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3 December, 2014 - 16:05
  1. Ecological resource list
    1. Habitat and geomorphological diversity
      • steep slopes vegetated (expect species differences; some may be useful in eco-restoration of eroded slopes)
      • steep slopes eroded (with landslides/slips)
      • unweathered rock faces (pioneer species)
      • weathered rock faces (early succession species)
      • plants on tuff (geochemical differences)
      • plants on basalt (geochemical differences may indicate biological differences)
      • steep grade streams (fast flowing, less stable; see video clip from Hong Kong Habitats 'Hills, coasts and streams')
      • boulder-dominated stream beds
      • fine, sediment-dominated stream beds (as above for gentle-grade streams)
      • sunny hillside habitats (high light/photon tolerant)
      • shaded hillsides (leaf size ecotypes)
      • estuarine streams (saline influence; mangroves and halopytes)
      • disused paddy fields
      • tree trunks as microhabitats (bracket fungi and epiphytes)
    2. biodiversity 'hot species'
      • Bryophyte societies on moist, sheltered sites (TCM and 'lower plants' – non-vascular)
      • fallen trees from Typhoon York (Sept 1999) and their own microhabitat diversity combinations (ecorestoration indicators)
      • Chinese New Year Shrub (CNYS) societies on shallow, acidic soils of upper exposed, wind-swept slopes (culturally important plant species) (The CNYS is a protected species under Forestry Regulations)
      • (CNYS is Enkianthus quinqeflorus); recall the video clip of CNYS from Hong Kong Habitats 'Hills, coasts and streams')
      • Chinese Lily (Lilium brownii) micro-habitats (precious rare species)
      • Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, a mangrove that featured in Jenny Lee's BSc (Hons) thesis in Unit 3 near the Sai Wan village (rare in Hong Kong – at the edge of tropics)

These are a sample of 'hot species.' I am sure that your visits to the AFCD Biodiversity Newsletters and other resources could add to these.

Remember, the aim of this activity is not so much to get the perfect or even near complete answer. The aim is, rather, to enable you to experience the process of being a scientist working under some on-the-job pressure.

You may well be able to expand on the ecological points given in parenthesis.