Home » Research » Biodiversity
Biodiversity Monitoring Programme
Regular biodiversity baseline surveys are carried out at Lai Chi Wo to establish an ecological baseline as well as to evaluate the effects of different types of farming activities and habitat management on the area's biodiversity. The data collected are used for long-term biodiversity management plan formulation and environmental education. The biodiversity monitoring programme investigates the following taxa groups:
During the four years of the Sustainable Lai Chi Wo Programme, the Lai Chi Wo ecological monitoring team has been conducting regular ecological baseline survey at least twice a month. Through recording species encountered on five transects at daytime, the abundance and distribution of different bird, butterfly and dragonfly species are obtained. At night, surveyors also search for reptiles and mammals, the latter is recorded with the aid of infra-red triggered camera. Since restoration of farmland may particularly affect frogs and aquatic invertebrates, regular frog call survey and aquatic invertebrate sampling are conducted at designated farmlands.
The results show that Lai Chi Wo possesses very high ecological value. More than one third of local amphibian species and more than half of the local butterfly species can be found in the village. Additionally, the largest group of the uncommon Grey-capped Greenfinch (Carduelis sinica金翅雀) in Hong Kong was recorded on Lai Chi Wo's farmland. Diversity of aquatic invertebrates is also the highest among all nearby regions.
A species reintroduction programme was also initiated in Lai Chi Wo with the aim to restore the population of rice fish Oryzias curvinotus (弓背青鱂) at Lai Chi Wo, which is a global concern species. Around 40 rice fishes were captured from the nearby So Lo Pun for captive breeding. More than 300 individuals of rice fish were successfully hatched from the breeding stock. Currently 100 individuals of rice fish were released to Lai Chi Wo and signs of reproduction have been shown (eggs and juvenile fish were observed). This programme is an on-going research in the latest phase of the HSBC Rural Sustainability programme.
Publication:
This is a report of the biodiversity assessment and monitoring programme at Lai Chi Wo which aimed to 1) establish a baseline of the terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity of Lai Chi Wo covering vascular plants, mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, butterflies, dragonflies, freshwater fishes and invertebrates; and 2) identify local biodiversity hotspots in Lai Chi Wo and provide habitat management recommendations.
Research Collaborators:
Professor David DUDGEON and Dr. Billy HAU , School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong