Media

World’s first online Ant Map to show global distribution of ants including 170 species from HK

04 Aug 2015

Biological Scientists at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), push the limits in biodiversity exploration with its research on ants.

In the field of biological sciences, understanding of the composition and geographic distribution of global biodiversity is largely incomplete with 50% to 90% of species on Earth still undescribed. Although two-third of insects species on the planet (about 1.1 million species) have been described, major gaps in their distribution knowledge remains.

An international team of researchers led by Dr Guénard, Assistant Professor at the HKU School of Biological Sciences, in collaboration with Dr Evan Economo from the Okinawa Institute of Sciences and Technology (OIST) Graduate School, spent four years addressing the knowledge-gap problem by building the world’s first database and website to visualise their study on the global distribution of 15,000 species of ants. Locally, the website shows that 170 species have been recorded in Hong Kong.

This work not only represents a cornerstone for the conservation of insects but also reveals the urgent need for an increase in species description and geographical mapping, as many ecosystems suffer from intense human-induced disturbances.

Moreover, HKU’s Insect Biodiversity and Biogeography Laboratory set up by Dr Guénard last year has conducted surveys and has already identified 15 newly recorded ant species present in leaf litter in Hong Kong.

Dr Guénard and his team will meet the media to introduce the Ant Map and their work on global and local biodiversity. Details are as below:

Date:   August 6, 2015 (this Thursday)
Time/Activity/Venue:
10:50    Gathering on G/F, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, Main Campus, Pokfulam, HKU (MTR HKU Station Exit A1)(Map)
11:00    Photo taking (session 1) at the Biological Science Museum, Room 2S/18, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building
11:15    Photo taking (session 2) and press briefing at Conference Room, Room 6N/11, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building
Spokespersons:
Dr Guénard, Assistant Professor of School of Biological Sciences
Mr. Roger Lee Ho, PhD student of School of Biological Sciences

Media enquiry:
Communication and Public Affairs Office Ms Rhea Leung (Tel: 2857 8555/ 9022 7446; email: rhea.leung@hku.hk)
Faculty of Science Ms Cindy Chan (Tel: 3917 5286/ 6703 0212; email: cindycst@hku.hk)