The Mangrove Ecosystem of Deep Bay and the Mai Po Marshes, Hong Kong
Publication Year: 1999
Published by: Hong Kong University Press, HKU
Table of Contents
Download PDF (171.0 KB)
pp. v-vi
Preface
Download PDF (291.1 KB)
pp. vii-ix
The Pearl River delta is probably one of the most rapidly developing areas in the world. Linked to the vibrant Hong Kong economy, the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone physically adjoining Hong Kong is rapidly transforming into a metropolitan city. While residents both in Hong Kong and the Pearl River delta are enjoying sustained economic growth, this is not without potential environmental costs.
Section I. Flora and Fauna
The species composition of penaeid prawns in the north-western waters of Hong Kong
Download PDF (626.1 KB)
pp. 3-11
The species composition and distribution of penaeid prawns in the north-western waters of Hong Kong were investigated. Eleven species were collected. Parapenaeopsis hungerfordi was the most abundant followed by Metapenaeus ajfinis, Parapenaeopsis tenella and Solenocera crassicornis. Metapenaeus ensis, Parapenaeopsis hardwickii, Metapenaeus joyneri and the other four species were less numerous.
Composition, structure and distribution of polychaete assemblages in Deep Bay, Hong Kong
Download PDF (585.1 KB)
pp. 13-22
The macro benthic infauna of Deep Bay was surveyed using a 0.05 m2 van Veen grab at 12 sampling stations in September 1993. A total of 28 polychaete species were recorded. Most of these stations showed low diversity in comparison with other areas in Hong Kong. Based on faunal similarity, three groups of stations could be distinguished. The distribution pattern and low diversity of polychaete assemblages were correlated with environmental perturbations in the study area.
Distribution of shrimp and fish associated with the mangrove forest of Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve, Hong Kong
Download PDF (662.1 KB)
pp. 23-32
A trap net was used to sample four sites inside and outside the mangrove forest at Mai Po on high tides during the day and night. The palaemonid shrimp, Exopalaemon styliferus (Milne Edwards), was the most abundant shrimp in all catches (maximum catch = 3240) with large numbers taken at the inner mangrove site, about 80 m into the mangroves from the seaward fringe.
A survey of mudflat gastropods in Deep Bay, Hong Kong
Download PDF (714.4 KB)
pp. 33-43
Seventeen species of gastropods were recorded from a survey conducted on the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve mudflat. Sermyla tornatella was the dominant species and contributed 73.1 % and 61.3% to the total gastropod density and biomass, respectively. Density of this species averaged at 816 individuals�m-2 and was significantly correlated with total gastropod density on the mudflat.
Composition and zonation of benthic macrofauna in the Mai Po Marshes mangrove forest
Download PDF (793.3 KB)
pp. 45-55
The composition and horizontal zonation of the benthic faunal assemblage of a mangrove forest in the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve, Hong Kong was examined in September 1993, in relation to edaphic properties of substrate water content, pH, Eh, and macrodetritus content. Thirty-two morpho species were recorded from 7 phyla, with gastropods and annelids being numerically dominant.
The brachyuran fauna of the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve and Deep Bay, Hong Kong
Download PDF (2.1 MB)
pp. 57-82
A survey was conducted on the brachyuran fauna of the Mai Po Marshes and Deep Bay in September 1993. Thirty-two species, dominated by Grapsidae (13 species) and Ocypodidae (18 species) were recorded from the intertidal and semi-terrestrial habitats at the Mai Po Marshes, while only 14 species from four families were collected from the trawl survey of the sub-tidal areas in Deep Bay.
Structure and composition of the seaward mangrove forest at the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve, Hong Kong
Download PDF (1.1 MB)
pp. 83-104
The seaward mangrove fringe at Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve, Hong Kong, has extended seaward by 7.6 m�yr-1 and possibly increased in relative ground elevation by l.1 cm�yr-1 since 1949. It is apparently subject to constant deposition of terrestrial sediments. As a result, the area of mangrove forest has trebled since the construction of the gei wai ponds and bunds over 50 years ago.
Mangrove distribution in the gei wais at the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve
Download PDF (633.6 KB)
pp. 105-115
This study describes the distribution of mangrove species in each of the traditionally managed prawn ponds (gei wais) at the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve, Hong Kong. A total of 17.5 ha of mangrove exists within the 24 gei wais, with the largest areas being in gei wai 13 and 21 with each holding 3.1 ha (18%), and gei wai 12 holding 2.9 ha (17%).
Distribution of mangrove species in the intertidal zone at the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve
Download PDF (592.4 KB)
pp. 117-130
The intertidal mangroves outside gei wai 11 at the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve was surveyed to quantify the distribution and structure of individual species along a 570 m transect. Kandelia candel was dominant at the landward and seaward edges of the transect with Aegiceras corniculatum in association. The maximum mean stem height along the transect was 8.1 m at Site 8 (120 m from the landward extreme of the transect).
Preliminary observations of ants in Hong Kong mangroves
Download PDF (348.1 KB)
pp. 131-133
Ant communities (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Oriental region are little studied. There is a similar dearth of published material on ants associated with mangroves worldwide. This paper results from a brief survey of ants living in mangroves at Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve, North-west New Territories in September 1993 and at Three Fathoms Cove, Sai Kung in October 1993 and October 1994. Taxa reported in this note ...
Section II. Ecology and Pollution
Time activity budget of Perisesarma bidens and Parasesarma affinis (Brachyura: Sesarminae) at the Mai Po Marshes mangrove, Hong Kong
Download PDF (866.9 KB)
pp. 137-151
The time activity budgets of two sesarmine crabs, Perisesarma bidens (PB) and Parasesarma affinis (P A), were investigated for 5 days at two mangrove forests respectively dominated by Avicennia marina (Site A) and Kandelia candel (Site K). The foreguts of 80 crabs from the two forests were also dissected for diet analysis. The time ...
Metal concentrations in shrimp and mantis shrimps from Deep Bay, Hong Kong and the eastern waters of the Pearl River estuary
Download PDF (763.9 KB)
pp. 153-163
The white shrimp Exopaiaemon setiferus H. Milne Edwards and three mantis shrimps, namely, Oratosquilla oratoria de Haan, Hapiosquilla japonica Manning and Oratoria sp. were trawled from Deep Bay and the eastern Pearl River estuary in September, 1993. The samples were analysed for six metals, including Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb using atomic absorption spectrometry.
Litter production and return of nutrient elements in Futian mangrove swamp, Shenzhen, China
Download PDF (849.5 KB)
pp. 165-177
Litter production, nutrient concentration in fresh and litter components and nutrient element return of an Aegiceras corniculatum - Kandelia candel dominated mangrove forest in Futian, south China were studied for one year (1992). The mixed forest is close to the lower temperature limit of mangrove development. Trees in the forest had maximum height at no more than 7 m. Annual litter production amounted to ...
Observations on the mangrove community at the Mai Po Marshes, Hong Kong: Implications for conservation
Download PDF (672.3 KB)
pp. 179-189
Field observations of the mangrove forest at the Mai Po Marshes, Deep Bay, were made on: (a) rate of seaward extension of the mangrove fringe; (b) sedimentation on mangrove leaves; (c) foliovory; (d) canopy structure; and (e) the condition of the seedlings of Avicennia marina and Kandelia candel. Based on these observations, some considerations relevant to the conservation of the Mai Po Marshes are proposed.
E-ISBN-13: 9789882202146
Print-ISBN-13: 9789622094857
Page Count: 200
Publication Year: 1999
