 32 spatial patterns in the occurrence of plants and animals across Hong Kong can be examined. In short, the database shows what species occur where, and thus it can Editorial be interrogated and used as a starting point for finding out whether or not planned developments and designated As we move from child- to adulthood, one thing we learn is that projects are likely to have an impact on biodiversity. That the world is often not as it might seem, or, indeed, as it should be. information can then be taken into account when a In the area of conservation and resource management, this is thorough environmental impact assessment is undertaken particularly apparent when the perspectives or objectives of the and decisions about compensation, mitigation or public, government and/or big business are at odds, which they avoidance of impacts need to be taken. often are. It is therefore important to recognize the effects that such differences can have on legislation, and on the ways in Of less import to Hong Kong, but of concern to DEB, is a which our interests or concerns are actually being addressed. third matter. The University of Hong Kong is to undergo Examples emerge from among this issue's articles of Porcupine! a Teaching and Learning Quality Process Review in June that illustrate how alert we need to be. Reintroductions might that will be undertaken by a panel of overseas experts appear to be good in general but it is the types of reintroductions appointed by the University Grants Committee. The and the way(s) they are conducted that are critically important focus of the review is quality assurance mechanisms and (p.1). As biologists, we might reasonably expect that and processes, and the results will “inform funding decisions” marine invertebrates are considered part of the kingdom in the long term. Given the size of HKU, it isn’t possible and therefore receive protection under the Wild Animals to review all teaching departments so a handful have been Protection Ordinance; surprisingly they are not and hence do not selected for special attention and site visits from the panel. receive protection (p.13). We might predict that the high DEB is one of the departments chosen to represent the economic value of our natural resources is factored into long-term University: whether that is an honour or a curse will development plans (p.17) but in reality short-term business become clearer as June nears. We shall see. interests generally override such potential benefits. Clearly we need to be aware about what 'is', rather than what 'appears to be' in the latest sound-bite or public relations hyperbole. Thanks to David Dudgeon many of our contributors for opening our eyes. YS 3

fisheries resources conservation and management strategies. Feedback Fisheries management proposals supported by the working group include a territorial-wide fishing licence system, the Dear Feedback, establishment of Fisheries Protection Areas (FPAs) at Tolo Channel and Port Shelter waters, the deployment of ARs and I refer to the front-page article in the last issue of Porcupine! restocking of fry. (issue 24), entitled, “Irresponsible Fishery” by Dr. Yvonne Sadovy. Yvonne states, “the principle (sic) recommendation ARs are one of the cheapest anti-trawl enforcement measures from top fishery experts of the University of British Colombia available and undoubtedly represent one of the simplest and (UBC) to address overfishing in Hong Kong was a substantial most pragmatic ways of protecting important spawning and reduction in fishing effort.” Yvonne goes on to criticise nursery areas subjected to heavy bottom trawling pressure. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) Our experience with AR to date demonstrates they are very for not heeding this advice and instead implementing costly effective at preventing bottom trawling and have been heavily artificial reef (AR) and restocking programmes. These used by commercial fishes for shelter and feeding. Many comments are misleading and do not reflect the species of snapper, bream, grunt, sweetlip and grouper have recommendations of the UBC consultants. In the fisheries also made extensive use of AR for nursery and spawning consultancy study conducted by ERM-HK, with UBC acting purposes. Over 150 species have been recorded on ARs in as a subconsultant (ERM-HK, 1998), six high priority Hong Kong as part of AFCD’s post deployment monitoring recommendations were made. These recommendations are programme. summarised below: - AFCD sponsored UBC to forecast potential benefits and to (i) Establish a fishing licence programme; conduct a cost benefit analysis of the use of ARs in fisheries (ii) Limit new entrants to the fishery (i.e. reduce fishing protection areas, using sophisticated ecosystem simulation pressure); techniques and bioeconomic analysis. The results were (iii) Establish nursery and spawning ground protection areas published in the Bulletin of Marine Science (Pitcher et al., (i.e. Fisheries Protection Areas, Marine Parks and 2000). Pitcher and his team concluded that a successful Reserves); implementation of AFCD’s fisheries protection area proposals, (iv) Enhance habitat; protected and enhanced by AR, could provide significant (v) Restore habitat; benefits within 10 years, with shifts to a low-value pelagic fish (vi) Conduct fish restocking trials. reversed and an additional 50% discounted profit over 30 years. The first two recommendations do indeed relate directly to reduction in fishing effort but recommendations (iv) and (vi) The proposed Fisheries Protection Areas (FPA), which are also relate directly to the AR programme and the fish much larger in extent than existing and proposed Marine restocking trials. These were both high priority Parks, are expressly designed to manage fisheries. This recommendations made by ERM and UBC in favour of these approach greatly simplifies the necessary consultation programmes. UBC’s position on AR was made very clear in a procedures and potential sources of objection, which beset the recent ‘Ghoti’* paper (Pitcher & Seaman, 2000). Interestingly establishment of Marine Parks and Marine Reserves, which in they invoke Petrarch's principle i.e. “to know things unseen, addition to fisheries also involve management of recreational and commercial activities including navigation, mooring and yet to ignore things seen”. Pitcher and Seaman conclude, “that anchoring etc. The implementation of extensive FPA, linked we should act to use common sense methods to restore and to an AR programme with appropriate fisheries management protect today's depleted ecosystems even when we do not yet controls of Hong Kong waters, will help to ensure the have definitive scientific evaluation”. It is clear from this development of sustainable fisheries in Hong Kong waters. This paper that Pitcher is in favour of well-planned AR strategy was discussed in a paper presented at an International programmes, provided they are managed effectively and sited Conference on Artificial Reefs, Sanremo, Liguria, Italy in in hard bottom, habitat limited areas. Since January 1993, Dr 1999 (Wilson et al., in press) and the advantages of using Tony Pitcher, has been Professor of Fisheries and the first FPAs protected with AR were detailed in a paper presented at Director of the Fisheries Centre, at UBC. the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) East Asia Conference (Wilson & Leung, 2001). AFCD is pursuing all the high priority recommendations of the ERM/UBC consultancy. However, the speed of Bibliography implementation is largely dictated by the lengthy consultation process necessary to address all stakeholders legitimate Environmental Resources Management Consultants Hong Kong Ltd. (ERM- HK). (1998). Fisheries Resources and Fishing Operations in Hong Kong concerns. A Working Group on Fisheries Management was set Waters. Final Report. Agriculture and Fisheries Department, Hong Kong up in mid-1999 to advise AFCD on matters relating to Government. 4

Pitcher, T.J., R. Watson, N. Haggan, S. Guénette, R. Kennish, R. Sumaila, D. or NGOs, and I am now trying to make up for lost time. Cook, K.D.P. Wilson & Leung, A. (2001). Marine reserves and the restoration of fisheries and marine ecosystems in the South China Sea. Bull. Mar. Sci. 66(3): 543-566. Jackie Yip Pitcher, T.J. & Seaman W. Jr. (2000). Petrarch's Principle: how protected human-made reefs can help the reconstruction of fisheries and marine Dear Feedback, ecosystems. Fish & Fisheries 1: 73-81.

Wilson, K.D.P. & Leung, A.Y.W. (2001). Role of Artificial Reefs in Marine One of many responses to my article on Irresponsible Fishing Protected Areas. Presented at the World Commission on Protected Areas in the last issue of Porcupine! was to ask what consumers (WCPA) East Asia Conference, “Challenges of Nature Conservation in the themselves can do if they want to contribute to sustainable Face of Development Pressure”, June 2001. fisheries, not only in Hong Kong waters (which only supplies Wilson, K.D.P., Leung, A.Y.W. & Kennish, R. (2002 in press). Restoration of 10% of our seafood anyway), but in general. It is an excellent fisheries through deployment of artificial reefs in marine protected areas. question (thanks SM), for although many of us care very much Presented at the Seventh International Conference on Artificial Reefs and about questionable fishing practices, both locally and globally, Related Aquatic Habitats (7th CARAH), October, 1999, Sanremo, Liguria, Italy, to be publ in ICES JMS. few have enough information to make even simple day-to-day decisions that could contribute to positive change. *‘Ghoti’ is another way of spelling fish (‘gh’ sound from rough, ‘o’ from women, and ‘ti’ from palatial). With increasing concern about overfishing, there is also a growing recognition that consumers can (should?) effect Keith DP Wilson change through their actions (the tuna/dolphin case is a good [email protected] example). When choosing what seafood to eat, here are some good and not so good choices, as recommended by the Living Editor’s note: the original article in Porcupine! 24 referred to the expert sub- Oceans Program of The National Audubon Society, consultant’s report. The report referred to in this letter was prepared by the (http://magazine.audubon.org/seafood/guide/), and Ocean consultant in collaboration with AFCD and includes several Conservation Seafood Watch (Monterey Bay Aquarium) recommendations (including iv – vi above) not made by the sub-consultant. It (http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/efc_oc/dngr_food_watch.asp). was these additional recommendations that were addressed in Porcupine! 24. The following is a brief summary of these lists. Best seafood Dear Feedback, choices likely to be available in local outlets are Pacific albacore tuna, Pacific squid, farmed clams, mussels, oysters, In a recent issue (No. 35) of the Bulletin of the Institute of rainbow trout, striped bass and tilapia, wild-caught Alaskan Ecology & Environmental Management, the editorial salmon, mahi-mahi (or dolphinfish), and New Zealand Hoki. identified gaps in the skills possessed by ecology graduates, On the lists of seafood to be avoided are bluefin tuna, caviar and those demanded by the commercial and statutory sectors from wild-caught sturgeon, Patagonian toothfish, Atlantic cod, in the UK. I was surprised to read that, in a country orange roughy, rockfish, farmed and Atlantic salmon, all pioneering the studies of natural history, ‘very few graduates sharks, most wild-caught and farmed prawns or shrimp, are able to identify taxa to a level which would make them swordfish, and grouper (the implication being wild-caught proficient as a practicing ecologist’. It also specified that grouper). It is interesting to note that among the listed species, ‘plant identification skills are often very poor’, even among wild-caught sources are not always ‘bad’, nor mariculture botany graduates. This sounds surprisingly similar to the sources always ‘good’. Please remember that the above is just situation in Hong Kong. In the consultancy sector that I a summary of species on the two lists so do check the previously worked in, well-qualified ecologists who can do websites. There is also an ‘in-between’ list. If you are not sure decent fieldwork and correctly identify the organisms are of the source of seafood you want to buy or order, it may well always lacking. The shortage of expertise was highlighted in a be worth asking in the restaurant, market or shop. You may or survey of Environmental Impact Assessments in a past issue may not receive an informed answer but you will at least draw of Porcupine! 16. attention to the fact that the source might matter. Many of the best field ecologists I know started studying the organisms when they were teenagers. Is it reasonable to For local recommendations of seafood 'does and don'ts' see expect ecology graduates to acquire such skills during their http://www.wwf.org.hk/eng/conservation/wl_trade/reef_fish/c three years in university? Has our curriculum given enough onsumer_education.htm. [Note, however, that since this opportunities for them to explore and develop these skills? campaign was launched it has become possible to hatchery- Having graduated so long ago, I am not the best person to rear giant grouper.] The humphead wrasse (locally known as answer this. From my personal experience, however, I believe So Mei) should always be avoided - it is listed as 'vulnerable' that the ability to identify a group of organisms is essential for on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. ecological professionals, whether in consultancy, government, Yvonne Sadovy 5

world. I was amazed that these bird guys were endlessly Introducing Kenneth Mei-yee energetic and enthusiastic about their research. They also taught me a lot about biometrics. My doctoral study was Leung concerned with the use of metallothioneins in marine gastropods as biological markers for metal contamination and I very much enjoy remembering my childhood - everyday was toxicity. This involved extensive field work in the freezing fun and exciting with so many undiscovered things ahead. In cold of the western coast of . To be honest, it is much fact, I never dreamed of becoming a scientist – a research more enjoyable doing fieldwork in HK. In late 1999, I spent assistant professor in DEB. Why did I end up as an aquatic three even more freezing months in Iceland, investigating toxicologist/ marine ecologist? I suspect that my past might metal contamination profiles on Icelandic coasts through provide some cues. My father was a marine engineer of the biomonitoring. Hong Kong government’s Marine Department and he often took me to work when I was a kid. I have fallen in love with Upon completion of my doctorate, I took up a Croucher the sea since then, and not just because of the taste of seafood. Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Royal Holloway College, University of London, in . My Interestingly, I didn’t do well in school or open exams. I put postdoctoral research centred on the development of a that down to having too many extra-curricular activities, such probabilistic and realistic approach to assessing ecological as serving as a cadet for the Civil Aid Services. At eighteen, risks of industrial chemicals on aquatic environments. In the my exam results were not good enough to be accepted by the UK, we often had very productive and fruitful discussions University and I had to decide whether to repeat one more about sciences over beer or ale. Interestingly, my colleagues year at school, with a view to re-sitting exams, or to do were able to count how many pints I had by just looking at the something different. Then I asked myself what I would like to degree of redness of my face. I miss these ‘healthy drinks’ be in the future. It was a tough question. I wanted to do very much. In mid-January 2002, I took up the current something meaningful and good for society. Finally, I made position in DEB and currently teach ‘Biometrics and up my mind and took a new post-secondary course Diploma in Computing’ to undergraduate students. My research interests Environmental Studies at Chai Wan Technical Institute, where include mariculture, ecophysiology of marine organisms, I learned up-to-date environmental technologies for pollution biomonitoring, aquatic toxicology and ecological risk monitoring and control. During this study, I turned into a assessment. You may visit my web page to find out more proactive student as I wanted to help to improve our about me (http://www.hku.hk/ecology/kenny.html). environment for the future. This was one of the most important milestones of my life. In some ways I wish I could return to my childhood. Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) said “I don’t know what I may seem to After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Applied Environmental the world, but, as to myself, I seem to have been only like a Sciences at the University of Portsmouth in England, I boy playing on the sea shore, and diverting myself in now and returned to Hong Kong and took up a lecturer position at the then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than Department of Applied Sciences of Shatin Technical Institute. ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered I realised that I would like to do research as well as teaching before me” [source: Carey, J. (1995) The Faber Book of and decided to quit my job to do a Master’s degree in Science, London. pp. 30-34]. mariculture at City University of Hong Kong. I spent over 26 months investigating the nitrogen metabolism in two commonly cultured fish species, the areolated grouper, Epinephelus areolatus, and mangrove snapper, Lutjanus argentimaculatus, and estimating the nitrogen pollution loading from fish farming activities in Hong Kong. I had a very bad time because of a massive fish kill event that killed my study fish, but, in general, it was a good project in which I learnt a lot about scientific research. After completion of my Master’s project, I spent a brief period as a research assistant at CityUHK and at SWIMS, studying the eco-physiology of the threatened local seagrass, Zostera japonica, with the hope of conserving this rare marine plant in Hong Kong.

During 1996-1999, I received a James Henry Scholarship from John Swire & Sons (HK) Ltd to undertake a PhD programme in marine science and technology at the University of Glasgow in Scotland where I met some of the best ornithologists in the 6

Bibliography

Beardsley, J.W.Jr. & Gonzalez, R.H. (1975). The biology and ecology of armored scales. Annual Review of Entomology 20: 47-73.

INVERTEBRATES Crane, J.H. & Campbell, C.W. (1994). The mango. UF/IFAS Fact Sheet HS-2. Johnson, W.T. & Lyon, H.H. (1991). that feed on trees and shrubs. 2nd ed., rev. Comstock Publishing Associates.

Merrill, G.B. (1953). A revision of the scale insects of Florida. Plant Board of Scale insects on wild fruits Florida. Bull. 1: 1-143. Reinert, J.A. (1974). Management of the false oleander scale. Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli (Cooley). Proc. Fla. State Hortic. Soc. 87: 518-520. by Alvin M. C. Tang

On the morning of the 15th December, at the peak of the Where are Hong Kong’s forest fruiting season, I was walking up Hatton Road. Half way up, I ? was fascinated by clusters of downy holly (Ilex pubescens) hanging from the slope. Unfortunately, the whole plant was covered by some white scales that made it look scary. The by John Fellowes scales looked just like flecks of white paint on the fruits! On closer examination, the scale was pear-shaped, about 2- You might think that most of the Hong Kong species are in 3 mm long, and covered both sides of the leaves and fruits. It your kitchen, but with over 170 recorded species in the SAR, was identified as the Cockerell Scale Pseudaulacaspis the commensal species make up a small fraction of the whole. cockerelli Cooley (Homoptera: Coccoidea: Diaspididae) by While Hong Kong is host to many wide-ranging tramp and Mr. Clive Lau (Senior Agricultural Officer, AFCD). The fruits invasive ants (Fellowes, 1999), and many that thrive in were also infected by a fungus. Under the microscope, this disturbed or exposed conditions, it also supports a large microfungus has a very long stalk, which expands slightly in number of native forest-dwelling species that are not so the middle part and tapers at the apex. It was identified as adaptable. Many of these cannot be reliably assigned to a Conidioxyphium sp. (Coelomycete). A few days later, I also described species. They are confined mainly to slopes where noticed the same kind of scale insect on fruits of Psychotria remnants of natural forest have survived, in ravines and feng asiatica and Ilex cinerea. shui woods, or in some cases where forest has been restored. They include sites in the central Tai Mo Shan range: The Cockerell Scale is believed to have originated from Asia, Kau, Shing Mun Wood, Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden, and was first described in 1897 from California quarantine Tai Mo Shan itself and Ng Tung Chai. They also include the specimens from China. Established infestations were later Peak and Nam Fung Wood on Hong Kong Island; Sunset Peak found in Florida and Georgia (Reinert, 1974). It is known to and Pak Ngan Heung on Lantau; several sites on Ma On Shan infest over 100 plant species, including Magnolia grandiflora, and its foothills; Tit Kim Hang in the eastern New Territories; M. virginiana, Aucuba japonica, Strelitzia spp., Hedera helix, and Sheung Wo Hang in the northeast. Cornus florida, Taxus spp., Nerium oleander, Michelia figo, Elaeagus spp., Sabal mexicana, and Mangifera indica In general these forests are of known conservation importance (Merrill, 1953; Johnson & Lyon, 1991; Crane & Campbell, to flora and other fauna (e.g. Corlett et al., 2000; Yip, 2000), 1994). and certain ant taxa probably depend on them for survival. Examples include arboreal genera (e.g. Gesomyrmex and The Cockerell Scale is very difficult to control because it is Dilobocondyla) and species (Dolichoderus (thoracicus dispersed rapidly by various means, including people, complex) sp. 3, Camponotus (nr. nipponicus) sp. 25, mammals, birds, ants and wind currents. It feeds on plant and Camponotus (nr. humerus) sp. 31, Crematogaster (cf. fruit juices and also opens the way to infection by fungi. ebenina) sp. 19 and Tetraponera nitida), as well as ground Depending on the severity of the infestation, the plant may litter- or wood-nesting genera (Cerapachys, Acanthomyrmex, lose its vigour, spots may appear due to toxins in the scale Aphaenogaster, Calyptomyrmex, Myrmecina, Rhopalomastix, saliva, and deformation, leaf loss, and even death of the plant Amblyopone, Centromyrmex, Discothyrea, Ponera and may occur (Beardsley & Gonzalez, 1975). Such damage can Probolomyrmex) and species (Aenictus (aratus group) sp. 5, be significant to the plants in the wild and at the same time Aenictus (dentatus group) sp. 4, Paratrechina (cf. opaca) sp. affects the possibility of seed dispersal because of the later 26, Polyrhachis (mucronata group) sp. 13, Pheidologeton (cf. fungal infection of the fruits. melasolenus) sp. 8, Pristomyrmex brevispinosus, Solenopsis sp. 7, Tetramorium (cf. curtulum) sp. 9, Leptogenys (cf. (For photos see Porcupine! 25 website.) kraepelini) sp. 7, Leptogenys diminuta, Leptogenys (cf. 7 emiliae) sp. 8, Leptogenys (cf. lucidula) sp. 10, Odontomachus So, they are not a well-known group to divers or field guide- (cf. silvestrii) sp. 3, Pachycondyla amblyops and compilers, and apparently quite uncommon: 3 in twenty years Pachycondyla (cf. annamita) sp. 11). In all, some 65 (almost is not exactly a superabundance. True, they might be fairly 40%) of Hong Kong’s recorded ant species might be described cryptic, but I am used to crawling about on hands and knees, as forest specialists, apparently unable to survive in more open looking closely . . . which is how I found rather a lot more in habitats. It is likely that more remain to be discovered. early April this year. Off the north shore of Beaufort Island, where it is always pitch black, subject to strong currents and Among larger vertebrates at least, forest specialists apparently very low visibility (not a novice dive, by any means), between did not survive past deforestation in Hong Kong (Corlett & 13 and 23 m (at least) there were hundreds! Same species, in Turner, 1997). Ant populations probably require smaller forest groups of 2s and 3s - even a dozen in an interwined mass, in patches to persist, and Hong Kong’s forest fragments appear clusters on some rocks, none on others. All were associated to have succeeded, among them, in retaining many of the with a bright orange soft coral (which is abundant there), with forest specialists. Longer-term impacts of fragmentation, some actively feeding by engulfing the unexpanded branches, including those of invasive species in the degraded matrix, swelling the head end to twice the usual diameter. There must may have yet to kick in, but perhaps natural forest will be have been a minimum of about 5 per square metre over a wide majestically restored before they do. area, although the distribution was very clumpy - evidently a gregarious little beast. Bibliography Back in a tank, individuals in a small group did not show a Corlett, R.T. & Turner, I.M. (1997). Long-term survival in tropical forest remnants in Singapore and Hong Kong. In: Tropical Forest Remnants: great deal of activity, but occasionally one would rear up Ecology, Management, and Conservation of Fragmented Communities (eds. slowly, searching. There is a barely detectable groove along Laurance, W.F. & Bierregaard, R.O.). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, the belly - the pedal groove, and it seems that they are 333-345. supposed to move by ciliary action of the small foot along a Corlett, R.T., Xing, F., Ng. S.C., Chau, L.K.C. & Wong, L.M.Y. (eds.) mucous strand secreted within the pedal groove; the foot (2000). Hong Kong vascular plants: distribution and status. Memoirs of the remaining within the groove. What was observed, however, Hong Kong Natural History Society 23: 1-157. was slightly different: immediately under the head, the groove would be opened and the inner surfaces would be pressed to Fellowes, J.R. (1999). Exotic ants in Asia: is the mainland at risk? The case of Hong Kong. Aliens 9: 5-6. the tank wall to adhere quite firmly. This would then move over the surface, but the rest of the groove remained closed. Yip, J.Y. (2000). Conserving Biodiversity in Protected Areas: Recommendations for the Extension of Protected Areas in Hong Kong. New records for Hong Kong? Probably. But a good example Unpublished Report, Department of Ecology & Biodiversity, The University of Hong Kong, 14 + xxvii pp. of how amateur sports divers can make useful observations underwater: the accumulated time, variety of sites dived and general enthusiasm can be harnessed to augment the A deep dark discovery professionals' scope. Now, is there a second species to be found...? by Brian Darvell Faculty of Dentistry

Snails come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and have occupied many niches: grazer, scavenger, hunter; terrestrial, ocean surface to burrowing; free, commensal, parasitic; mobile and immobile; shelled and unshelled - most impressively the nudibranchs. However, the animal I collected some years ago was not recognizable to me as a snail: about 100 mm long, 6 mm across and worm-like, dark red with yellow spots. Not exactly lively, and I could find nothing at all in the picture books to identify it. Brian Morton knew what it was - a Solenogaster, an aplacophoran (no shell) mollusc. Apparently, it was thought to be a gorgonian mimic, living in sea-fans, but this was found on an overgrown rock with no fan in sight. Some years later, at Waterwitch Rock, Mirs Bay, I found another pair in a similar situation at about 18 m – again, A solenogaster no fans, but the appearance was strikingly like a sponge. Is that what they mimic? 8

The way that a small but viable population of pumas has become known as “The Beast of Exmoor” and “The Beast of Bodmin” - appelations more usually given by the popular press to wanted war criminals or particularly brutal rapists. In VERTEBRATES short, the process by which hard science becomes a legend.

It is a paradigm that one encounters again and again within cryptozoology and its allied disciplines, and although it is both annoying and frustrating when one encounters it - it seems to A view to a kill - the be an important part of the human condition to subject one`s mythologisation process in experiences to this Mythologisation Process. action In order to examine the process further, I would like to take an in depth look at an event which happened over eighty years ago in what was then the British Crown Colony of Hong by Jonathan Downes Kong. [email protected] In July 1965 a senior girl at the Diocesan Girls` School was “It seems rather pretty`, she said when she had finished it, `but enjoying a picnic with classmates in the foothills of Tai Mo it's rather hard to understand`!` (You see she didn`t like to Shan, when, according to John Luff, she saw: confess even to herself that she couldn`t make it out at all). `Somehow it seems to fill my head with ideas - only I don`t "...a tiger stalking through the nearby undergrowth. exactly know what they are! However SOMEBODY killed SOMETHING - that`s clear at any rate!” The hue and cry was sounded, and immediately a party armed with heavy sporting rifles, led by Inspector Luk Hung-Kuen, Charles Dodgson a.k.a Lewis Carroll “Alice Through the searched the slopes of the mountain Tai Mo Shan. In the Looking Glass” (1872) foothills the going was easy over well trodden footpaths, but higher up rough, coarse grass slowed their progress The phenomenon known as `Alien Big Cats` (ABC) whilst considerably. Their frustration changed to excitement as sometimes being used to describe cryptids such as the hitherto within a well shaded spot the grass was flattened, as if the undescribed maned mystery cats of parts of North America, or tiger had been resting there. But no tiger was seen, and the the putative sabre toothed cats of Chad, and more commonly only evidence of wildlife the tired party could show was some used to describe `pseudocryptids` like `The Beast of Bodmin` angry looking mosquito bites. is more truly used to describe creatures whose true nature is far less certain. In my book “The Rising of the Moon” Three weeks passed, and the shouts of `tiger!` had sunk to (Domra, 1999) I discuss the true nature of such zooform whispers of contempt, and then .... three different groups from apparitions and suggest a possible paradigm to explain their three different villages reported having seen a tiger. continued existence. Such evidence could not be overlooked. The tiger was given a However, in most cases, what are described as ABC reports code name, and his existence was taken seriously. From now are in reality nothing of the sort. In the United Kingdom, at on, he would receive the dignity of being acknowledged in least, the vast majority of `big ` reports that are not print as `The Shing Mun Tiger`, named after the valley that he explainable by a misinterpretation of a known member of the was reported to be raiding. Further respect was paid to him in zoofauna of the region, or by a deliberate hoax, are that a European Superintendant of Police, Mr C Shields, led attributable to sightings of an introduced wild animal. It is an the party that would dispose of the tiger. open secret that in the wake of the 1976 dangerous Wild Animals Act, many people who kept exotic species of animal But no tiger was seen, although the party searched the hills as pet were forced to release them into the wild, where they for two days. have stayed ever since. During August, September, and October, the `Shing Mun The important issue at stake is NOT whether pumas, and other Tiger` was hunted. Rumour grew upon rumour. Doubtless this species of exotic felid are at large in the English countryside. was a charmed tiger, a spirit tiger, sent to punish some wicked They are. I`ve seen one. No, the really interesting thing about village for misdeeds unknown to the Hong Kong Government, the whole episode of is the way that they are a but doubtless known to the ethereal courts. The folklore is rich perfect indication of what I have dubbed the Mythologisation with such anecdotes. Process - the way that a known animal `becomes` a monster. 9

But the Hong Kong Police have insufficient time to chase flesh Although its range has contracted dramatically within recent and blood beasts, to say nothing of phantoms. So the news of years, at the times the eyewitness claims recounted below the tiger disappeared from the newspapers, although the were made, Hong Kong was well within the range of this villagers kept a watchful eye open, knowing they were not species, and its arrival in the colony poses no theoretical mistaken". problem for the zoologist. Even now, large areas of Hong Kong - both the mainland and on the Islands of Hong Kong The scenario described above is a familiar one to any fortean and Lantau, are eminently suitable to support tigers, albeit for zoologist who has `wasted` (if that is the right term) months of a short time. Guggisberg`s description of the habitat needs of his life chasing (in a metaphorical sense) nebulous big cats P.t.amoyensis will be instantly recognisable to anyone familiar through the columns of newspapers and the archives of with the topography of the wilder parts of the territory: regional libraries, only to have them discorporate in front of him in a miasma of lies, hoaxes, half-truths and mistaken "Chinese Tigers mainly lived in grass thickets, oak and poplar identities. forests, but they were also encountered in bare, rocky mountain areas especially on the coast opposite to the island The Chinese Tiger, (P. tigris amoyensis), is arguably one of of Amoy (now XIAMEN), where they often took shelter in the most spectacular denizens of the cryptofauna of Hong caves" (p.195). Kong. G.A.K.Herklots was probably the greatest single naturalist This magnificent animal is now nearly extinct in the wild. In ever to work with the wildlife of Hong Kong. In 1951 he February 1996, the World Wide Fund for Nature confirmed wrote: that there are only between 30 and 80 South China Tigers, still in the wild. Well within living memory, however it was far "Nearly every winter one or more tigers visit the New more widespread, and there have been many well documented Territories; often the visitor is a tigress with or without cubs. accounts of visits by tigers to Hong Kong. One line in Karl The visit rarely lasts more than two or three days. A tiger Shuker`s account of the `Shing Mun Tiger` episode, from his thinks nothing of a 40 mile walk and in a couple of nights 1989 book “Mystery cats of the World” is particularly could walk from the wild country behind Bias Bay to Tai Mo poignant: Shan or the Kowloon Hills. Because their visits are usually of such short duration and because most people exaggerate, little "She was quite naturally alarmed but also very surprised, as credence is given to tiger rumours. Most that I have tigers are not supposed to exist here". investigated have been founded on fact!"

Dr Shuker was right. Tigers aren`t supposed to exist within the In `The Hong Kong Countryside`. (1951) Herklots wrote: borders of Hong Kong, even the most eminent of the colony`s zoologists have got their facts wrong on this matter. In 1981 “In 1915, a tiger was shot by Mr. Burlingham A.S.P. in the Dennis Hill and Karen Phillips wrote that: New Territories, but only after it had killed Sergeant Groucher, and I believe it was reported to have visited both "Unfortunately, the two most spectacular cats that used to be Hong Kong and Lan Tau island (sic) in its wanderings." regular visitors to Hong Kong are no longer seen here. These are the South China Tiger (P. t. amoyensis) and the `The Hong Kong book of Records` (1979), an amusing (P .pardus). The last recorded tiger was shot in the New miscellany of facts and figures, compiled by someone using Territories in 1915, and the last Leopard in 1931". the pen name `Thagorus`, also contains an account of the 1915 incident: Hill and Phillips may well have been correct when they said that by 1981 the creatures had ceased to visit the territory, but "Tigers are great wanderers and have visited Hong Kong on a in both cases they were spectacularly wrong with their dates of number of occasions. The first recorded incident of a tiger the most recent records. being killed in the territory occurred on the 8th March 1915. the animal concerned was reported to have visited Hong Kong In 1975 Guggisberg wrote: Island and Lantau island in its roamings. Early in 1915, the spoor of the tiger was seen in that stretch of country between "The Chinese Tiger used to be found in large parts of Eastern Fanling and Sheung Shui. After reporting that the animal had China, especially in Fukien (now FUJIAN) and Chekiang attacked two Chinese villagers, Sergeant Goucher and (now ZHEJIANG), from where it went North to about 38° or Constable Hollands set out to track down the beast. However, 40° latitude and penetrated into Central China along the the tiger sprung upon Sergeant Goucher who suffered injuries valley of the Yang-Tze". (p. 191) from which he died three days later. During the affray another police party under the Assistant Superintendant of Police Mr Burlingham, came to deal with the matter. The beast 10 responded by attacking and fatally mauling an Indian The morphology of the 1915 specimen does not appear to be Constable, Rutton Singh. Eventually the tiger was dispatched any different from photographs of Bengal Tigers in several after being repeatedly shot. publications that I consulted, and therefore, whereas, its geographical position implies that the 1915 animal was of the The animal measured eight feet, six inches from tip to tip, was subspecies amoyensis I can find no reason within its apparent three feet, four inches high, had a girth of three feet and seven morphology to support or disprove this claim. inches and weighed 289 pounds. Its tail was three feet, one inch long. A third account of the 1915 incident was written by Sayer (1975): The head of the beast was mounted and is now to be found above the main archway in the entrance lobby of the Central "For some weeks reports of strange pug marks, both on the Police Station". mainland and even on the island were the talk of the town, and these reports were followed by accounts of eye-witnesses These dimensions are well within those given by Guggisberg (including some of impeccable respectability), who claim to (1975), for the Chinese Tiger: have seen a great striped body. The town remained sceptical and incredulous, for even allowing the possibility of the "Of Chinese Tigers, only very few reliable measurements are neighbouring province nourishing an odd example, the Colony available. Swinhoe reported a specimen with a head and body was surely hardly large enough to swing a cat, let alone a length of 1.62 m (5 feet), a tail of 76.2 cm (30 inches), and a tiger! But early in the month of March came the unexpected weight of 149.6 kg (329 lbs). Pocock examined a number of news from Sheung Shui in the New Territories that a tiger had skins exported from Shanghai and found the largest - which indeed been located and had already killed a Chinese and has obviously been stretched considerably in pegging out - to dealt a fatal blow at a European Police Sergeant. All doubts measure 2.97 m (10 feet). An American sportsman, J.C.Grew, and alarms were finally set at rest when, at the cost of yet shot a tiger on the mainland opposite Amoy, (now XIAMEN) another policeman`s life, the great body, shot by a hastily the fresh skin of which measured 3.20 m (10 feet). (The actual organised party, was brought in triumph to the City Hall". length of the animal may have been 30 cms (18 inches) less, but from what the locals had to say, it was a big specimen for There are a number of discrepancies between these three the area)". accounts. Although all three sources agree on the date and location, and it is perhaps unrealistic to expect zoological details to have survived for nearly a century, the third item of human interest; the number of people killed by the beast differs from account to account.

Herklots lists the fatalities as Sgt. GROUCHER, and two un- named Indian Constables. `Thagorus`, lists Sgt. GOUCHER, (a small, but possibly significant difference in name), and one Indian Constable, the unfortunate Rutton Singh. This account mentions that two unnamed Chinese villagers were attacked, but presumably if they had been killed by the tiger, `Thagorus' would have mentioned the fact. Sayer, whose book is by far the most scholarly of the three, and on first impressions provides the most impressive item on presentation value at least, presents yet another story. His fatalities are two unnamed policemen, presumably GOUCHER/GROUCHER and Singh and an unnamed Chinese person. It is the first we “Sheung Shui Tiger” shot by Donald Burlingham in 1915 have heard of this fatality. It may seem that we are being Comparing the surviving photograph of the dead beast with overly zealous in our investigation of this incident, but as will current descriptions of P.t.amoyensis is a little more be seen shortly, the veracity of at least one of these three problematical. The description given by Guggisberg is writers has to be considered in some depth. straightforward enough: A fourth account of this incident is found in a reprint of an "The eastern Chinese sub-species (of the Tiger) is smaller article from The Hongkong Telegraph, dated March 8th 1915. than the Bengal Tiger, with the white areas less extensive and This time, the accounts are significantly different: the black stripes broad, short, less numerous and more widely spaced ...". (p.184) "In Sheung Shui, this morning, the villagers having complained to the police of the presence of a tiger in the 11 locality, P.C.Croucher and the constable .... went out to The fact that the tiger hunt turns out almost always to be a investigate the complaint ... A coolie standing close by wild goose chase is beside the point. For exactly fifty years carelessly threw a stone into the bush .... a monster tiger, ago a villager reported to the police station saying that a huge likened to the size of a pony, sprang from the bush, caught tiger was lurking in a patch of scrub. So, the police went to P.C.Croucher in his claws, and though the constable is some see, arming themselves with only light revolvers. And when six foot in height, and turns the scale at fifteen stone - it tossed they asked where the tiger was, the villager said `over there`, him about like a shuttlecock. His friend went to his assistance and threw a stone into a clump of bushes. At which a very and .... fired two shots .... One of the shots is supposed to have angry tiger hurled himself upon a police sergeant, and when struck the tiger and he dashed back into the bush, but not an Indian constable went to help the sergeant the tiger stuck before he had torn four holes in the back and one in the him down too. It started as a joke and ended in tragedy. The shoulder of the constable, severely lacerating his body all head of the tiger, moth eaten and toothless, ornaments the down one side". Central Police Station in the capital Victoria.

Window magazine on June 7th 1996, who reprinted this article So, for obvious reasons the reports of the villagers in the went on to note: colony`s New Territory`s have to be taken seriously"...

"No longer a rumour but a most unpleasant encounter. This account contains more detail than the other ones quoted Constable Croucher survived. An armed party took up the above and it is tempting to speculate, either that the chase the following morning and killed the tiger, but not anonymous author, (the mysterious John Luff?), had access to before it had succeeded in killing an Indian Constable..." source material that we have not yet been able to identify, possibly even an interview with one of the surviving A fifth account of the incident apeared in the Hong Kong principals, or he made the extra details up in the interests of a Police Magazine for March 1952. This quotes the South China good story. Either is possible, and at the time of writing the Morning Post for the 9th March 1915. The account is jury is still out on the matter. substantially the same as that given by `Thagorus` and again calls the Sergeat GOUCHER. Unlike `Thagorus` it makes no A 1925 account of the incident which appeared in The mention of him having been killed, and even claims that Singh Overland China Mail shows that the confusion about the and GOUCHER/CROUCHER/GROUCHER were attacked in incident existed even seventy two years before this present two different incidents. volume was written, and even casts doubt upon the provenance of the head which for so many years was exhibited So. Where does one go from here. We have five different above the door of the Central Police Station, and which even accounts of the incident, each telling a significantly different as recently as 1993 resided in the Police Museum on Stubbs story. The English policeman has three different names and Rd. (The head is still in the Police Museum, ed.) two different ranks. Some accounts claim that he eventually died of his wounds and others claim that he survived. One `Hong Kong and Macao - the rough guide` by Jules Brown account claims that two unnamed coolies were also killed, but and Helen Lee (Rough Guides, London 1993) p.82 other accounts ignore them completely. As "Alice" is said to have said after first hearing the poem "Jabberwocky", it is "There is nothing improbable in the story of its presence there clear that someone killed something, (or in this case the other for those residents who were in the colony a few years ago way around) but the details remain obscure. When one will remember the body of the tiger shot by Mr D Burlingham considers that this incident has, in recent years at least, been in the New Territories, being carried in the streets. A cast of the most well documented of the Hong Kong tiger incidents the impression of another tiger`s `pugs` was also exhibited in then one begins to realise that researching this book was not as the window of Messrs Lane, Crawford Ltd. There would easy as it might at first have appeared. appear to be a good deal of haziness in the minds of those who remember seeing the tiger which was actually shot in the New A sixth account of the 1915 incident appears in the article Territories as to what happened to it. Several statements were about the 1966 Shing Mun Tiger `flap`, which I quoted at the made most definitely to a China Mail representative this beginning of this article: morning by people who should have known. "It`s in the museum here" was one. "It was skinned and made into a rug "Tigers are always appearing in Hong Kong, writes John Luff. and was either given to Sir Henry May who was Governor at Never a year passes but at some time a posse of policemen the time, or is in the museum", said another. "The skin was augmented by a troop of soldiers makes for the hills of the taken off badly and had to be thrown away" was a third New Territories, urged on by the vague instructions of a version. From an official source The China Mail learns that villager who is certain he saw `one piece plenty big tiger`. what actually happened was that the skin was sent home to be stuffed, the object being to have it placed in the museum here. On it`s way out in stuffed form, on a Japanese boat it was 12

torpedoed and although all the passengers were saved, no-one The mammal survey was conducted both within the campus seems to have remembered or cared enough about the tiger to and on the hill (Lung Fu Shan) behind University Drive. The rescue it from a watery grave. study aimed at recording the mammalian fauna of this urban fringe site, which is sandwiched between a highly urbanized If the above account is true, it means that all the other acounts area (Shek Tong Tsui) and the Lung Fu Shan Country Park. aren`t, and it begs the question; Where, exactly, did the tiger Both live-trapping and camera-trapping methods were used. head (still presumably) in Stubbs Road Police Museum come Two types of traps were selected for live-trapping, plastic from? Trip-Trips baited with mealworms and modified metal traps, developed by Kylie Chung, baited with fried bread. The traps At the beginning of the second world war, Winston Churchill were placed within forest patches on the campus and in the described the Soviet Union as “A riddle wrapped in a mystery more extensive forest above University Drive. Two types of inside an enigma.” Churchill could equally well have been camera were used for camera-trapping, the TrailMaster unit describing an investigation into the accounts of tigers and and the Wildlife Two set. These camera-traps were only other mystery cats from Hong Kong. placed in the uphill region, and they took photographs whenever the sensors detected movements in front of them. In my records I have well over a dozen fully documented accounts of tigers visiting Hong Kong and several other less a b tangible ones. The earliest reports are from the nineteenth century and the latest are several years later than the appearance of the Shing Mun beast (which seems, on the basis of the available evidence) to have been more akin to the classic zooform ABC sighting than anything else.

So where is the problem? How and why did the Fanling episode of the 8th March 1915 become so confused? c I believe that mankind needs monsters - they fulfill a primal purpose deep within the human psyche. However, when it is actually confronted with one it does not know how to deal with it. Even in 1915 when Hong Kong was far from being the urbanised centre of commerce that it is today, it considered itself to be a sophisticated metropolitan centre. The idea that it could harbour dangerous wild animals capable of killing anyone - let alone a respected member of His Majesty`s forces was too much to deal with and so the whole affair was slowly Fig. a. A feral cat, Fig. b. Feral dogs & Fig. c. A Ferret Badger consigned to legend and the unfortunate sergeant Goucher/Groucher or whatever his name was, achieved a After more than a month of surveys, the live and camera degree of immortality that he would undoubtedly never have trapping recorded a total of nine species of mammals. Small achieved if he had lived to a ripe old age, and died in mammals, especially rodents, dominated the fauna within the retirement somewhere on the south coast of England. built-up region of the campus, including the characteristic urban species, the Roof Rat (Rattus rattus), the House Shrew Strange old world isn`t it? (Suncus murinus), Pallas’s Squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus thai), and feral cat (Felis catus), as well as the non-urban Sikkim Rat (R. sikkimensis). In the uphill region, within 100 m Wildlife around the HKU of University Drive, there were more large mammals, including at least three different individual Masked Palm campus? Civets (Paguma larvata), a Ferret Badger (Melogale moschata), feral cats (Felis catus), and feral dogs (Canis by Elsa Lee familiaris), along with the Chestnut Spiny Rat (Niviventer fulvescens), Sikkim Rat, House Shrew and Pallas’s Squirrel. A Many people are unaware of the rich mammal diversity tenth mammal species, the Grey Shrew (Crocidura around the main campus of HKU. During the mammal survey attentuata), has previously been recorded at this site. which formed my final year undergraduate project, starting last September, I found that there are many exciting mammals Many of the mammals are nocturnal and have a secretive living around the crowded campus where we go every day. lifestyle. However, if you know the place and how to look for them, these amazing animals can be found surrounding us. 13

Should Hong Kong’s freshwater fishes be protected by law? by Bosco P. L. Chan

The Country Parks Ordinance (Cap. 208) affords full protection to terrestrial wildlife living in our protected-area system. The Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (WAPO, A Sikkim Rat ‘caught’ by a camera trap after taking bait. Cap. 170), which is intended to “make provision for the conservation of wild animals (of Hong Kong), and for purposes connected therewith” (Cap. 170, Section: Long title), An Ardeid population of lists over 500 species of wild animals, some aliens included, living in Hong Kong. WAPO covers all birds, all mammals regional importance except rodents (but including the porcupine), shrews, and wild boar, some reptiles and amphibians, which cannot be killed or by Leung Va and Kwok Hon Kai wilfully disturbed anywhere in the SAR. Surprisingly, WAPO does not include any of Hong Kong’s native fishes. In actual fact "animal" in this particular ordinance means any form of The shallow water between Taipa and Coloane, Macau, was animal life except fish and marine invertebrates (Amended 58 once covered by extensive mangroves. These are now much of 1980 s. 2). Since the enactment of the Environmental reduced. At least since 1990, Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO, Cap. 499) in 1997, and Chinese Pond Herons Ardeola bacchus and Night Herons under the evaluation criteria of the EIA Technical Nycticorax nycticorax have nested on the mangroves at the Memorandum (EIATM, Cap. 499, s. 16), the WAPO also southeast of Taipa. This is the only egretry ever reported from serves as an important reference in evaluating a study site’s Macau. The mangroves on the southeast of Taipa were cleared ecological value; i.e. if a species is found by the ecological in 1998, and the ardeids moved to nest in a Casuarina consultant, then the ecological importance of the study site is plantation near the Taipa House Museum in 1999. Apart from assessed, amongst other criteria, by whether the species during the breeding season (March to June), ardeids also roost concerned is listed in local protected species law. From time to in this plantation during winter. Hundreds of egrets and herons time, local conservationists call for the amendment of WAPO usually roost in this plantation, and the maximum count was to include certain taxa believed to be threatened with local 1,400 birds in January 2002. Almost all roosting birds are extinction, due to the inadequate coverage of WAPO. But up Little Egrets. Night Herons are also found roosting on the until now no concrete action has been taken by relevant stumps of cut mangroves in the lagoon. Ardeids that roost in government departments. this plantation come from various directions, and possibly travel long distances. This may suggest that other locations in From direct and indirect sources, I was told that WAPO aims western Ningdingyang may no longer be suitable for roosting. to list local species that are believed to be threatened by active Ardeids, particularly white egrets, are hunted or trapped in the trapping and/or collecting pressure, and that rare species Pearl River Delta (Young & Cha, 1995, Lansdown et al., which are endangered by other means of threats are not 2000). The number of ardeids in this roost is indeed of included. During the last few years, I have spent a regional importance. The average peak number of Little Egrets considerable amount of time wandering around Tung Choi in the Deep Bay area, a site of recognized international Street in Mong Kok, which because of its booming pet market conservation importance, during the 1990s, was 1,478 (Carey is better known as ‘Goldfish Street’ by locals. During this & Young, 1999). The plantation is owned by a private period I have seen a slow increase in the trade of native, or developer and may be removed for a housing development. locally-collected freshwater fishes. For instance in 1997-1998, The egretry could be saved by a land exchange between the only a small amount of the common hillstream species, such private developer and Macau’s SAR government. as Parazacco spilurus, Liniparhomaloptera disparis disparis, and Rhinogobius duospilus were offered for sale. Recently, Bibliography however, both the number of species and quantity of fish Carey, G.J. & Young, L. (1999). The importance to waterfowl of the Mai Po collected from Hong Kong seem to have escalated. Below is a Marshes and Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site. Hong Kong Bird Report 1997: list of native fish species which I observed for sale in Tung 141-149. Choi Street in 2001. Those marked with an asterisk were seen Landsdown, R.V., Mundkur, T. & Young, L. (2000). Herons in East and regularly and in relatively large number (i.e. over 50 South-east Asia. In: (Kushlan, J.A. and Hafner, H.). Heron Conservation, pp individuals per visit). In addition, the native snakehead 73-98, Academic Press, Great Britain. Channa asiatica is also offered regularly. The small size and 14

small trade quantity makes importation very uneconomical, species is not CITES-listed and requires no export/import and these individuals are believed to be caught locally. permits. If nothing else, at least their habitats can be 1. *Parazacco spilurus safeguarded when our EIA consultants reference the revised 2. Nicholsicypris normalis WAPO if some of these species are listed. 3. *Puntius semifasciolata (not to be confused with the captive-bred variety) Bibliography 4. Acrossocheilus hemispinus 5. *Pseudogastromyzon myersi Chan, B. (1999). Hong Kong’s Freshwater Fish: Who Cares?!? Porcupine! 19: 15-16. 6. *Liniparhomaloptera disparis disparis

7. *Schistura fasciolata 8. Pseudobagrus trilineatus 9. *Rhinogobius duospilus 10. Stiphodon atropurpureus 11. Macropodus concolor (not to be confused with the FLORA captive-bred variety) 12. *Macropodus opercularis

The most worrying is the appearance of some highly restricted and recently reported species, in particular since 2000. The Getting ahead by falling down: most astonishing of all is doubtless the beautiful neon goby Stiphodon atropurpureus, first reported in Hong Kong as the strange case of Stiphodon sp. (Chan, 1999). Four pairs of this beautiful and locally rare goby were seen for sale in a shop, which has a Choerospondias axillaris regular supply of locally collected fish and other aquatic animals (including metamorphosing Hong Kong Newt by Richard T. Corlett Paramesotriton hongkongensis). This tiny animal, measuring no more than 5 cm in total length and 5 grams in weight, was The Hog Plum, Choerospondias axillaris (Anacardiaceae), is a priced at $550 Hong Kong Dollar for a pair! Therefore there is large, deciduous tree whose natural distribution in Hong Kong a very good reason for a schoolboy or retired hobbyist to has been obscured by widespread planting. It has large (c. 30 collect every single one they manage to find, and the mm x 25 mm x 25 mm), yellow, fleshy fruits, each with a collecting pressure is probably as high as any wildlife species single large (20 mm x 15 mm x 15 mm) and very woody you can imagine living in Hong Kong. Three other native stone. Uniquely in the Hong Kong flora, these fruits are species of particular conservation concern were observed also; dropped to the ground as soon as they are ripe. The fruit flesh the markedly-striped catfish Pseudobagrus trilineatus was $88 is watery and has a high sucrose content, suggesting that it is dollar each, and it is known from three tiny sites in Hong targeted at mammals, rather than birds (Corlett, 1996; Ko et Kong. The barb Acrossocheilus hemispinus, known from a al., 1998). I have seen macaques eating Choerospondias, but it few valleys locally, was selling for $40 per fish. The globally makes no sense to present fruits to an arboreal primate on the restricted Black Paradise Fish Macropodus concolor sells for ground. We have also occasionally found the distinctive stones $40 each. The Paradise Fish Macropodus opercularis is a lot in civet scats, which makes a bit more sense, although civets cheaper; each adult only costs $10. This is no surprise because climb well and obtain most of the other tree fruits they eat I personally witnessed two very hard-working gentlemen direct from the canopy. Neither civets nor macaques, however, scooping up well over 80 M. opercularis out of the Pui O explain the occurrence of small groups of cleaned stones Marsh last year. Even the established exotic species, such as deposited in forest patches on Ma On Shan and elsewhere, Platy Xiphophorus variatus, Molly Poecilia sphenops and often with no Choerospondias tree in sight. snakehead Channa striata, are for sale from time to time. The name "Hog Plum" suggests pigs as possible dispersal With the frequency of occurrence in trade and the high prices agents, and this cannot be ruled out, but a more likely they can fetch, it is highly recommended that AFCD should explanation is provided by a recent paper in Biotropica (Chen consider listing native freshwater fishes in the WAPO. In fact et al., 2001). Jin Chen and his colleagues at the the WAPO itself should be revised to provide total protection Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden in Yunnan have to the listed animals; the ordinance specifies, for example, that shown that, in the Mengla National Nature Reserve, only when a protected animal offered for sale is taken in Choerospondias axillaris is dispersed by the Indian Muntjac, Hong Kong is it considered an offence. The sale of Muntiacus muntjak – the same muntjac (barking deer) as we metamorphosing Hong Kong Newts, as an example, is have in Hong Kong. The fruits are apparently swallowed difficult to regulate because the shop owner can always claim whole and then the seeds are regurgitated undamaged after these animals are from outside Hong Kong so long as the 15 several hours of rumination. The authors suggest that the Pollen in the air comes not only from wind-pollinated plants, but relatively high protein and calcium content of the pulp may also from some animal-pollinated taxa, particularly if they have make these fruits an important part of the muntjac’s open flower structures or "buzz-pollinated" flowers. In some herbivorous diet. Chen et al. say that the muntjac is also an cases, floral morphology, pollen characteristics and a tendency to important dispersal agent for several other large-seeded woody gregariousness support the idea that the taxa listed above are plants in the same area. The only one of those mentioned that wind-pollinated. Thus the conifers appear to be wind-pollinated grows in Hong Kong is Phyllanthus emblica (Euphorbiaceae), even when they occur as subcanopy components of lowland which has spherical, pale green fruits around 18 mm in rainforest. The grasses and sedges also seem to be consistently diameter, with a single hard stone. pollinated by wind, except, possibly, some rainforest understorey genera. Bees collect pollen from several species of Quercus Bibliography (including Cyclobalanopsis) in Hong Kong, but the pendulous male inflorescences, which release clouds of pollen when Chen, J., Deng, X.B., Bai, Z.L., Yang, Q., Chen, G.Q., Liu, Y. and Liu, Z.Q. (2002). Fruit characteristics and Muntiacus muntjac vaginalis (Muntjac) visits touched, support the widespread assumption that this is to individual plants of Choerospondias axillaris. Biotropica 33: 718-722. wind-pollinated At the other extreme, both floral morphology and visits by potential pollinators make it very unlikely that wind Corlett, R.T. (1996). Characteristics of vertebrate-dispersed fruits in Hong pollination is significant for Elaeocarpus or Ilex. Kong. Journal of Tropical Ecology 12: 819-833.

Ko, I.W.P., Corlett, R.T. and Xu, R.J. (1998). Sugar composition of wild fruits Between these extremes are many species with small, often in Hong Kong, China. Journal of Tropical Ecology 14: 381-387. inconspicuous, flowers, for which the relative importance of wind and insects in pollination is unclear. Corlett (2001) considered that the common dioecious tree, Myrsine seguinii, Wind pollination in Hong Kong was pollinated by Apis cerana in Hong Kong, although bee visits were overwhelmingly to male plants, while Yumoto (1987) by Richard T. Corlett reported that flies were the major flower visitors on Yakushima Island. However, Kato (2000) considered the same species to be The possibility that wind pollination is important in the tropics wind pollinated in the Amami Islands. Flowering male plants of has been generally neglected. In the understorey of tropical this species release clouds of pollen when shaken, so I now think evergreen rain forests, low wind speed, dense evergreen foliage Kato is probably right and that the few bee visits I have observed and regular rainfall must all reduce the effectiveness of aerial to female plants are accidental. pollen transport, and the low density and thus wide spacing of conspecifics in most plant species must strongly favour the A similar situation occurs with the pioneer trees Aporosa directed movement of pollen by the animal vectors that are chinensis and Mallotus paniculatus (both Euphorbiaceae) in abundantly available year-round. However, the rain forest Hong Kong, with only the male plants visited by pollen- understorey is an extreme situation and open sites, seasonal collecting bees, suggesting that pollen transfer must be by wind rainfall and dominance by a single species, are all widespread in (Corlett, 2001). However, species of the same genera in the the tropics. Hong Kong is near the northern edge of the tropics rainforest understorey in Sarawak appear to be pollinated by and has many non-tropical taxa in its flora. How important is insects (Momose et al., 1998), as does Mallotus albus in wind pollination here? southern India (Krishnan & Davidar, 1993). Staying with the euphorbs, I have never seen insect visitors to Macaranga flowers If a species is pollinated by wind, its pollen must be present in in Hong Kong and have always assumed that the whole genus the air during the flowering season. Sampling of pollen was pollinated by wind. Recently, however, Moog et al. (2002) suspended in the air, mostly in urban areas, and of the “pollen have shown that several Macaranga species are pollinated by rain” preserved in surface samples, lake sediments and pollen thrips in the Malaysian rainforest. Thrips are tiny and easily traps, can give a general picture of aerial pollen transport. overlooked, so the Hong Kong species need further study. Although there are very few data from Hong Kong itself, several Hong Kong taxa are consistently represented in such samples Spontaneous, ballistic release of pollen into the air, by stamens from elsewhere in the region, including: the conifers, held under tension until anthesis, occurs in the Urticaceae and in Amaranthaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Cyperaceae, Elaeocarpus, one tribe of the closely related Moraceae, which includes the Engelhardtia, Euphorbiaceae (particularly Acalypha, Bischofia, Hong Kong genera Morus, Broussonetia and Maclura. Although Macaranga and Mallotus), Hamamelidaceae (Altingia), Ilex, bees occasionally visit the flowers of many of these species, the Moraceae (Artocarpus, Broussonetia, Morus), Myrica, automatic release of clouds of tiny pollen grains makes most Myrsinaceae (mostly Myrsine), Myrtaceae (Syzygium and sense as an aid to wind pollination. Both floral morphology and unidentified taxa), Palmae, Pandanus, Poaceae, Ulmaceae the aerial pollen count also suggest that at least some tropical (Celtis, Trema) and Urticaceae (Boehmeria) (Corlett, members of the related family Ulmaceae may be wind- unpublished review). pollinated. This has been proposed for Gironniera spp. in Sarawak (Momose et al., 1998), although the same authors 16

considered that bees pollinated Trema tomentosa. In Hong Kong, Celtis sinensis flowers while leafless and releases pollen when touched, but it is also visited by bees that sometimes contact both anthers and stigmas. MISCELLANY Coastal habitats, with their strong air movements, relative openness and tendency to single-species dominance, would be expected to favour wind-pollination more than inland areas. In fact, even here, most species have animal vectors, but Cox Reintroduction: setting the ball (1990) considered that the coastal pandan, Pandanus tectorius, was wind-pollinated, with the staminate inflorescences rolling… producing copious amounts of loose, dry pollen and the pistillate inflorescences acting as highly efficient pollen receivers. Kato by Richard T. Corlett (2000), however, considered that beetles (mostly Nitidulidae) were the main pollinators in the Amami Islands. I have been asked to provide examples of species that I think The degree of ignorance and uncertainty surrounding this should be reintroduced (see the front page article). With some apparently straightforward issue may be surprising, but the reluctance, since I am not an expert on any group of relative importance of wind and insects as pollinators is still vertebrates, I have done so below, for terrestrial birds and debated for many well-studied temperate zone taxa. Proving mammals only. To save space, scientific names are given only pollination by wind is a lot more difficult than one might think. where the common names are ambiguous. The suggestions are The traditional test has been to exclude insects with a mesh bag, divided into three groups. The Phase 1 species are regionally but a mesh fine enough to keep out thrips and other very small common species that are already in Hong Kong, in some form, insects will also greatly reduce air movements. A combination of and could be reintroduced now, without any additional mesh bags and insecticide might be worth trying. There is a research, except into the practicalities of the reintroduction future PhD in this for someone! process itself. Phase 2 species all require some additional ecological information, which, in most cases, can probably be Bibliography obtained from existing sources and the relevant experts. The Phase 3 species are a mixed bag, including some that are Corlett, R.T. (2001). Pollination in a degraded tropical Landscape: a Hong probably uncontroversial, others that may need larger forest Kong case study. Journal of Tropical Ecology 17: 155-161. areas than Hong Kong can currently provide, and some that Cox, P.A. (1990). Pollination and the evolution of breeding systems in may never be feasible. Pandanaceae. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 77: 816-840.

Kato, M. (2000). Anthophilous insect community and plant-pollinator Phase 1. Hong Kong’s forest and shrubland fauna includes a interactions on Amami Islands in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. number of species which, although probably part of the Contributions from the Biological Laboratory Kyoto University 29: 157-252. original native fauna, became locally extinct at some point in the last few hundred years, and have been recently re- Krishnan, R.M. and Davidar, P. (1993). Nectar secretion and pollinator visitation patterns in Mallotus albus. In Pollination in the tropics (eds. G.K. established as a result of releases from captivity. These Veeresh, R.U. Shaankar and K.N. Ganeshaiah), International Union for the “casual reintroductions” are the best evidence that a formal Study of Social Insects, Bangalore, pp. 157-158. reintroduction programme would work. Since most of them do Momose, K., Yumoto, T., Nagamitsu, T., Kato, M., Nagamasu, H., Sakai, S., not yet occupy all suitable habitats in Hong Kong they also Harrison, R.D., Itioka, T., Hamid, A.A. and Inoue, T. (1998). Pollination provide ideal candidate species for trying out reintroduction biology in a lowland dipterocarp forest in Sarawak, Malaysia. I. techniques. I suggest that the introduction of the Greater Characteristics of the plant-pollinator community in a lowland dipterocarp Necklaced Laughingthrush, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler forest. American Journal of Botany 85: 1477-1501. and Rufous-capped Babbler to Lantau Island would be a good Moog, U., Fiala, B., Federle, W. and Maschwitz, U. (2002). Thrips pollination way to start. The Vinous-throated Parrotbill could probably be of the dioecious ant plant Macaranga hullettii (Euphorbiaceae) in Southeast added to this list. If these reintroductions were made with Asia. American Journal of Botany 89: 50-59. stock from the nearest available source in southern Yumoto, T. (1987). Pollination systems in a warm temperate evergreen broad- Guangdong, it would ensure both that the correct race was leaved forest on Yaku Island. Ecological Research 2: 133-145. established (by no means certain for most of the casual reintroductions) and that the political, legal and logistic problems of translocating animals from wild sources on the mainland were overcome.

Three additional bird species could be included in the first phase without any controversy. The Grey-cheeked Fulvetta is Hong Kong’s most obvious “missing vertebrate” – the 17 commonest forest babbler in the region, but not currently Phase 3. At this stage, all the candidates for Phase 3 are established here, despite scattered releases and occasional tentative. My suggestions include the following: Chinese evidence of breeding. The Yellow-cheeked Tit is locally Bamboo Partridge, Rickett’s Hill Partridge, Red-headed established but probably in need of reinforcement, and the Trogon, Black-browed Barbet, Bay Woodpecker (and several Black-throated Tit has a similar status to the Grey-cheeked other woodpecker species), White-crowned Forktail, Brown Fulvetta. Dipper, Mountain Bulbul, Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Brown-capped Fulvetta, Sambar Deer, Southern Serow, We know our mammals far less well than we know our birds, Raccoon Dog, Dhole, Hog Badger, Siberian Weasel, Hairy- but one species stands out as an obvious Phase 1 candidate, footed Flying Squirrel, Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista Pallas’s Squirrel, Callosciurus erythraeus, which is currently philippensis), and Edward’s Long-tailed Giant Rat represented by two exotic subspecies: C. e. thai, which is (Leopoldamys edwardsi). There are many other possible widespread on Hong Kong Island, and C. e. styani, which is species for which good data currently are lacking. In locally established in parts of the New Territories. The particular, our forest rodent fauna is extremely impoverished, introduction of the “correct” subspecies from southern but detailed distributional information for Guangdong is not Guangdong, initially to areas, such as Lantau Island, that available for most potential Phase 3 species. currently lack squirrels, would help right an historical error. In the longer term – perhaps the next 50-100 years – I think Phase 2. One bird species stands out as the most attractive that the target should be the restoration of as much as possible Phase 2 reintroduction: the Silver Pheasant. This spectacular of the primeval plant and animal diversity of Hong Kong. pheasant occupies almost all suitable habitats in Guangdong, Since there are neither historical descriptions of what was here including the nearest large forest areas to Hong Kong, and in the past, nor an intact baseline community anywhere else in there seems to be no reason why it should not thrive here. It is region that can be used as a model, this is going to involve fairly easy to breed in captivity, so the direct translocation of more imaginative extrapolation than many conservationists are wild individuals would not be essential. currently comfortable with. But can anyone suggest a better alternative? Additional mammalian candidates for early introduction include two twentieth-century extinctions, the Red and the IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group (SG) Large Indian Civet, and two species that clearly ought to be in http://iucn.org/themes/ssc/programs/rsg.htm Hong Kong but are currently represented by a very small IUCN/SSC Invasive Species SG http://www.issg.org/ number of animals of unknown – possibly captive – origin, the Yellow-bellied Weasel and the Yellow-throated Marten. I have relegated these species to Phase 2 only because both Valuing Nature quarantine regulations and worries about their potential impact on other species make carnivore reintroductions more by Lisa Hopkinson and Rachel Stern difficult. For the Large Indian Civet, which would become Hong Kong’s largest carnivore, there must also be doubts The Civic Exchange [email protected] about whether the area of suitable habitat available is sufficient. Other possible Phase 2 mammalian introductions What is the dollar value of an ecosystem? In a recent report, are the Maritime Striped Squirrel, Tamiops maritimus and one Wild But Not Free: An Economic Valuation of the Benefits of of the two Guangdong species of Bamboo Rat. Nature Conservation in Hong Kong, non-profit thinktank Civic Exchange estimates that the quantifiable economic value of Hong Kong’s natural resources – its forests, country parks, wetlands and marine waters – is between HK$1.8 billion and HK$6.5 billion annually as an absolute minimum. At the upper end of this range, this is equivalent to a total value of HK$162 billion in perpetuity. This compares favourably to the one-off cost of buying ecologically valuable sites from private land owners, recently estimated by the government at around HK$70 billion.

These are striking figures, but what exactly do they mean? HK$6.5 billion does not come close to measuring the total benefits of conservation. It does not include the value of the view from Sharp Peak, the existence of Romer’s tree frog, nor The author does it include many of the services that nature provides for with a large Indian Civet 18

free, such as pollination, pest control or the value of Non-use values are even more difficult to quantify. These biodiversity itself. include existence values, the amount people are willing to pay to ensure the continued existence of a species or ecosystem, Rather, these sums are a part of an important intellectual even if they never intend to use or see them. How much is a exercise to make the value of nature more tangible and explicit Black Faced Spoonbill worth to people who may never visit to decision makers. Porcupine readers may need little Mai Po? Such values can only be estimated through carefully convincing of the need to conserve Hong Kong’s natural designed surveys, none of which have been done in Hong areas, but for those in charge of Hong Kong’s purse strings, it Kong. Surveys done elsewhere in the world, including Asia, is important to stress that conservation has a real economic show that existence values can dwarf other types of value. value. As far as we know, Wild But Not Free is the first paper to We tend to value nature at zero dollars, forgetting the services apply environmental economics to Hong Kong. As a and revenue nature provides. The market does not typically pioneering attempt, Wild But Not Free highlights the lack of assign dollar values to environmental resources, so it requires data in this area and points to a need for primary, local new methods to estimate their economic value. The economic research to fill in data gaps. For example, the extent to which value of nature can be sub-divided into direct use values, wetlands help mitigate floods and offset the need for costly indirect use values and non-use values. (and damaging) drainage works has never been quantitatively assessed in Hong Kong. Neither has the degree to which the Fishing, ecotourism, recreation in country parks, and pleasure quality of the natural environment affects quality of life and boating in eastern waters are all direct use values, defined as willingness to live and invest in Hong Kong. the economic benefit of consuming, trading or using products from nature. To take one example, Wild But Not Free While the true value of Hong Kong’s natural resources is estimates that ecotourism could annually generate an much higher than HK$162 billion, even this dollar value additional HK$4 billion in receipts if 11% of tourists (the makes clear that ecosystem services are critical, from an percentage indicating interest in ecotourism) stayed an economic perspective as well as an ecological one. According additional 1.9 days (the additional time tourists would like to to estimates which appeared in the journal Nature a few years stay on average) because of green attractions. ago, global ecosystem services are worth US$33 trillion annually, nearly twice the global GNP of US$18 trillion per The recreation value of Hong Kong’s Country Parks is further year. These dollar values are tools to help us realize the estimated at HK$310 million based on an established method importance of nature conservation. Human life and economic that measures the cost of travel and the cost of travel time. activity depend on the biosphere, not the other way around. However, this clearly underestimates the total value of country parks, since 10.6 million visitors visit Country Parks each year Full copies of the report in English and Chinese can be found and many would pay more than the cost of a bus fare to enjoy at http://www.civic-exchange.org under publications. them. 1 Edward Barbier in Handbook of Incentive Measures for Biodiversity Design Indirect use values refer to ecosystem services or “those and Implementation (OECD: 1999), pp. 29-30. functions of the environment which provide direct value to the 2 well-being of humans through the maintenance of a healthy Table : Economic breakdown of benefit estimates natural environment.” 1 This includes the role trees play in pollution absorption, the way in which wetlands help mitigate This paper estimates that the quantifiable conservation value floods, and the watershed protection value of forests. of Hong Kong’s natural resources is between HK$1.8 billion and 6.5 billion annually 3 For example, Hong Kong reservoir catchments provide the equivalent of HK$880 million of raw water that would Conservation benefit Method Estimated Estimated current future otherwise need to be imported from the Dongjiang in value potential Guangdong Province. This HK$880 million, however, fails to (HK$ mill) value take into account the value of water security or the (HK$ mill) contribution of a forested watershed towards local climate DIRECT USE regulation. Through water recycling by plants, forested Marine ecosystem Market watersheds keep areas cooler and wetter. Wild But Not Free value also estimates that Hong Kong’s forests are worth HK$35 -status quo +150 -restored +180 million per year as absorbers of air pollution, and its Ecotourism mangroves are worth HK$3 million as absorbers of nitrate -potential increase Revenue +4001 pollution. in revenue -travel costs of hikers Travel cost +260 19

Education Travel cost +40 -visits to outdoor Two short notes on statistics education centers Scientific/Medicinal -- Amenity/Recreation by Jackie Yip -hiking in country Travel cost +310 parks 1. Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) – -outdoor conservation Travel cost +10 PC-ORD or PRIMER? facilities -marine leisure Revenue +580 With advances in computer technology the ordination -wilderness courses Revenue +20 technique NMDS has become popular among community -mountain biking Revenue +100 ecologists. NMDS was seldom used in the past because it -SCUBA diving Revenue +10 -rock climbing Revenue +10 takes too much computation time (it still does! Ask Alan -property landscape Hedonic -- Leung). Clarke & Warwick (1994) recommended NMDS as views pricing one of the best ordination techniques available, for it makes no INDIRECT USE assumption about the normality or type of response, and Watershed protection Substitute +880 allows greater flexibility in the definition and conversion of cost dissimilarity measures. There are drawbacks, of course, but I Pollution absorption am not going to discuss them here. -mangroves & +3 nutrients Substitute A quick survey in the Department reveals that the terrestrial -trees & air pollution cost +40 ecologists use PC-ORD for NMDS, and the marine ecologists -vegetation & carbon method +20 sequestration for all prefer PRIMER. PC-ORD was developed by Bruce McCune, -potential carbon +390 who is a bryologist, and PRIMER by Clarke & Warwick, who sequestration are marine biologists. Besides both providing NMDS options, Flood prevention -- the two packages provide different multivariate procedures Pollination -- that do more or less the same things in different ways (e.g. Pest control -- MRPP vs ANOSIM, Correlation to second matrix vs BIO- FOREIGN DIRECT -- ENV). This is fine, but it puzzled me when I tried to compare 4 INVESTMENT the results obtained from NMDS with both packages. I was NON-USE VALUES doing this just out of curiosity, and it turned out to be a Existence values -- nightmare. COSTS OF AFCD -390 CONSERVATION budget Using the same data on PC-ORD4 and PRIMER5, I got a very TOTALS 1,800 6,500 different configuration of ordination and very different stress 2 values: 0.36 by the former and 0.13 by the latter. The dataset I All numbers have been rounded to the nearest HK$10 million. used was a matrix of 323 morphospecies of Coleoptera in 118 3 sites, which had lots of zeros and ties (i.e. very similar or This is an annual value. At a discount rate of 4% (the same discount rate dissimilar sites). I used an untransformed Sorensen measure used for the Disney theme park), nature conservation has a total value of HK$45 billion-$162 billion in perpetuity. and 20 runs/restarts to find 2-dimensional solutions in both trials. Bruce McCune, answering my queries, said it was 4 Some fraction of US$64 billion. difficult to compare between packages because stopping criteria or measures of stress values may not be the same. From the manuals I found that both packages measured stress values using Kruskal’s stress formula 1 (Kruskal, 1964). There might be errors in the calculation, but I would never know it because the calculation for NMDS is so complicated. So the mystery remains.

Another possible reason for the discrepancy is the presence of a large number of ties, which creates randomness in the ordination process. In fact, Legendre & Legendre (1998, p.447) said that ‘computer programs may differ in the way they handle ties. This may cause major discrepancies between reported stress values corresponding to the final solutions, although the final configurations of points are usually very 20

similar from program to program, except when different with n being the number of tests. The Bonferroni-corrected programs identify distinct final solutions having very similar maximum error for a single test is found by simply dividing stress values’. the α value by n.

I posted this question on the list server ORDNEWS. Chris A criticism of the classic Bonferroni test procedure is that it is Howden and Hugh Jones responded, and they suggested too conservative for highly correlated test statistics, hence different starting configurations and measures of stress values resulting in a high probability of Type II errors, i.e. failure to being the possible reasons. I later got the confirmation from reject false null hypotheses. Holm (1979) improved the Bob Clarke that PRIMER follows strictly Kruskal’s stress procedure by ranking the P-values in ascending order, and formula 1 in the calculation of stress values. rejecting the hypotheses one at a time, with the level of significance gradually decreased. Many methods have been Clarke (1993) proposed a rule of thumb for interpreting stress proposed (e.g. Simes, 1986; Hommel, 1988) to improve the values using PRIMER. Given that different packages produce power of the Bonferroni test procedure, but there is, as yet, no different stress values, I was wondering whether the rule consensus on the best method (Shaffer, 1995). applies for PC-ORD. Bruce McCune said that the rules were reasonable but too cautious. He considered the best way to As for the value of α, Miller (1981) proposed a flexible α interpret an ordination was to use external criteria for value as a viable method of maintaining power in adjustments evaluation, such as correlations with environmental variables for multiple tests. Chandler (1995) suggested that α values of of known importance. 10-15% are appropriate, especially for large numbers of tests.

This was intended to be a short note, I assure you. But just as Ecologists do not seem to be as cautious about the pitfalls of my casual exploration turned out to be a long wade through multiple tests as do the clinical and medical scientists, who muddy water, it has taken up one whole page without giving a have been using Bonferroni corrections for decades. Laurance satisfactory result. I can make no conclusion here, other than et al. (1999) provides one of the few examples in the ecology to remind you again that the two packages may give you literature. If you are going to make multiple tests in your different answers on running NMDS. experiments this is something to watch out for.

2. Avoiding the Pitfalls of Multiple Testing Bibliography

Chandler, R.C. (1995). Practical considerations in the use of simultaneous We sometimes need to test several hypotheses using data inference for multiple tests. Animal Behaviour 49: 524-527. collected during an experiment or a survey. In testing any single hypothesis, we normally specify an acceptable Clarke, K.R. (1993). Non-parametric multivariate analyses of changes in maximum probability of rejecting the null hypothesis when it community structure. Australian Journal of Ecology 18: 117-143. is true (i.e. Type I error), but when many hypotheses are Clarke, K.R. & Warwick, R.M. (1994). Changes in Marine Communities: An tested, the probability of committing at least some Type I Approach to Statistical Analysis and Interpretation. Plymouth, Plymouth errors increases. This may result in spurious ‘significant’ Marine Laboratory. relationships that are explained by chance only. Holm, S. (1979). A simple sequentially rejective multiple test procedure. Scandinavian Journal of Statistics 6: 65-70. The reduction in the power of significance testing can be avoided by replacing multiple tests with other procedures, Hommel, G. (1988). A stagewise rejective multiple test procedure based on a such as multiple comparisons of differences by SNK tests modified Bonferroni test. Biometrika 75: 383-386. instead of multiple t-tests. In situations where multiple tests Kruskal, J.B. (1964). Nonmetric multidimensional scaling: A numerical are not avoidable, Bonferroni correction is usually applied to method. Psychometrika 29: 115-129. avoid committing Type I errors in the experiment. You do not have to feel intimidated by the mathematics that follows – it is Laurance, W.F., Fearnside, P.M., Laurance, S.G., Delamonica, P., Lovejoy, T.E., Rankin-de Merona, J.M., Chambers J.Q. & Gascon, C. (1999). not as complicated as it seems. Relationship between soils and Amazon forest biomass: a landscape-scale study. Forest Ecology and Management 118: 127-138.

If a specific hypothesis Hj is rejected when Pj ≤ α /n, then the Legendre, P. & Legendre, L. (1998). Numerical Ecology. Amsterdam, Bonferroni inequality, Elsevier Science B.V. n   Miller, R.G. (1981). Simultaneous Statistical Inference. New York, Springer. pr (Pi ≤ α≤/ n α (0 ≤ α ≤ 1), Ui=1  Shaffer, J.P. (1995). Multiple hypothesis testing. Annual Review of Psychology 46: 561-584. ensures that the probability of rejecting at least one hypothesis when all are true is no greater than α, the multiple level of Simes, R.J. (1986). An improved Bonferroni procedure for multiple tests of significance (i.e. experiment-wise probability of Type I error), significance. Biometrika 73: 751-754. 21

activated-carbon, and found to respond to heavy metal Biomonitoring ecotoxicity of quantitatively (Gu & Cheung, 2001). Under conditions without pollution by metals, this bacterium produces a blue heavy metal using a new pigmentation, whether in liquid culture (Fig. 2) or as colonies bacterium on an agar plate, so distinctive that any morphological change might easily be detected visually and assessed. In the presence of hexavalent chromium (Cr6+, a toxic and carcinogenic heavy by Joseph, K.H. Cheung metal), their pigment production will be obstructed, and the relationship between chromium concentrations (both in liquid Owing to the rapid growth of the global human population culture and on agar plate) and blue-pigment production by the coupled with an increase in living standards, various of the bacterium are negatively correlated (r2 = -0.877). By agricultural and industrial pollutants generated each year have comparing against standards the intensity of the blue-colour of increased significantly since the industrial revolution. As a the liquid culture or percentage of blue colonies growing on an result, pollution has become a major concern as it adversely agar plate, the concentration of chromium in samples affects the well-being of natural flora and fauna, and impairs suspected to be contaminated with chromium can be ecosystem balance. A proper monitoring system is the first- estimated. The philosophy for this test is actually similar to the step to safeguard our environment because precise information Microtox® test which measures the intensity of light emitted on the source, place and severity of pollution is essential for us by the bioluminescent bacteria with a photometer; instead, to design and implement conservation programmes, or to intensity of blue-colour is being assessed here with less decide what remedial measure(s) has(have) to be carried out. sophisticated instruments and without tedious procedures required. It is an easy, simple and cost-effective way to Conventional chemical analyses give information that has very monitor chromium with this bacterium, and the feasibility of little relevance to the ecological impact of pollutants. using this bacterium to quantify other heavy metals is worth Chemical methods provide information on the quantity of investigating in the future. pollutants in samples from a specific environment, while biomonitoring attempts to establish the relationship between Bibliography the presence of a pollutant at a certain concentration and the negative effect(s) it exerts on living organisms. Ecological Gu, J.D. & Cheung, K.H. (2001). Phenotypic expression of Vogesella 6+ monitoring has been given increasing attention because of the indigofera upon exposure to hexavalent chromium, Cr . World J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 17: 475-480. potential establishment of a correlation between the chemical nature of the pollutant and its biological effects. Organisms Rosenfeld, I. & Beath, O.A. (1964). Selenium: Geobotany, Biochemistry, including plants, animals, protozoa and microorganisms have Toxicity, and Nutrition. Academic Press Inc., New York. been adopted in biomonitoring programmes. There is not much difference between using ‘macro-organisms’ and microorganisms, and the majority of bioassays are based on presence-absence (P-A) or on physiological, behavioural or genotypic expression of certain (or groups of) indicator organisms. For instance, Astragalus spp. are regarded as selenium (Se, a highly toxic metalloid) indicator plants Fig. 1. A scanning because they are exceptionally resistant to, and have ability to electron accumulate high levels of selenium, while most other living micrograph of organisms will die even under very low concentrations of V. indigofera selenium. Thus the presence of Astragalus spp. implies that (Bar = 1 µm). the area is selenium-laden (Rosenfeld & Beath, 1964). Similarly, coliform, which is a group of rod-shape bacteria, is another well-known bioindicator for pollution where the abundance of coliform bacteria (common species like Escherichia coli) indicates the extent of faecal contamination. Fig. 2. Liquid In addition, a number of commercially available toxicity culture of V. ® indigofera. The testing kits, like the Microtox test, are making use of the dark blue culture altered physiological and biochemical responses of bacteria (for left) was the (like Vibrio fischeri) under stressful environmental conditions control without Cr6+, while the to reflect the severity of pollution level. light yellow one (for right) was Recently, a bacterium (Vogesella indigofera, Fig. 1) was amended with isolated from a drinking water filter cartridge containing 100 ppm Cr6+. 22

cyanobacteria is to screen as many species as possible and this Cyanobacteria culture can only be achieved through culture collections.

collection: a unique resource for Quite independently of biotechnologists, and unaware of the ecology and biotechnology biotechnological potential of cyanobacteria, ecologists started to realize the importance of cyanobacteria as important research primary producers in freshwater ecosystems. The ecological significance of marine cyanobacteria, however, was overlooked until the early 1990s despite their dominance in by Sanjay Nagarkar marine ecosystems, primarily due to difficulties associated with their identification and quantitative analysis. In marine Cyanobacteria are photo-autotrophic gram negative plankton research, scientists often use large size (>10 µm) prokaryotes, also known as blue-green algae. They are the plankton nets, which obviously miss most planktonic simplest known photo-autotrophic organisms having cyanobacteria which range from 2-6 µm, and this led to the characteristics of both bacteria and algae and are one of the misconception that cyanobacteria are an unimportant oldest life forms on earth dating back 3.5 billion years. They component of marine phytoplankton. grow in a wide variety of habitats and > 2000 species are recorded with many new species still being discovered. The story of intertidal rocky shores is a bit different. Cyanobacteria exhibit three morphological forms, i.e., Cyanobacteria are visually conspicuous on rocky shores in the coccoid, unbranched filamentous and branched filamentous; form of biofilms and their ecological significance as a primary and two functional groups, i.e., heterocyst bearing, nitrogen producer has long been recognized although comprehensive fixing, filamentous forms and non-heterocystous, non nitrogen studies were restricted mainly due to technical difficulties. fixing filaments. Although this description is generally true, The first comprehensive study on such biofilms was many non-heterocystous species are known to fix atmospheric conducted on Hong Kong rocky shores, which described the nitrogen. species richness, spatial and temporal distribution, primary and secondary succession and interactions with physical and In aquatic habitats, cyanobacteria are regarded as harmful due biological factors (Nagarkar & Williams, 1997, 1999; to their association with environmental problems – fouling Williams et al., 2000). water bodies, blocking water supplies, unpleasant appearance and stinking odours, causing diseases and toxaemia etc. Due To better understand the patterns and processes of intertidal to this image, and a lack of sophisticated techniques to aid community structure, we need to understand the their study, scientists have overlooked the more positive characteristics of individual species and their interaction with attributes of cyanobacteria and branded them as 'nuisance various physical and biological factors. This is not possible in scum'. Initial research focused on their harmful significance, the field due to the co-existence of many species in the but much of this recently has been re-evaluated to show the biofilm. Unialgal or pure cyanobacterial laboratory cultures, positive economic utilization of cyanobacteria. This therefore, are a prerequisite for conducting such studies and it turnaround is thanks to Spirulina (a non heterocystous was towards this goal that I combined my laboratory-based filamentous genus of cyanobacteria), which first drew the microbiology background and field-based ecological training attention of biotechnologist towards the beneficial aspects of to embark on an RGC-funded project with Gray Williams cyanobacteria. Today Spirulina is considered to be 'the richest (DEB) and Geoff Brown (Chemistry Department) on "The green food on earth' due to its high nutritional quality. With ecological significance and biotechnological potential of Hong technological advances and the recent realization of Kong marine cyanobacteria". Our main objective was to cyanobacteria's immense applied biotechnological potential establish a marine cyanobacteria culture collection. and suitability for gene manipulation, they have become organisms of choice for research and development. Today we In collaboration with the National Facility for Marine know that cyanobacteria produce a variety of remarkable Cyanobacteria (NFMC), Bharathidasan University, Trichii, compound that have shown potential application in major India, we have isolated and purified a large number of marine disease management, such as cancer, asthma, arthritis, epilithic cyanobacteria from Hong Kong rocky shores. diabetes, HIV etc (Skulberg, 2000). The application of Isolation of cyanobacteria was achieved by streak plate, spread cyanobacteria is not only restricted to the medical field but plate and pour plate methods. Based on initial laboratory they have also showed immense potential in wastewater and studies, a modified cyanobacteria growth medium (modified industrial effluent treatment, bioremediation of aquatic and MN medium) was developed along with light intensity and terrestrial habitats, chemical industries, biofertilizers, food, day night cycle protocols for slow growth of cyanobacteria in feed and fuel, cosmetics, etc (Fatma, 1999). The fundamental the laboratory. With such protocols, the first cyanobacteria prerequisite for exploring the biotechnological potential of culture collection was established in NFMC in June 1999. The second was established in the Department of Ecology & 23

Biodiversity (DEB), The University of Hong Kong in July and notes that describe important features related to 2000 with the help of Sushanta Saha from NFMC and Wallis morphology as developed in the culture. Chan and Kelly Lau at DEB. Both culture collections maintain the same strains with similar growth protocols and All the cultures are maintained in photo-autotrophic growth are collectively known as Bharathidasan & Hong Kong conditions in modified MN medium and are assumed to be University Culture Collection (BDHKUCC). The NFMC axenic. Nitrogen sources have been omitted from the medium BDHKUCC now contains 168 strains belonging to 72 species to support the growth of nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria. For of cyanobacteria whereas DEB BDHKUCC contains 110 maintenance, we keep incubation temperature constant at strains of 48 species. The remaining 58 strains of 24 species 25°C and light intensity between 20-15-26.87 µE m-2 sec-1 will be deposited in the DEB culture collection soon. The with 12/12 hours Light Day cycle. Culture maintenance strains in BDHKUCC reflect a wide spectrum of protocols are set to minimize growth rates, so as to minimize morphological and functional forms and belong to all the five space, materials and work-load. major Orders of cyanobacteria; the unicellular strains mainly belong to the genera Chroococcus, Gloeocapsa, Aphanocapsa, BDHKUCC is the largest marine epilithic cyanobacteria Synechocystis and Synechococcus, filamentous strains to culture collection in the world and provides an opportunity for Spirulina, Lyngbya, Phormidium, Oscillatoria and marine ecologists and biotechnologists to perform relatively Plectonema, and heterocystous strains to Calothrix, new studies in their respective fields. Postgraduate and Scytonema, Tolypothrix, Nostoc and Dichothrix. The undergraduate students of The University of Hong Kong and maximum number of strains belong to the genera Bharadhidasan University are currently using cyanobacteria Aphanocapsa, Chroococcus, Gloeocapsa, Phormidium and strains from BDHKUCC for their research projects. A variety Oscillatoria. Strains of the same species are morphologically of projects are underway using BDHKUCC such as identical but vary in their colour and habitats (e.g. eutrophic, characterization of cyanobacteria for optimum growth, oceanic or eutrophic waters). nitrogen fixation, presence of UV-absorbing pigments, photo- pigment compositions, heat and desiccation stress, influence of rock type on growth, nutritional quality of cyanobacteria and its influence on grazers, screening of secondary metabolites and novel compounds, anti-microbial activities, bioremediation of aquatic habitats and industrial effluent and wastewater treatment.

This is a highly valuable collection of global significance that possesses strains not available in any other collections. Many hands are involved in the success of this collection: Mr. Pure strain of Oscillatoria Cyanobacteria culture collection Sushanta Saha, Dr. N. Thajuddin and Prof. G. Subramanian from NFMC and Dr. Gray A. Williams, Ms. Wallis Chan, We have prepared a database for this culture collection and an Kelly Lau and Cecily Law from DEB, HKU. The facility is electronic database for general use will be available soon. For administered by Dr. Williams and maintained by Ms. Law. convenience, we have assigned a traditional genus and species Please don’t hesitate to call Dr. Williams if you want to work names under the botanical code system to each strain followed in this exciting field and would like to use the facility. by a culture collection number. As we progress, on the basis of biochemical and genetic characterization, we may change Bibliography the name of the species but the BDHKUCC number will remain the same. Since a change of name will give more than Fatma, T. (1999). Cyanobacterial and algal metabolism and environmental one name to the strain, we will use P.K.A. (previously known biotechnology. Nora Publishing House, New Delhi. pp. 272. as = old species name) for the new named strain. The cultures Nagarkar, S. & Williams, G.A. (1997). Comparative techniques to quantify are listed alphabetically and multiple strains of the same cyanobacteria dominated epilithic biofilms on tropical rocky shores. Mar. species are listed in ascending numerical order. The Ecol. Prog. Ser. 154: 281-291. information attributed to each BDHKUCC strain is organized as follows: BDHKUCC accession number, species name & Nagarkar, S. & Williams, G.A. (1999). Spatial and temporal variation of cyanobacteria-dominated epilithic communities on a tropical shore in Hong authority, name of growth medium, cell mass colour, Kong. Phycologia 38: 385-393. collection site (name place and country), date of collection, habitat from where the sample was collected, growth type, i.e., Skulberg, O.M. (2000). Microalgae as a source of bioactive molecules- planktonic or epilithic/benthic based on their growth mode in experience from cyanophyte research. J. Appl. Phycol. 12: 341-348. laboratory culture, culture type which describes the stock Williams, G.A., Davies M. & Nagarkar, S. (2000). Primary succession on a culture maintenance method, i.e., agar slant or liquid cultures seasonal tropical rocky shore: the relative roles of spatial heterogeneity and herbivory. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 203: 81-94. 24

BOOK REVIEW: Hong Kong Macaques WILD CORNER by Wong Che-lok

This colourful booklet is a welcome addition to the Hong Any sightings of civets, mongooses, ferret badgers, leopard cats, Kong natural history library, and an affordable one at HK$38. barking deer, pangolins and porcupines – live or dead – should It is amply illustrated with high-quality and varied be reported. Rare birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, or unusual photographs and figures, and contains an impressive amount behaviour by common species, are also of interest, as are rare or of detail on the macaques of Kowloon Hills, with 64 pages interesting invertebrates and plants. If you think it is interesting, including English and Chinese. Never has it been easier for the our readers probably will! Please give dates, times and localities public to appreciate our fellow Hong Kong primates. as accurately as possible The 11 chapters include those on the history, species composition, distribution, social organization, range and MAMMALS foraging, life cycle and ecological importance of macaques. Each combines the author’s observations, those of the Hong Charles Frew caught a species of Bamboo Shark during a Kong monkey feeders, and the findings of other studies. One fisheries survey on 3 Dec 2001, in the East Lamma Channel. The consequence is that the source of generalizations is not always male shark was approximately 55 cm long and was released back clear, and some are surprising – that male dominance depends into the water. The species has yet to be confirmed. on size and strength (most studies find tenure more important), and that most macaques sleep on the ground (most took to the Kwok Hon Kai saw an Indian Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) and trees in my own observations), among other examples. A more a squirrel in Tai Po Kau on 22 Dec 2001. clear-cut error is the photograph of “aggressive behaviour” (p. 50, top left), actually depicting a teeth-baring appeasement Jackie Yip saw 5 Rhesus Macaques gesture akin to the human grin. (Macaca mulatta), including two juveniles, near Chek Keng village The social dynamics are brought to life with accounts and on 13 Jan 2002. A male adult was pictures of the alpha males of the different groups in the early attacking the passers-by. According to mid-1990s (apparently more recent developments have not to Fellowes (1992), the Chek Keng been studied). Clearly, feeders’ tales have had a strong population was likely to have been influence, most explicitly in the “love story” explaining one of migrating males from the dominant male’s emigration, which might displease some established populations in Kowloon anthropologists. But it’s pitched more at arousing the empathy Reservoir and central New Territories. of the general reader, and since we tell stories about fellow On 16 Mar 2002, Jackie Yip saw an adult male Rhesus Macaque humans, why not about monkeys too? grabbing a plastic bag from the hand of a passing hiker in Chek Keng. The booklet concludes with guidelines on how to safely behave around monkeys – happily this, like much else, makes Angel Au and Richard Corlett found fresh Porcupine (Hystrix good use of the WWF Hong Kong study in the early 1990s brachyura) droppings near the Nature Trail at Tai Po Kau on 3 (though there is no sign of a panda logo in acknowledgement). April 2002. They seemed to consist entirely of wood fibres. There are also supplements, such as more specific encouragement of observations on natural behaviour. Overall the author is to be congratulated on a creative blend of colour and information. It is unfortunate though that the English has not been edited – one might expect a better support mechanism from a Government Department.

John Fellowes Fresh porcupine dropping Cross section of dropping Captain Wong found Civet scats with many seeds inside on a footpath between Hok Tau Reservoir and Sha Lo Tung on 14 Feb 2002. The dominant habitat was tall shrubland with small areas of secondary forest. 25

Captain Wong saw a village total length and is considered to have reached adult stage dog with two Porcupine (Jefferson et al., 1993). Similar to what Mohan (1990) quills on the chest, at Kuk Po, observed, it was bow diving the vessel, making acrobatic Starling Inlet on 10 Mar 2002. It acts and followed the vessel for 30 minutes before it left. It suggests that this dog, probably is quite unusual that the dolphin is active during its normal with other dogs in the village, morning-midday rest period (Norris et al., 1980; Jefferson attacks porcupines in the nearby et al., 1993). (Acknowledgements : I thank Dr Lindsay J. areas. A villager also revealed Porter for dolphin species identification. See Porcupine! that dogs with porcupine quills website for photo.) were regularly seen.

Captain Wong found a quill of a Porcupine on the BIRDS footpath near Kau Tam Tso, Wu Kau Tang on 16 Feb 2002. A Brown Breasted Flycatcher (Muscicapa muttui) was recorded and photographed by AFCD warden Wong Choi A male Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) weighing 70 kg was On in Tai Po Kau on 7 Nov 2001. This is the first record found dead entangled in ropes, in Cheung Hang Tsuen of this species in Hong Kong. (Reported by Ming Pao (KK054747) near Kowloon Reception Reservoir on 24 http://full.mingpaonews.com/20020310/__gma1h.htm) Feb 2002. The cause of death was suspected to be suffocation, as it got entangled in the ropes when it tried Kwok Hon Kai also saw the Brown Breasted Flycatcher to escape from a dog chase. (Reported by Ming Pao in Tai Po Kau between November 2001 and January 2002. http://full.mingpaonews.com/20020225/__gnd1.htm.) The bird was also seen by many local birdwatchers.

Two Wild Boars (Sus scrofa) were sighted in Tai Po Kau by Sukh Mantel. A juvenile (about 60 cm long) Kwok Hon Kai saw was seen on 7 Dec 2001 around 9:30 am and an adult Twelve Grey - headed (about a metre long) was rushing across the blue trail at Lapwings (Vanellus around 6:00 pm on 13 Dec 2001. cinereus) on an exposed mudflat in a flood Kevin Caley made the following observations during a control channel in Kam night walk on Hatton Road on 3 Mar 2002. One Ferret Tin on 20 Dec 2001. Badger (Melogale moschata) was seen foraging on the right among the bamboo (below the path) at the 500 m Kwok Hon Kai saw five marker at 8.40 pm. One ferret badger was seen feeding Mountain Bulbuls on the left (above the path) at the 1200 m marker, at (Hypsipetes mcclellandii) 10.05 pm. It was attracted by the torchlight to within 1 feeding on nectar of m, where it fed in the leaf litter searching for prey. It Rhodoleia championii in Tai was surprisingly tame. It then disappeared down a Po Kau on 12 Jan 2002. drainage channel connecting the upper slopes with the They were guarding the lower ones. The observations lasted for 1 minute and 5 Rhodoleia championii minutes, respectively. flowers, and chased away any approaching White-eyes and Phylloscopus warblers. Bosco Chan and Lee Kwok Shing saw footprints of the These five birds were probably the same that flocked with Otter in Mai Po on 7 February 2001. Tracks were seen Chestnut Bulbuls (Hypsipetes castanonotus) in December along the newly-constructed boardwalk as well as the 2001, and were no longer seen with Chestnut Bulbuls this boardwalk outside the border-fence. time.

The Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris, a Kwok Hon Kai saw two flocks (15 and 30 birds) of conservation-dependent species (IUCN 2000), is Striated Yuhinas (Yuhina castaniceps) in Tai Po Kau on uncommon in Hong Kong and was recorded at Clear 22 Dec 2001. Water Bay in June 1996 (L.J. Porter, personal communication). One S. longirostris was observed Kwok Hon Kai saw Orange-bellied Leafbirds swimming over shallow area about 10 m deep water (Chloropsis hardwidkii) feeding on the nectar of Stiff approximately 200 m off Ko Lau Wan along the bottle-brush (Callistemon rigidus) in Tai Po Kau on 16 northeastern coast of Sai Kung Peninsula on 28 April Mar 2002. 2001 by Cheung Ming Hong (Swire Institute of Marine Science, HKU ) It measured about 2 m in 26

A Ruddy-breasted Crake (Porzana fusca) was seen http://appledaily.atnext.com/template/apple/art_main.cfm? feeding along the drained channel in Gei Wai 14 in Mai sec_id=4104&showdate=20020416&art_id=2546270.) Po Nature Reserve in the afternoon of 24 Jan 2002, by Vivien Wong and Ellen Shek, together with 40 primary students on the new boardwalk. It was seen at the same INSECTS location again the following week. On 3 Mar 2002, at 2 pm, Richard Corlett noticed Cicadas Captain Wong saw about 10 Little Buntings (Emberiza calling loudly in the Wu Kau Tang feng shui wood. This pusilla) feeding on the ground covered by fallen flowers was three weeks earlier than the usual appearance of the of Machilus near Orchid Haven, KFBG on 15 Mar 2002. first cicadas of the year, Gaena maculata, and they did not Apparently, the birds did not take the whole ripe sound like this species. No cicadas were heard at other flowers. They probably preyed upon insects attracted by forest sites in Hong Kong until near the end of March. these flowers on the ground, or small parts of the flowers. Richard Corlett, Anita Tsang and Ng Sai-chit saw many worker Bumblebees (Bombus eximius) visiting flowers of Captain Wong saw about 10 Greater Necklaced Ormosia semicastrata (Leguminosae) at Ma On Shan on 5 Laughing Thrushes (Garrulax pectoralis) visiting the April 2002. This area seems to be the main stronghold for flowers on the top of two Cotton Trees (Gossampinus bumblebees in Hong Kong, but we have no summer malabarica) at KARC on 18 Mar 2002. These planted records. What happens to them then? trees are about 12-15 m height and are in close proximity to tall shrubland. PLANTS AMPHIBIANS/ REPTILES Five men were convicted of illegally entering Hong Kong and attempting to cut a Buddhist pine Podocarpus A male Water Monitor (Varanus salvator) was caught macrophyllus in Yin Tsz Ngam, Sai Kung on January in Mak Bin Tsuen, Sai Kung (KK202792) on 14 Feb 2002. The tree is a nationally protected and locally 2002. The Water Monitor, with a total length of over 6 restricted species. The illegal immigrants were hired to cut feet and weighing over 10kg, was in poor condition. and smuggle the trees to China. Police record showed that (Reported by Ming Pao at least 50 trees have been stolen since January 2002. http://full.mingpaonews.com/20020215/__gcc1.htm). (Reported by Ming Pao http://full.mingpaonews.com/20020310/__gbb1h.htm) Jackie Yip and friends saw Wild Corner Bibliography a Checkered Keelback (Xenochrophis piscator) in Fellowes, J. R. (1992). Hong Kong Macaques. World-wide Fund for Mai Po, along the main path Nature, Hong Kong, 164 pp. leading to the Education IUCN.2000. IUCN (2000). Red List of Threatened Species. Web version: Centre on 3 Mar 2002. The www.redlist.org snake was 50 – 60 cm long, and in very poor condition. Jefferson, T.A., Leatherwood, S. & Webber, M.A. (1993). Marine It stayed still while being photographed. mammals of the World. United Nations Environment Programme, Rome. pp.160.

A slightly decomposed dead body of Chinese Softshell Karsen, S. J., M. W. N. Lau & A. Bogadek (1998). Hong Kong Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) was found by Cheung Sze Amphibians and Reptiles. Urban Council. Hong Kong. 186 pp. Man on the shore of Dong Ping Chau on 16 Feb 2002. A Mohan, R.S.L. (1990). Observations on a large school of spinner natural breeding population of the species has been dolphins, Stenella longirostris off southwest coast of India with note on recorded only from northwestern New Territories its behaviour. In K.J. Matthew (ed.), Proceedings of the First Workshop (Karsen et al.; 1998, personal observation). The natural on Scientific Results of Forvsagar Sampada, pp. 415-416. Cochin India environment of the island is not suitable for this lowland Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin. aquatic turtle species as there are no longer extensive Norris, K.S. & Dohl, T.P. (1980). Behavior of the Hawaiian spinner permanent freshwater sources. The specimen sighted dolphin, Stenella longirostris. Fisheries Bulletin 77(4): 821-849. was probably an escapee from softshell smuggling boats travelling near the island as suggested by boatmen frequently visiting Dong Ping Chau.

A 15 feet long Python was captured in Liu Pok, Sheung Shui, by local villagers. (Reported by Apple Daily, 27

Hopkinson, L. & Stern, R. (2002) Wild but not free: an economic valuation of the benefits of nature conservation in Recent Publications Hong Kong. Civic Exchange, Hong Kong. Owen, B. & Shaw, R. (2001) Hong Kong landscapes: along the MacLehose Trail. Geotrails Society, Hong Kong. Books, Monographs, CDs etc. SCIB & AFCD (2002) Hong Kong plant checklist [in Chinese]. AFCD, Hong Kong. AFCD (2002) Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Annual Report 2001-2002. Government Wan, J. & Telesetsky, A. (2002) Creating opportunities: Information Centre, Hong Kong. saving Hong Kong's natural heritage. Civic Exchange, Hong Kong. Dudgeon, D. & Corlett, R.T. (2002) Biodiversity Survey (Version 3.0). CD-ROM and Report. Department of Ecology Wang, H. (1999) Wildlife conservation in rural southeastern & Biodiversity, HKU, Hong Kong. China: wildlife harvest and the ecology of sympatric carnivores. [PhD thesis]. UMI, University of Massachusetts. Fellowes, J.R., Hau, B.C.H., & Chan, B.P.L. (2002) Report of rapid biodiversity assessment at Chunxiu Headwater Forest Wong, C.L. (2001) Hong Kong macaques. AFCD, Hong Nature Reserve, Southwest Guangxi, China. KFBG, Hong Kong. Kong. Journal articles, book chapters and other published papers Fellowes, J.R., Hau, B.C.H., Lau, M.W.N., Ng, S.C., & Chan, B.P.L. (2002) Report of rapid biodiversity assessment at Aptroot, A. & Sipman, H.J.M. (2001) New Hong Kong Yangchun Baiyong Nature Reserve, Southwest Guangdong, 3 lichens, ascomycetes and lichenicolous fungi. Journal of the May 1998. KFBG, Hong Kong. Hattori Botanical Laboratory 91: 317-343. Fellowes, J.R., Lau, M.W.N., Hau, B.C.H., Ng, S.C., & Chan, Au, D.W.T. & Wu, R.S.S. (2001) A field study on EROD B.P.L. (2002) Report of rapid biodiversity assessment at activity and quantitative hepatocytological changes in an Heweishan Forest Farm, Southwest Guangdong, 4 to 5 May immature demersal fish. Environmental Pollution 115: 23-32. 1998. KFBG, Hong Kong. Blackmore, G. & Morton, B. (2001) The interpretation of Fellowes, J.R., Lau, M.W.N., Hau, B.C.H., S.C., N., & Chan, body trace metal concentrations in neogastropods from Hong B.P.L. (2002) Report of rapid biodiversity assessments at Kong. Marine Pollution Bulletin 42: 1161-1168. Qixingkeng Nature Reserve, Southwest Guangdong, 29 April to 1 May and 24 November to 1 December, 1998. KFBG, Bussaban, B., Lumyong, S., Lumyong, P., Hyde, K.D., & Hong Kong. McKenzie, E.H.C. (2001) Two new species of endophytes (ascomycetes) from Zingiberaceae sporulating in culture. Fellowes, J.R., Lau, M.W.-N., Hau, B.C.H., Ng, S.C., & Chan, Nova Hedwigia 73: 487-493. B.P.L. (2002) Report of rapid biodiversity assessments at Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, Western Guangdong, China Bussaban, B., Lumyong, S., Lumyong, P., McKenzie, E.H.C., 1998 and 2000 KFBG, Hong Kong. & Hyde, K.D. (2001) A synopsis of the genus Berkleasmium with two new species and new records of Canalisporium Fellowes, J.R., Lau, M.W.-N., Hau, B.C.H., Ng, S.C., & Chan, caribense from Zingiberaceae in Thailand. Fungal Diversity 8: B.P.L. (2002) Report of rapid biodiversity assessments at 73-85. Nonggang National Nature Reserve, Southwest Guangxi, China, 19 to 27 May 1998. KFBG, Hong Kong. Cai, L.Z., Li, H.M., Liu, J.J., & Lin, P. (2001) Distribution and polluting effects on Capitella capitata, Nephtys oligobranchia, Hill, R.D. (2002) Southeast Asia: people, land and economy. Tharyx sp. on the intertidal mudflats in Shenzhen Estuary. Allen & Unwin, Australia. Acta Ecologica Sinica 21: 1648-1653. Hodgkiss, I.J. (2002) Challenges of nature conservation in the Cai, L.Z., Lin, J.D., & Li, H.M. (2001) Macroinfauna face of development pressure. Proceedings of the 2001 IUCN communities in an organic-rich mudflat at Shenzhen and Hong World Commission on Protected Areas, East Asia Conference, Kong, China. Bulletin of Marine Science 69: 1129-1138. June 2001 in Hong Kong. AFCD, Hong Kong. 28

Chan, G.Y.S. & Chiu, S.T. (2002) Woodland establishment Dudgeon, D. (2002) Protected areas for endangered trials on bare mountain tops in Hong Kong: a case study in ecosystems: conservation of riverine biodiversity in Asia. In Grassy Hill, Shing Mun Country Park. In Challenges of nature Challenges of nature conservation in the face of development conservation in the face of development pressure Challenges pressure. (ed. I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 237-242. AFCD, Hong of nature conservation in the face of development pressure. Kong. (ed. I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 181-185. AFCD, Hong Kong. Dudgeon, D. (2002) Fisheries: pollution and habitat Chelazzi, G., DePirro, M., & Williams, G.A. (2001) Cardiac degradation in tropical Asian rivers. In Encyclopaedia of responses to abiotic factors in two tropical limpets, occurring global environmental change. (ed I. Douglas), Vol. 3, pp. 316- at different levels of the shore. Marine Biology 139: 1079- 323. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester. 1085. Dulymamode, R., Cannon, P.F., Hyde, K.D., & Peerally, A. Cheung, J.Y.M., Yong, L., & Williams, G.A. (2002) People (2001) Four new ascomycete species from endemic Pandanus and protected areas - conservation of the fishponds in and of Mauritius. Fungal Diversity 8: 87-96. around the Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site. In Challenges of nature conservation in the face of development Dyer, W.G. & Poly, W.J. (2002) Trimusculotrema schwartzi pressure. (ed. I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 159-164. AFCD, Hong n. sp (Monogenea : Capsalidae) from the skin of the stingray Kong. Dasyatis zugei (Elasmobranchii : Dasyatidae) off Hong Kong, China. Systematic Parasitology 51: 217-225. Cheung, S.G. & Wong, W.H. (2001) Effect of food availability on the energetics of the intertidal scavenging Fan, K.W., Vrijmoed, L.L.P., & Jones, E.B.G. (2002) gastropod Nassarius festivus. Vie et Milieu-Life and Physiological studies of subtropical mangrove Environment 51: 181-188. thraustochytrids. Botanica Marina 45: 50-57.

Connell, D.W., Wong, B.S.F., Lam, P.K.S., Poon, K.F., Lam, Gaiger, P. (2002) Does Environmental Impact Assessment M.H.W., Wu, R.S.S., Richardson, B.J., & Yen, Y.F. (2002) (EIA) help marine conservation? - some Hong Kong Risk to breeding success of ardeids by contaminants in Hong experience. In Challenges of nature conservation in the face of Kong: Evidence from trace metals in feathers. Ecotoxicology development pressure. (ed. I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 125-130. 11: 49-59. AFCD, Hong Kong.

Corlett, R.T. (2002) Reintroduction of "missing" vertebrates to Ghimire, S.R., Hyde, K.D., Hodgkiss, I.J., & Liew, E.C.Y. Hong Kong: benefits, problems and prospects. In Challenges (2001) Race diversity and virulence complexity of of nature conservation in the face of development pressure. Phytophthora infestans in Nepal. Potato Research 44: 253- (ed. I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 175-180. AFCD, Hong Kong. 263.

Corlett, R.T. (2002) Frugivory and seed dispersal in degraded Gu, J.D. & Cheung, K.H. (2001) Phenotypic expression of tropical East Asian landscapes. In Seed dispersal and Vogesella indigofera upon exposure to hexavalent chromium, frugivory: ecology, evolution and conservation. (eds D.J. Cr6+. World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology 17: Levey, W.R. Silva & M. Galetti), pp. 451-465. CABI 475-480. Publishing, Wallingford, Oxfordshire. Guan, D.S. (2001) Energy production of plants in grass, Daley, P.A. (2002) Country Parks - their forestry foundations. Dicranopteris dichotoma and Rhodomyrtus tomentosa In Challenges of nature conservation in the face of communities in Hong Kong. Chinese Journal of Applied development pressure. (ed. I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 5-9. AFCD, Ecology 12: 374-378. Hong Kong. Heywood, J. (2002) Hong Kong Country Parks - planning and Ding, X., Zheng, D., Chen, Y., Chao, J., & Li, Z. (2001) Sea design. In Challenges of nature conservation in the face of level change in Hong Kong from tide gauge measurements of development pressure. (ed. I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 23-25. AFCD, 1954-1999. Journal of Geodesy 74: 683-689. Hong Kong.

Dudgeon, D. (2001) What constrains the conservation of Hikida, T., Lau, M.W.N., & Ota, H. (2001) A new record of riverine biodiversity in Asia? In International symposium on the Vietnamese Five-lined Skink, Eumeces tamdaoensis Biodiversity Management on Sustainable Development in the (Reptilia: Scincidae), from Hong Kong, China, with special Lancang-Mekong River Basin. (eds M. Cao, H. Hu & L. Li), reference to its sexual dimorphism. Natural History Journal of pp. 15-21. Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna Chulalongkorn University 1: 9-13. Tropical Botanical Gardens. 29

Ho, W.H., Hyde, K.D., Hodgkiss, I.J., & Yanna (2001) Fungal Johnston, E.L., Keough, M.J., & Qian, P.Y. (2002) communities on submerged wood from streams in Brunei, Maintenance of species dominance through pulse disturbances Hong Kong, and Malaysia. Mycological Research 105: 1492- to a sessile marine invertebrate assemblage in Port Shelter, 1501. Hong Kong. Marine Ecology-Progress Series 226: 103-114.

Ho, W.H., Yanna, & Hyde, K.D. (2002) Two new species of Lai, P.C.C. (2000) Effect of seed orientation on the Spadicoides from Brunei and Hong Kong. Mycologia 94: 302- germination and growth of Thick Leaved Oak 306. Cyclobalanopsis edithae (Skan) Schott. (Fagaceae). Ecologic Science 19: 35-38. Hodgkiss, I.J. (2002) Harmful algal blooms (HABs). In Encyclopedia of global environmental change, Volume 3. (ed Lam, H.Y.I. & Hodgkiss, I.J. (2001) Application of a T. Munn), pp. 371-372. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester. telemetry system to studying microalgal dynamics and red tides in Hong Kong. In Algae and their biotechnological Hodgkiss, I.J. (2002) Marine Parks and Marine Reserves in potential. (eds F. Chen & Y. Jiang), pp. 279-299. Kluwer Hong Kong. In Challenges of nature conservation in the face Academic Publishers, Dordrecht. of development pressure. (ed. I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 55-61. AFCD, Hong Kong. Lau, S.C.K., Mak, K.K.W., Chen, F., & Qian, P.Y. (2002) Bioactivity of bacterial strains isolated from marine biofilms Hodgson, C. & Martin, J.H. (2001) Three noteworthy scale in Hong Kong waters for the induction of larval settlement in insects (Hemiptera : Coccoidea) from Hong Kong and the marine polychaete Hydroides elegans. Marine Ecology Singapore, including Cribropulvinaria tailungensis, new Progress Series 226: 301-310. genus and species (Coccidae), and the status of the cycad- feeding Aulacaspis yasumatsui (Diaspididae). Raffles Bulletin Lee, O.H.K., Williams, G.A., & Hyde, K.D. (2001) The diets of Zoology 49: 227-250. of Littoraria ardouiniana and L. melanostoma in Hong Kong mangroves. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of Huang, Z. & Liu, W. (2002) Marine nature reserves in China: the United Kingdom 81: 967-973. a review. In Challenges of nature conservation in the face of development pressure. (ed. I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 253-256. Leung, K.M.Y. & Furness, R.W. (2001) Survival, growth, AFCD, Hong Kong. metallothionein and glycogen levels of Nucella lapillus (L.) exposed to subchronic cadmium stress: the influence of Huhndorf, S.M., Fernandez, F.A., Taylor, J.E., & Hyde, K.D. nutritional state and prey type. Marine Environmental (2001) Two pantropical Ascomycetes: Chaetosphaeria Research 52: 173-194. cylindrospora sp nov and Rimaconus, a new genus for Lasiosphaeria jamaicensis. Mycologia 93: 1072-1080. Leung, K.M.Y. & Furness, R.W. (2001) Metallothionein induction and condition index of dogwhelks Nucella lapillus Hyde, K.D. (2001) Where are the missing fungi? Does Hong (L.) exposed to cadmium and hydrogen peroxide. Kong have any answers? Mycological Research 105: 1514- Chemosphere 44: 321-325. 1518. Leung, K.M.Y., Morgan, I.J., Wu, R.S.S., Lau, T.C., Hyde, K.D. (2001) Where are the missing fungi? Mycological Svavarsson, J., & Furness, R.W. (2001) Growth rate as a Research 105: 1409-1410. factor confounding the use of the dogwhelk Nucella lapillus as biomonitor of heavy metal contamination. Marine Ecology- Irving, J.A. (2002) Selecting and designating Country Parks. Progress Series 221: 145-159. In Challenges of nature conservation in the face of development pressure. (ed. I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 17-21. AFCD, Leung, K.M.Y., Morritt, D., Wheeler, J.R., Whitehouse, P., Hong Kong. Sorokin, N., Toy, R., Holt, M., & Crane, M. (2001) Can saltwater toxicity be predicted from freshwater data? Marine Jia, F.L., Liang, G.Q., Chen, Z.Y., Pang, H., Xie, W.C., Chen, Pollution Bulletin 42: 1007-1013. L.E., & Ye, G.D. (2000) Species diversity of beetles of Mt. Wutongshan. Chinese Biodiversity 8: 169-171. Leung, K.M.Y., Wheeler, J.R., Morritt, D., & Crane, M. (2001) Endocrine disruption in fishes and invertebrates: issues Jim, C.Y. & Wong, F.Y. (2002) The Country Parks system for saltwater ecological risk assessment. In Coastal and and development pressure in Hong Kong. In Challenges of Estuarine Risk Assessment. (eds M.C. Newman, M.H. Roberts nature conservation in the face of development pressure. (ed. & R.C. Hale), pp. 189-216. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton. I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 35-43. AFCD, Hong Kong. 30

Leung, P.C. & Pointing, S.B. (2002) Effect of different carbon Suthep Pui National Park, Thailand. Mycological Research and nitrogen regimes on Poly R decolorization by white-rot 105: 1508-1513. fungi. Mycological Research 106: 86-92. Qian, H.L., Liang, S., & Qi, Y.Z. (2000) Study of the Liang, Y.B. & Wang, B. (2001) Alien marine species and their characteristics and the causes of formation on the red tides in impact in China. Biodiversity Science 9: 458-465. coastal Guangdong sea. Ecologic Science 19: 8-16.

Lin, W., Lai, L.P., & Tang, Y.J. (2001) Species diversity of Rhodes, K.L. & Sadovy, Y. (2002) Temporal and spatial mollusc in intertidal zone, Daya Bay. Biodiversity Science 9: trends in spawning aggregations of camouflage grouper, 247-253. Epinephelus polyphekadion, in Pohnpei, Micronesia. Environmental Biology of Fishes 63: 27-39. Lock, N.Y. (2002) Nest box survey in Hong Kong Country Parks. In Challenges of nature conservation in the face of Richardson, B.J., Zheng, G.J., Tse, E.S.C., & Lam, P.K.S. development pressure. (ed. I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 187-191. (2001) A comparison of mussels (Perna viridis) and semi- AFCD, Hong Kong. permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) for monitoring chlorinated trace organic contaminants in Hong Kong coastal Luo, Y.L., Chen, H.C., Wu, G.X., & Sun, X.J. (2001) Records waters. Chemosphere 45: 1201-1208. of natural fire and climate history during the last three glacial- interglacial cycles around the South China Sea - Charcoal Sadovy, Y. (2001) The threat of fishing to highly fecund record from the ODP 1144. Science in China Series D-Earth fishes. Journal of Fish Biology 59 (Supplement A): 90-108. Sciences 44: 897-904. Sadovy, Y., Mitcheson, G., & Rasotto, M.B. (2001) Early Morton, B. (2001) The evolution of eyes in the Bivalvia. development of the mandarinfish, Synchiropus splendidus Oceanography and Marine Biology 39: 165-205. (Callionymidae), with notes on its fishery and potential for culture. Aquarium Sciences and Conservation 3: 253-263. Morton, B. (2002) Whaling: when is enough, enough? Marine Pollution Bulletin 44: 1-2. Sadovy, Y. & Vincent, A.C.J. (2002) Ecological issues and the trades in live reef fishes. In Coral reef fishes: dynamics and Morton, B. & Blackmore, G. (2001) South China Sea. Marine diversity in a complex ecosystem. (ed P.F. Sale), pp. 391-420. Pollution Bulletin 42: 1236-1263. Academic Press, San Diego.

Ng, C.N. (2002) Conservation of the Mai Po and Inner Deep Salas, M. & Dudgeon, D. (2001) Laboratory and field studies Bay Ramsar Site: challenges and perspective. In Challenges of of mayfly growth in tropical Asia. Archiv fur Hydrobiologie nature conservation in the face of development pressure. (ed. 153: 75-90. I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 215-220. AFCD, Hong Kong. Shan, X.C., Liew, E.C.Y., Weatherhead, M.A., & Hodgkiss, Ng, G.T.L. (2002) The role of non-governmental organisations I.J. (2002) Characterization and taxonomic placement of in developing a conservation strategy in Hong Kong. In Rhizoctonia-like endophytes from orchid roots. Mycologia 94: Challenges of nature conservation in the face of development 230-239. pressure. (ed. I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 153-157. AFCD, Hong Kong. Shao, H., Pang, S.L., Wang, J.D., & Zhang, C. (2001) The potential utilization and exploitation of Mikania micrantha. Ng, S.C. & Corlett, R.T. (2002) The bad biodiversity: alien Ecologic Science 20: 132-135. species in Hong Kong. Biodiversity Science 10: 109-118. Shin, P.K.S., Lo, H.H., & Cheung, S.G. (2002) Conservation Ni, J.R. & Qin, H.P. (2001) Impact of river realignment and of marine soft shore habitats in Hong Kong: preliminary land reclamation on flood control and ecological habitat in findings. In Challenges of nature conservation in the face of river-estuary-bay system. Water International 26: 206-214. development pressure. (ed. I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 93-98. AFCD, Hong Kong. Peart, M.R. (2002). Water supply and conservation in Hong Kong. In Challenges of nature conservation in the face of Su, Y.C.F. & Saunders, R.M.K. (2001) New nomenclatural development pressure. (ed. I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 221-226. combinations in Pseuduvaria (Annonaceae). Blumea 46: 589-593. AFCD, Hong Kong. Su, Y.C.F. & Saunders, R.M.K. (2002) Proposals to reject the Photita, W., Lumyong, S., Lumyong, P., & Hyde, K.D. (2001) names Meiogyne macrocarpa and Mitrephora trimera Endophytic fungi of wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi (Annonaceae). Taxon 51. 31

Sun, M. & Wong, K.C. (2001) Genetic structure of three reefs in marine protected areas. In Challenges of nature orchid species with contrasting breeding systems using RAPD conservation in the face of development pressure. (ed. I.J. and allozyme markers. American Journal of Botany 88: 2180- Hodgkiss), pp. 99-104. AFCD, Hong Kong. 2188. Wong, E. (2002) Hong Kong Marine Parks and Marine Tam, N.F.Y. & Wong, Y.S. (2002) Conservation and Reserves management and community participation. In sustainable exploitation of mangroves in Hong Kong. Trees Challenges of nature conservation in the face of development 16: 224-229. pressure. (ed. I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 119-123. AFCD, Hong Kong.

Tsui, C.K.M., Hyde, K.D., & Hodgkiss, I.J. (2001) Wong, F.Y. (2002) A short history of Hong Kong Country Longitudinal and temporal distribution of freshwater Parks. In Challenges of nature conservation in the face of ascomycetes and dematiaceous hyphomycetes on submerged development pressure. (ed. I.J. Heywood), pp. 27-31. AFCD, wood in the River, Hong Kong. Journal of the Hong Kong. North American Benthological Society 20: 533-549. Wong, J.M.K. & Wang, P. (2002) The present status and Ueta, M., Melville, D.S., Wang, Y., Ozaki, K., Kanai, Y., conservation strategy for dugongs in China. In Challenges of Leader, P.J., Wang, C.C., & Kuo, C.Y. (2002) Discovery of nature conservation in the face of development pressure. (ed. the breeding sites and migration routes of Black-faced I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 83-87. AFCD, Hong Kong. Spoonbills Platalea minor. Ibis 144: 340-343. Wong, M.K.M. & Hyde, K.D. (2001) Diversity of fungi on six Wang, Y.J. & Zan, Q.J. (2001) The birds community and species of Gramineae and one species of Cyperaceae in Hong ecological evaluation of Sonneratia apetala and Sonneratia Kong. Mycological Research 105: 1485-1491. caseolaris mangrove plantation (Futian, Shenzhen). Ecologic Science 20: 41-46. Wong, M.K.M., Yanna, Goh, T.K., & Hyde, K.D. (2001) Two new species of Costantinella from Hong Kong. Fungal Warren-Rhodes, K. & Koenig, A. (2001) Ecosystem Diversity 8: 173-181. appropriation by Hong Kong and its implications for sustainable development. Ecological Economics 39: 347-359. Yan, T., Zhou, M.J., Zou, J.Z., & Qian, P.Y. (2001) Preliminary studies on red tide formation mechanism in Hong Warren-Rhodes, K. & Koenig, A. (2001) Escalating trends in Kong and Pearl River estuary. Acta Ecologica Sinica 21: the urban metabolism of Hong Kong: 1971-1997. Ambio 30: 429- 1634-1641. 438. Yanna, Ho, W.H., & Hyde, K.D. (2001) Fungal communities Weerasooriya, A.D. & Saunders, R.M.K. (2001) Mitrephora on decaying palm fronds in Australia, Brunei, and Hong simeuluensis (Annonaceae): a new species from Simeulue, Kong. Mycological Research 105: 1458-1471. Indonesia. Blumea 46: 595-598. Yanna, Ho, W.H., Hyde, K.D., & McKenzie, E.H.C. (2001) Weerasooriya, A.D. & Saunders, R.M.K. (2002) Proposals to Sporidesmiella oraniopsis, a new species of dematiaceous reject the names Mitrephora teysmannii and Orophea hyphomycete from North Queensland, Australia and synopsis macrocarpa (Annonaceae). Taxon 51. of the genus. Fungal Diversity 8: 183-190.

Whitton, S.R., McKenzie, E.H.C., & Hyde, K.D. (2001) Yin, K.D., Qian, P.Y., Wu, M.C.S., Chen, J.C., Huang, L.M., Microfungi on the Pandanaceae : Nakatopsis gen. nov., a new Song, X.Y., & Jian, W.J. (2001) Shift from P to N limitation hyphomycete genus from Malaysia. Fungal Diversity 8: 163- of phyoplankton growth across the Pearl River estuarine 171. plume during summer. Marine Ecology Progress Series 221: 17-28. Wholey, J.W. (2002) Hong Kong Country Parks - their establishment. In Challenges of nature conservation in the Yung, Y.K., Wong, C.K., Yau, K., & Qian, P.Y. (2001) Long- face of development pressure. (ed. I.J. Hodgkiss), pp. 11-16. term changes in water quality and phytoplankton AFCD, Hong Kong. characteristics in Port Shelter, Hong Kong, from 1988-1998. Marine Pollution Bulletin 42: 981-992. Wilson, K.D.P. (2002) Notes on Chlorogomphidae from southern China, with descriptions of two new species Zan, Q.J., Wang, Y.J., Liao, B.W., Huang, L.N., & Zhang, (Anisoptera). Odonatologica 31: 65-72. W.Y. (2001) The physiological ecology of Kandelia candel seedlings introduced to Shenzhen Bay. Acta Ecologica Sinica Wilson, K.D.P. & Leung, A.W.Y. (2002) Role of artificial 21: 1662-1669. 32

Zhang, Y.X. & Xing, F.W. (2001) Rare and endangered plants Porcupine! No. 25 in Shenzhen. Journal of Tropical and Subtropical Botany 9: 315-321. May 2002 ISSN 1025-6946 Zhao, B. & Qian, P.Y. (2002) Larval settlement and metamorphosis in the slipper limpet Crepidula onyx (Sowerby) in response to conspecific cues and the cues from Chief Editors: Richard Corlett biofilm. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology Yvonne Sadovy 269: 39-51.

Zhao, X.G., Wang, W.X., Yu, K.N., & Lam, P.K.S. (2001) Assistant Editors: Rachel Wong Biomagnification of radiocesium in a marine piscivorous fish. Laura Wong Marine Ecology-Progress Series 222: 227-237. Wild Corner: Sukhmani Mantel Zhou, D.Q. & Hyde, K.D. (2001) Host-specificity, host- exclusivity, and host-recurrence in saprobic fungi. Jackie Yip Mycological Research 105: 1449-1457. Published by the Department of Ecology & 2001 Postgraduate degrees from DEB Biodiversity, The University of Hong Kong. Chan King. (PhD) The Ecology of the Scavenger Nassarius festivus (Gastropoda: Nassariidae) in Hong Kong. Article submissions: Cheung Wai Lung. (MPhil) Changes in Hong Kong’s Capture Fisheries during the 20th Century and Reconstruction of Porcupine! the Marine Ecosystem of Local Inshore Waters in the 1950s. Ms Eva Tam, Department of Ecology & Biodiversity Huang Richard. (PhD) Spatial Variation in Cellana grata The University of Hong Kong. Populations: The Interplay of Population Dynamics and Food Availability. Tel: 22990612 Fax: 25176082 Lee Hoi Ki. (PhD) The Feeding Ecology of Littoraria Species in Hong Kong Mangroves. Email address: Lu Songhui. (PhD) Ecological Studies of Phytoplankton and [email protected] Harmful Algal Blooms in Junk Bay, Hong Kong. Tong Xiaoli. (PhD) The Mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) of Website: Hong Kong. www.hku.hk/ecology/porcupine/ Weerasooriya Aruna Dharmapriya. (PhD) Systematics, Phylogeny and Reproductive Biology of Mitrephora (Annonaceae). Guidelines for contributions: Yanna. (PhD) Biodiversity, Ecology and of Saprobic Fungi on Palm Fronds. Contributions are welcomed. Any original article Zhang Li. (PhD) Diversity and Conservation of Hong Kong related to natural history, conservation or ecological Bryophytes. research in Hong Kong will be considered for Zhou Hong. (PhD) Meiofaunal Community Structure and publication. Authors of long articles should send their Dynamics in a Hong Kong Mangrove. work as a Word file, either by post (on disk, with hard copy attached) or by email. Original artwork should Bibliography (From front page article) be sent by post (please indicate if return of material is Carey, G. J., Chalmers, M. L., Diskin, D. A., Kennerley, P. R., Leader, P. J., required). Short articles (less than a hundred words) Leven, M. R., Lewthwaite, R. W., Melville, D. S., Turnbull, M. & Young, L. may be faxed or posted. (2001) The Avifauna of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, Hong Kong. Articles from Porcupine! may be reprinted without Corlett, R.T. (2002) Reintroduction of "missing" vertebrates to Hong Kong: permission. Please acknowledge source and author. benefits, problems and prospects. In: Hodgkiss, J. (ed.) Challenges of Nature Conservation in the Face of Development Pressure. Proceedings of the 2001 IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, East Asia Conference, All authors can be contacted through Porcupine! Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong, pp. 175- unless alternative contact details have been provided. 180.