Vegetation and Moth Survey Report – Hoi Ha, Sai Kung, Hong Kong September 2012 (1st edition) Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden Publication Series Number 10 Vegetation and Moth Survey Report – Hoi Ha, Sai Kung, Hong Kong Vegetation and Moth Survey Report – Hoi Ha, Sai Kung, Hong Kong (1st edition) September 2012 Editors Gary ADES, Roger KENDRICK, Sai-chit NG and Tony NIP Contents Contents .............................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 Background and Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Methods .............................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Results and Discussion ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 Recommendations............................................................................................................................................................... 6 References .......................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Figures ................................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Figure 1. Locations of the moth traps for the survey conducted on 13 November 2011. ............................................... 8 Figure 2. Vegetation types identified in the present study: Feng-shui Forest (FSF), Secondary Forest (SF), Shrubland (S), Coastal Vegetation (C), Village Vegetation (V), Freshwater Wetland (W). ........................... 9 Figure 3. Interior of the Feng-shui Forest with late-successional epiphytic bird-nest fern, Neottopteris nidus. ........... 10 Figure 4. Degraded part of the Feng-shui Forest overgrown with climbers and with open canopy. ............................ 11 Figure 5. Grassy wetland vegetation in Hoi Ha. ........................................................................................................... 12 Figure 6. Aquilaria sinensis recorded during the present survey. ................................................................................. 13 Figure 7. Rhododendron simsii recorded during the present survey. ............................................................................ 14 Figure 8. Entada phaseoloides recorded during the present survey. ............................................................................ 15 Figures 9.1 (above) & 9.2 (below). Locally rare Morinda cochinchinensis recorded during the present survey ......... 16 Figure 10. Locally rare Vitis tsoi recorded during the present survey. ......................................................................... 17 Figure 11. Sargentodoxa cuneata recorded during the present survey. ........................................................................ 17 Figure 12. Toona rubriflora, globally restricted in range, recorded during the present survey. ................................... 18 Tables ............................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Table 1. Plant species recorded from Hoi Ha on 28 March 2011. ................................................................................ 20 Table 2. Moth (Lepidoptera) species recored during the survey conducted on 13 November 2011 ............................. 30 Table 3. Moth species richness for each survey site ..................................................................................................... 34 Copyright © 2012, Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden Corporation, all rights reserved. For enquiries about this report, please contact: Fauna Conservation Department, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden Corporation Lam Kam Road, Tai Po, N.T. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region [email protected] Document citation Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden. 2012.. Vegetation and Moth Survey Report – Hoi Ha, Sai Kung, Hong Kong. Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 34pp. Cover photo: Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park Publication Series No.10 page 1 Vegetation and Moth Survey Report – Hoi Ha, Sai Kung, Hong Kong Executive Summary Vegetation (Flora) and moth (Lepidoptera) surveys were conducted in March and November 2011, respectively. This report contains results of these surveys and was compiled to contribute toward our present ecological knowledge of the locality. It is envisaged that additional information covering other faunal groups will be collated in future and further add to this knowledge. Six vegetation types were identified in the Hoi Ha study area, including a patch of feng-shui forest that is partly degraded, coastal vegetation with mangrove species, and freshwater wetland. 225 vascular plant species were recorded, including three locally protected species (Aquilaria sinensis, Pavetta hongkongensis, Rhododendron simsii), one critically endangered species (Diospyros vaccinioides), one locally very rare species (Entada phaseoloides), three locally rare species (Jasminum sinensis, Morinda cochinchinensis and Vitis tsoi), and one globally restricted species (Toona rubriflora). Abundance criteria follow Corlett et al. (2000) The moth survey recorded a total of 77 species and several species of conservation interest were discovered. Based on the species number observed, it is considered that the moth diversity is relatively high at Hoi Ha compared to other trapping localities in Hong Kong. The relatively high vegetation diversity of the area probably contributes to the results (i.e. woodland, coastal vegetation and mangrove). Publication Series No.10 page 2 Vegetation and Moth Survey Report – Hoi Ha, Sai Kung, Hong Kong Background and Introduction Hoi Ha’s coastal waters in Sai Kung are famous for the coral community that they support. The coastline and waters have been zoned as a Marine Park since 1996. This status, unfortunately, provides only limited restriction to the rural development in the village area and its vicinity. New small house developments proposed at this locality may jeopardize the plant community and thus the associated fauna. Due to concerns about the future development of this area preliminary rapid plant and moth surveys were undertaken to provide a clearer picture regarding habitat types and species richness of the Hoi Ha area, also to provide basis for monitoring and further conservation action. Methods Survey (Vegetation) A site visit by KFBG botanists was undertaken on 28 March 2011 from 10:00 am to 3:15 pm. Vegetation types were recorded and all vascular plant species encountered during the survey were visually identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Several specimens were collected during the survey and were deposited at the KFBG herbarium. Nomenclature of plants follows the Flora of Hong Kong Vol. 1 to 3 (Hong Kong Herbarium & South China Botanical Garden 2007, 2008 & 2009), Checklist of Hong Kong Plants (Hong Kong Herbarium, 2004), and the online Flora of China (efloras, 2011). Relative abundance in Hong Kong stated for selected species follows Corlett et al. (2000), unless otherwise stated. Survey (Moths - Lepidoptera) A moth survey was conducted on 13 November 2011 using two light traps (locations of these traps are at Figure 1). Survey details are presented below: Site name: Hoi Ha Wan, Sai Kung Country Park UTM grid reference: 50Q KK 250 863; 50Q KK 251 863 Habitat type: - Site 1: surrounded by village vegetation, coastal vegetation and woodland; adjacent to the beach - Site 2: marshy grassland, backing on to the beach and bordered with coastal shrubland, including a few mangrove; adjacent to a stream Date recorded: 13 November 2011 Method: 125W mv “Robinson” trap All species were identified based upon Kendrick (2002), with the list order and nomenclature based upon the Hong Kong Moth Recorder database maintained by the author. Publication Series No.10 page 3 Vegetation and Moth Survey Report – Hoi Ha, Sai Kung, Hong Kong Results and Discussion Vegetation Vegetation types usually vary continuously with many intermediate types present. Nevertheless, six vegetation types (feng-shui forest, secondary forest, shrubland, coastal vegetation, village vegetation, and freshwater wetland) could be identified (Figure 2). Feng-shui forest (FSF) refers to historic forest behind villages and next to shrines managed primarily for feng-shui purposes. At the study site, feng-shui forest was identified behind the main cluster of village houses and behind the lime kilns east of the village. Trees reach a considerable size up to 50 cm dbh (diameter at breast height) and 20 m tall. The origin of the forest could not be traced but judging from the rich species composition made up almost exclusively by wild native species, and with the occurrence of an understorey community dominated by late-successional species such as Ardisia hanceana, A. quinquegona, and Neottopteris