Biodiv Sci ›› 2011, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (5): 605-609.  DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1003.2011.05049

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Vegetation and vascular plant diversity of islands surrounding Port Shelter, Hong Kong, China

Hu Puwei1,2, Xing Fuwu1, Chen Lin1,2, Wang Meina1,2, Wang Faguo1, Chen Hongfeng1,*()   

  1. 1Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650
    2Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049
  • Received:2011-03-19 Accepted:2011-05-25 Online:2011-09-20 Published:2011-10-08
  • Contact: Chen Hongfeng

Abstract:

Port Shelter is an important harbor connecting Hong Kong and South China Sea. To sample the vegetation type and plant species of islands neighboring Port Shelter, we carried out field survey with a number of transects in August and December of 1997, and June of 2008. Brushwood and shrub-grassland were the dominant vegetation types, followed with secondary evergreen broad-leaved forest. We also observed some beach and mangrove vegetation types. Integrating literature data with our survey data, we here provide a checklist of vascular plants on these islands. A checklist of 345 vascular plant species was developed, belonging to 254 genera and 108 families. Analysis of the floral elements showed that widespread tropical and subtropical species were dominant. Among these species, Cinnamomum camphora, Brainea insignis, Dimocarpus longan and Ixonanthes reticulate were listed as state protected species. Finally we discussed factors affecting species richness of each island.

Key words: Kspecies diversity, vegetation, flora, Port Shelter