Page 40 - OPCFHK Annual Report 2018-19

野外生態保育大學生贊助計劃 USSP
越南大蝸牛：克服野外考察困難 提升科研知識
Vietnamese Giant Land Snail: Overcoming Survey Challenges to Enhance Knowledge
© David Cheung
越南大蝸牛擁有巨大、顏色鮮豔和亮麗的外殼，在
乾燥的季節中，牠們會以休眠狀態藏身於熱帶闊葉林
濕潤的枯葉底下。長久以來，牠們的外殼被認為
有珍貴的藥用價值，所以被人類捕獵作非法貿易，
現已被列為極危物種。
為深入了解越南大蝸牛的數量和分布，USSP 學生
與胡志明市國家大學的研究團隊合作，在偏遠地區
進行野生蝸牛的普查。普查工作包括收集野生越南
大蝸牛的黏液樣本作基因分析，以及使用衛星定位
記錄越南大蝸牛在野外的行蹤。學生亦量度泥土的
溫度、酸鹼度及氣溫，以了解越南大蝸牛棲息地之
狀況；並且每晚在指定研究地點設定五個區域，
收集關於這個物種的重要資訊。
期間，學生在野外環境克服執行上的困難，成功
收集了許多有價值的數據，例如越南大蝸牛的分布
狀況，更從中了解農業和採礦業對原始森林造成的
破壞和影響。
© Huynh Kim Thanh
38 | 保育教育
With a large, brightly coloured and shiny shell, the Vietnamese giant
land snail (Bertia cambojiensis) can be found below leaf litter of
tropical moist lowland forest in a dormant state during dry season.
The species is, unfortunately, critically endangered due to illegal shell
trade and its perceived medicinal value.
To understand the species’ population and distribution, USSP
students worked with the research team from the Vietnam National
University Ho Chi Minh City to survey the number of Vietnamese
giant land snails in a remote area, gather slime samples for DNA
analysis and record their natural movements using GPS. Besides,
the students measured the soil temperature, pH value and air
temperature to find out habitat conditions for the species. The
research assignment also included setting up five quadrants at the
research site every night to collect vital information about the species.
Defying execution challenges, the students gathered many
worthwhile findings such as the species’ distribution, and gained
insights into the impact of primary forest destruction caused by
agriculture and mining.
© Huynh Kim Thanh
整個旅程都是寶貴的體驗，讓我們能實地學會研究的技術和方法，
並且了解生態學家實際的工作，更令我們驚覺原來人類對動物的
森林棲息環境已造成嚴重影響。我們希望大眾能多加關注和保育
越南大蝸牛這種罕有珍貴但鮮為人知的亞洲物種。
This trip is a precious experience in which we learnt hands-on
research methodologies and skills. It also let us know how ecologists
work in real life. We were shocked by the extent of human impacts
on forest habitat and wildlife. We hope the public could show more
concerns and protect this rare and lesser known species in Asia.
張子文、朱健君
CHEUNG Tsz-man David, CHU Kin-kwan Kason
香港科技大學
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology