9
ECOLOGICAL MONITORING
Monitoring
Requirements and Protocol
9.1
As
required under Section 12.3.2.5 of the Updated EM&A Manual, where
development under the NDAs project is undertaken within 200m (the maximum
distance at which it is predicted there may be some disturbance, and hence a
reduction in numbers of large waterbirds) of Sheung Yue River and Long Valley, weekly
transect at both high and low tides should be followed (It is considered high
tide when the tidal levels are above 1.5m and low tide when the tidal levels
are below 1.5m at Tsim Bei Tsui Station).
9.2
The
purpose of the survey is to identify and enumerate all bird
species utilizing the river channels and Long Valley Nature Park (LVNP) and
identify any sources of actual or potential disturbance to birds due to
construction activities throughout the construction period according to the methodology
specified in Table 12.1 in the Updated EM&A Manual.
9.3
Monitoring
in Long Valley followed the methodology adopted by the
regular HKBWS bird monitoring programme in order to
obtain comparable results and a complete coverage of the area in the
shortest possible time.
Monitoring
Frequency
9.4
High
tide and low tide avifauna monitoring was required to be carried out on a
weekly basis. Additional
night-time avifauna monitoring in Long Valley was required to be carried out twice
monthly from September to April.
|
Date
of avifauna monitoring: |
1, 2, 7, 8, 15, 16, 21, 22, 30 and 31 August
2023 |
|
|
|
Monitoring
Location
9.5
The
avifauna monitoring was carried out at Ng Tung River, Sheung Yue River and Long
Valley in the reporting
month according to the construction programme.
The transect routes in the reporting month were as follows:
•
T1. Ng Tung
River
•
T2. Ng Tung
River
•
T3. Sheung Yue
River
•
T5. Long Valley
9.6
As
the sensitive receivers (large waterbirds) were easily visible, the transect
route only needed to follow one bank of the rivers.
9.7
The location of
Transects T1, T2, T3 and T5 is shown in Figure
9 for reference.
Monitoring
Parameters
9.8
The monitoring
parameters and survey methodology for each transect are described below:
•
Abundance of
birds
•
Types of habitat of which birds in use
•
Notable bird behaviours such as roosting, feeding, nesting and presence
of juveniles
• Birds heard through birdcalls that could not be
located were marked as “heard”, while birds flying over the survey area were
marked as “flight”. Species of conservation significance were specified.
9.9
Other
information at the time of survey such as weather condition, tidal condition,
tide level and noticeable natural or anthropogenic activities were documented.
9.10 For Avifauna survey, Ornithological
nomenclature would make reference to The Avifauna of Hong Kong (Carey et al. 2001), The Birds of Hong Kong and
South China (Viney et al. 2005), and
the most recent updated list from other sources (e.g.
Hong Kong Bird Watching Society).
Monitoring
Results
9.11
In total, 54
species of birds were recorded during the bird surveys within assessment area.
Among the recorded birds, there were 22 species of waterbirds. The detailed
list of waterbirds and all recorded birds are shown in Appendices L1k and L1l respectively.
9.12
Among the four
transects, transect T5 had a higher species diversity and abundance due to its
diverse habitat types within Long Valley. Species such as Ardeola bacchus and Egretta garzetta were commonly
found roosting and foraging at wetland habitats such as agricultural lands and
shallow water habitats.
9.13
Along transect
T5 in Long Valley, species with conservation interest such as Himantopus himantopus, which is a passage migrant, was
commonly observed in shallow water habitats.
9.14
Construction works were observed in T5 in
the reporting month.
9.15
Transect T3 was
conducted along Sheung Yue River. Bird species such as Ardeola bacchus and Egretta garzetta were commonly
observed feeding and roosting on the river bank and river bed. Construction
works were observed beside Sheung Yue River.
9.16
Transects T1
and T2 are located at Ng Tung River. Ardeola bacchus and Egretta garzetta were commonly found feeding and roosting along
the Ng Tung River. Fishing activities were observed at both T1 and T2. Potential
anthropogenic sources of disturbance observed along T1 and T2 including the usage
of remote control boats.
9.17
Avifauna
monitoring in construction phase was conducted during the reporting month and
the detailed results are attached in Appendix
L1.
9.18 Table 9.1 summarises the avifauna monitoring
results during the reporting month.
Table 9.1 Summary
Table of Avifauna Monitoring Results to Corresponding Action and Limit Levels.
|
Monitoring Parameter |
Result in Reporting
Month |
Baseline Level in
Corresponding Month |
Action Level |
Limit Level |
|
Mean abundance of large water
birds* using Ng Tung River, Sheung Yue River and Shek Sheung River |
56.2 |
17 |
12 |
8 |
|
Mean abundance of Ardeola bacchus
using Ng Tung River, Sheung Yue River and Shek Sheung River |
21.2 |
13 |
9 |
7 |
|
Mean Abundance of Bird recorded in
LVNP |
753.4 |
592 |
414 |
296 |
|
Mean Abundance of Ardeola bacchus recorded
in LVNP |
20 |
27 |
19 |
13 |
|
Environmental disturbance and
damage from activities in LVNP |
- |
- |
Activity likely to cause unacceptable
environmental disturbance or damage noted in LVNP. |
Activity causing unacceptable environmental
disturbance or damage noted in LVNP. |
|
*Note Large
Waterbirds includes: Ardea alba, Ardea cinerea, Egretta eulophotes, Egretta garzetta, Ardea intermedia and Phalacrocorax
carbo |
||||
9.19 No Action or Limit Level exceedance in avifauna
monitoring was recorded during the reporting month.
Monitoring
Requirements and Protocol
9.20 As required under Section 12.3.2.14
of the Updated
EM&A Manual, aquatic faunal monitoring should be carried out during the
construction phase.
9.21 Larger organisms such as fish should
be monitored by direct counting, while kick-netting and sweep-netting should be
used for invertebrate sampling. There should be three replicates for
invertebrate sampling at each sampling point. For kick-netting, the net should
be placed with the opening facing the water current, and the substrate should
be disturbed by kicking to dislodge organisms from the stream bed. Sweep-netting
should be conducted when kick-netting is not feasible, such as in area with no
water current. Small organisms that could not be identified with naked eye
should be brought to the laboratory for identification under the dissecting
microscope.
Monitoring
Frequency
9.22 Quantitative aquatic fauna replicate
surveys of stream fauna was required to be carried out on a monthly
basis during wet season. Three replicates for invertebrates sampling and direct
counting of fish fauna were performed respectively.
Date of aquatic fauna monitoring: 17th August
2023
Monitoring
Location
9.23
During
wet season, the monitoring locations required to be carried out in Ma
Tso Lung Stream are as follow:
|
•
MS_01 |
•
MS_02 |
•
MS_03 |
•
MS_04 |
•
MS_05 |
|
•
MS_06 |
•
MS_07 |
•
MS_08 |
•
MS_09 |
•
MS_10 |
|
•
MS_11 |
•
MS_12 |
•
MS_13 |
•
MS_14 |
•
MS_15 |
9.24 The location of monitoring
stations
is shown
in Figure 10 for reference.
Monitoring
Parameters
9.25
The
monitoring parameters and survey methodology for each monitoring station are
described below:
•
Species
composition
•
Abundance
•
Distribution
for invertebrates and fish fauna
•
Species of
conservation significance would be specified
9.26 Other information at the time of
survey such as weather conditions and noticeable natural or
anthropogenic activities were recorded.
Monitoring
Status
9.27
According to the
Updated EM&A Manual, quantitative aquatic fauna replicate surveys of stream
fauna is required to be carried out on monthly basis during wet season.
9.28 In the survey of aquatic fauna, a total of 22
aquatic invertebrate species were recorded in Ma Tso Lung Stream and Siu Hang
San Tsuen Stream. There were 6 fish species recorded in the reporting month. Three
(3) species of conservation importance were recorded, namely Cyprinus carpio, Parazacco spilurus, and Orechromis mossambicus.
9.29 For the monitoring on 17th
August 2023, two monitoring stations, MS_01 & MS_05, were found dried-up.
No aquatic invertebrate nor fish species was recorded in those stations.
9.30
Aquatic
faunal monitoring in construction phase was conducted during the reporting
month and the results are attached in Appendices
L2 to L3.
9.31 Table 9.2 and Table
9.3 summarises the aquatic monitoring results during the reporting
month.
Table 9.2 Summary
Table of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Monitoring Results to Corresponding Action
and Limit Levels.
|
Number of Native Species Recorded in
Stations: MS_01 - MS_15 |
Result
in Reporting Month |
Baseline
Level in Corresponding Month |
Action
Level |
Limit
Level |
|
MS_01 |
0 |
0 |
NA |
NA |
|
MS_02 & MS_03 |
3 |
1 |
NA |
NA |
|
MS_04, MS_06 & MS_07 |
6 |
1 |
NA |
NA |
|
MS_05 |
0 |
0 |
NA |
NA |
|
MS_08, MS_09 & MS_10 |
5 |
0 |
NA |
NA |
|
MS_11 |
1 |
1 |
NA |
NA |
|
MS_12 |
0 |
0 |
NA |
NA |
|
MS_13 & MS_14 |
3 |
1 |
NA |
NA |
|
MS_15 |
1 |
0 |
NA |
NA |
Table 9.3 Summary
Table of Fish Monitoring Results to Corresponding Action and Limit Levels.
|
Number of Native Species Recorded in
Stations: MS_01 - MS_15 |
Result
in Reporting Month |
Baseline
Level in Corresponding Month |
Action
Level |
Limit
Level |
|
MS_01 |
0 |
0 |
NA |
NA |
|
MS_02 & MS_03 |
0 |
1 |
NA |
NA |
|
MS_04, MS_06 & MS_07 |
0 |
1 |
NA |
NA |
|
MS_05 |
0 |
0 |
NA |
NA |
|
MS_08, MS_09 & MS_10 |
2 |
1 |
NA |
NA |
|
MS_11 |
0 |
0 |
NA |
NA |
|
MS_12 |
0 |
0 |
NA |
NA |
|
MS_13 & MS_14 |
0 |
0 |
NA |
NA |
|
MS_15 |
1 |
2 |
NA |
1 |
9.32 No Action or Limit Level exceedance was
recorded during the reporting month during monitoring of aquatic fauna.
Monitoring
Requirements and Protocol
9.33 As required under Section 12.3.2.17
of the Updated
EM&A Manual, monitoring of measures to minimise impacts should be carried out
during the construction phase.
9.34 The purpose of survey is to monitor
the effectiveness of measures to minimise impacts on ecologically sensitive
habitats from disturbance and pollution by standard faunal transect surveys.
Mammal survey
9.35 Mammal survey should be performed
during both day and night times, in areas along the transect routes which may
potentially be utilized by terrestrial mammals. Field signs such as droppings,
footprints, diggings and burrows left by larger
terrestrial mammals should be observed. Mammals directly observed should be
recorded, and identification should be made as accurate as possible form the
field signs observed.
9.36 Bat survey should be conducted along
the transect routes shortly after sunset, with the use of a bat detector to
record the echolocation calls. The relative abundance of the species
encountered should be estimated with reference to the baseline monitoring
results, i.e. using a scale from one (species recorded
within transect routes) to three (dominant species within transect routes), for
comparison between baseline results and the current monitoring results.
Nomenclature of mammal should be based on Shek (2006).
Herpetofauna survey (Amphibians and
Reptiles)
9.37 Both day-time and night-time amphibian
surveys should be conducted whenever possible following or during periods of
rainfall, focusing on areas suitable for amphibians (e.g.
forest, shrublands, grasslands, streams, ponds, marshes, etc.). Calling
amphibians should be recorded, supplemented by visual observation of eggs,
tadpoles, adult frogs, and toads.
9.38 Active searching of appropriate
microhabitats such as stones, pond bunds, crevices and leaf debris should be
performed mainly. Observation of exposed, basking and
foraging reptiles should also be conducted. Nomenclature of amphibian and
reptile should be based on Chan et al. (2005) and Karsen et al. (1998),
respectively.
Insect survey (Butterfly and Dragonfly)
9.39 Butterflies and dragonflies observed
along the transects should be identified and counted. Preferable habitats of
the insects such as watercourses, fishponds, and vegetated areas should be
observed with special attention. Nomenclature and protection status of the
species should be based on Lo et al. (2005) for butterflies and Tam et al.
(2011) for dragonflies.
Monitoring
Frequency
9.40
Monitoring
surveys of ecological sensitive receivers such as mammals, insects (butterflies
and dragonflies), and herpetofauna was undertaken on a monthly
bases.
|
Date of monitoring
surveys of ecological sensitive receivers: |
18, 23
August 2023 |
Monitoring
Location
9.41
The
transect routes in the reporting month according to the construction
works are as follows:
•
T1. Ma Tso Lung
riparian zone and associated wetland habitats;
•
T1. Green belt
areas E1-8, D1-8 and G1-3 in KTN NDA;
•
T1. AGR one C2-4
and C2-2 in KTN NDA;
•
T1. Area north
of Ng Tung River;
•
T3. Area west of
Siu Hang San Tsuen Stream;
•
T4. South side
of Fanling Highway and Castle Peak Road in the
vicinity of Pak Shek Au;
•
T5. Area west
and east of the southern limit of the FLN NDA work area; and
•
T6. Areas in the
western part of KTN.
9.42 The location of Transects is shown
in Figure 11 for reference.
Monitoring
Parameters
9.43
The
monitoring parameters and survey methodology for each transect are described below:-
•
Species
composition
•
Abundance
•
Distribution
for fauna observed
•
Species of conservation
significance would be specified
Monitoring
Results
Mammal
9.44
During the survey, a total of 6 mammal species were recorded from
transects. Three (3) species of conservation importance
were recorded, namely
Callosciurus erythraeus,
Cynopterus sphinx and Pipistrellus abramus.
9.45
Domestic dogs, Canis lupus familiaris,
were commonly found at transect T1, T4, T5 and T6, where associated with human
settlements, whilst domestic cats, Felis catus, were found at T1 and T5.
9.46
Echolocation
calls of bats were recorded with a bat detector. The bat detector would list
out possible bat species having similar echolocation calls in pattern and
frequency. The structure of the echolocation calls from the recordings was
later analysed to identify species as far as possible
(the lack of literature on echolocation call structure makes the field
identification of some bat species in Hong Kong difficult, and some species
could only be identified to genus level, or remain unidentified from the
recordings).
9.47
Identification
of bat species encountered in the surveys was made with consideration of the
possible bat species suggested by the bat detector, the distribution of
suggested bat species in Hong Kong, previous records of bat species in the EIA
Report and Baseline Monitoring Report, and the structure of echolocation calls
of the recordings (including call structure, frequency, duration, inter pulse
interval etc., with reference to relevant literatures).
9.48
Pipistrellus abramus was recorded with FM/QCF call structure and frequency around 45 kHz to
68 kHz (Ma et al., 2010, p.319). The above characteristics were further
compared with data from relevant literatures to confirm the identities.
References were also made to Tong (2016).
9.49
Bat species, Cynopterus sphinx was observed roosting in the
tent-shaped shelter under fronds of Chinese Fan-palm during the monitoring at T4.
Pipistrellus abramus was recorded in flight at
nighttime at all transect.
Herpetofauna (Amphibians and Reptiles)
9.50
Among the transects,
a total of 14 herpetofauna species were observed. No species recorded was of
conservation importance. Species including toads, frogs, skinks, snakes and geckos were recorded near wetland habitats and
watercourse. Transects T1 had the highest species diversity among all transects.
Insects (Butterfly and Dragonfly)
9.51 During the insect survey, a total of 64 butterfly
species were recorded from transects. seven (7) species of butterfly recorded was
of particular conservation interest, namely Hypolimnas misippus, Lexias pardalis, Jamides
alecto, Jamides celeno,
Papilio Xuthus, Gerosis phisara
and Charaxes marmax. Transect
T1 had recorded the highest butterfly diversity among all transects.
9.52 19 species of odonata were
recorded in the reporting month. Two (2) species recorded was of particular conservation interest, namely Potamarcha congener and Urothemis signata. Transect T1 had recorded the highest odonatan
diversity among all transect.
9.53 Ecological sensitive receivers such
as mammals, insects (butterflies and dragonflies), and herpetofauna monitoring during
construction phase was conducted in the reporting month and the results
are attached in Appendices
L4 to L7.
9.54 Table 9.4 summarises the mammal monitoring
results during the reporting month.
Table 9.4 Summary
Table of Mammal Monitoring Results to Corresponding Action and Limit Levels.
|
Number of Native Species Recorded in each
transect |
Result
in Reporting Month |
Baseline
Level in Corresponding Month |
Action
Level |
Limit
Level |
|
T1 |
1 |
2 |
NA |
1 |
|
T3 |
1 |
1 |
NA |
NA |
|
T4 |
2 |
1 |
NA |
NA |
|
T5 |
2 |
0 |
NA |
NA |
|
T6 |
1 |
1 |
NA |
NA |
9.55 Table 9.5 summarises the herpetofauna
monitoring results during the reporting month.
Table 9.5 Summary
Table of Herpetofauna Monitoring Results to Corresponding Action and Limit
Levels.
|
Number of Native Species Recorded in each
transect |
Result
in Reporting Month |
Baseline
Level in Corresponding Month |
Action
Level |
Limit
Level |
|
T1 |
13 |
9 |
6 |
5 |
|
T3 |
2 |
7 |
5 |
4 |
|
T4 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
|
T5 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
4 |
|
T6 |
4 |
9 |
6 |
5 |
9.56 Table 9.6 summarises the butterfly monitoring
results during the reporting month.
Table 9.6 Summary
Table of Butterfly Monitoring Results to Corresponding Action and Limit Levels.
|
Number of Species Recorded in each transect |
Result
in Reporting Month |
Baseline
Level in Corresponding Month |
Action
Level |
Limit
Level |
|
T1 |
49 |
23 |
16 |
12 |
|
T3 |
12 |
10 |
7 |
5 |
|
T4 |
20 |
13 |
9 |
7 |
|
T5 |
22 |
10 |
7 |
5 |
|
T6 |
10 |
14 |
10 |
7 |
9.57 Table 9.7 summarises the odonata
monitoring results during the reporting month.
Table 9.7 Summary
Table of Odonata Monitoring Results to Corresponding Action and Limit Levels.
|
Number of Native Species Recorded in each
transect |
Result
in Reporting Month |
Baseline
Level in Corresponding Month |
Action
Level |
Limit
Level |
|
T1 |
16 |
17 |
12 |
9 |
|
T3 |
1 |
13 |
9 |
7 |
|
T4 |
4 |
2 |
NA |
1 |
|
T5 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
4 |
|
T6 |
2 |
11 |
8 |
6 |
9.58 Four (4) Action Level exceedance and
Four (4) Limit Level exceedance was recorded in non-aquatic fauna monitoring during
the reporting month.
9.59 For the monitoring conducted on 23
August 2023 at
Transect T5, a section of the transect route was found located within a private
property and hence not
accessible. Another section of transect T5 was found blocked by a new
accumulation of fallen trees. The inaccessible part are
shown in Photo 1 and Photo 2 below. The adjusted accessible
transect route is shown in Figure 11.
|
|
|
|
Photo
1. Inaccessible part of transect T5 located within a private property. |
Photo 2. Inaccessible part of
transect T5 blocked by fallen trees. |
Results and Observation
Action and Limit Level Exceedance
9.60
Four
(4) action level exceedance and four (4) limit level
exceedance for non-aquatic fauna were recorded at T3 and T6. The exceedance were
considered non-project related.
9.61
Large
proportion of vegetative habitat along T3 (including some shrubs, wood and tall grass) were observed either removed,
tarmacked, and concreted as haul road by construction works outside of project,
first reported in the Monthly Monitoring Report in December 2021. The altered
condition at transect might have been less favourable
to inhabitance of herpetofauna and odonates, as some
species of these taxonomic groups prefers wet vegetated habitats that provides
shelters, as opposed to open and dry habitat such as a
tarmacked haul road. Previous odonate monitoring
results see a drop in odonate records between summer
of 2021 and 2022, during the period which construction activities outside of
project were observed. No on site observation, nor
environmental monitoring result suggest the impact were project-related.
9.62
During the
period of monitoring in T6, rainfall was recorded onsite. According to HKO’s
Monthly Weather Summary, rainfall exceeded 100mm over the northern part of New territories on 18 August 2023, as the first rainfall
after a few sunny days in a relatively dry month. Such weather conditions might
have affected odonate occurrence, as well as certain groups
of reptilians such as geckos and snakes, which commonly seeks shelters during
rainstorms. Active searches were conducted on microhabitats along the transect,
of which all species observed have been recorded. No evidence to suggest that
the exceedance were related to project activities, as
supported by environmental monitoring data, as well as aquatic fauna monitoring
results, where odonate nymphs were recorded at nearby
monitoring stations. Future results of these transects will be continuously
reviewed.
Details of the Influencing Factors
Major Activities
9.63
During the survey
of Monitoring of Measures to Minimise Disturbance to
Water Birds in Sheung Yue River and Long Valley, anthropogenic activities
including soil turning with excavator and other construction activities were
observed in Long Valley. Construction works were observed beside Sheung Yue
River.
9.64
The
anthropogenic activities affected only a small area of the habitat in Long
Valley during monitoring and would only pose minor disturbances to the birds..
9.65
During the
survey of Monitoring of Measures to Minimise
Disturbance to Water Birds in Ng Tung River, anthropogenic activities including
construction works beside T2, recreational usage of remote
control boats and helicopters at both T1 and T2, and recreational
fishing by fishing rod at both T1 and T2 were observed.
9.66
During the
survey of Monitoring of Measures to Minimise Impacts
on Ecological Sensitive Habitats from Disturbance and Pollution, construction
activities NOT under this Project were observed at T3 and T5.
Weather Conditions
9.67 According to the observation during
survey, temperature and the rain flow records in the reporting month (Reference: http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/pastwx/metob202308.htm), weather conditions
might pose influence towards the monitoring results.
9.68 The detailed ecological
monitoring results are attached in Appendix
L.
References
Ma, J., Jones, G., Zhu, G. J., & Metzner, W.
(2010). Echolocation behaviours of the Japanese
pipistrelle bat Pipistrellus abramus during foraging flight. Acta Theriologica, 55(4), 315-332.
Tong, C. F. (2016).
Distribution and preference of landscape features and foraging sites of
insectivorous bats in Hong Kong urban parks. (Master dissertation)