funding

research (PI) (total hk$8,269,532)

2024–2026 Lingnan University; Direct Grant; HK$100,000
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Co-I: Dr. Jack IP
Chromosome-level reference genome of the Golden Coin Turtle (Cuora trifasciata)

2023–2025 Hong Kong Government; Lantau Conservation Fund; HK$1,612,660
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Co-I: Dr. Yik-Hei SUNG, Dr. Jia Huan LIEW, Dr. Michael Wai Ning LAU (University of Hong Kong), Dr. Simon SIN (University of Hong Kong)
Conservation of Romer’s tree frogs: Assessment of population status across Lantau and impacts of emerging threats

2023–2025 Hong Kong Government; Environment and Conservation Fund; HK$499,200
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Co-I: Dr. Yik-Hei SUNG
Assessing prevalence of pathogens in endangered freshwater turtle populations

2023–2024 Hong Kong Government; Lantau Conservation Fund; HK$424,700
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Co-I: Dr. Yik-Hei SUNG
An integrative taxonomy approach to clarify the status of the short-legged toad (Boulenophrys brachykolos) population in Lantau

2022–2024 Research Grants Council; General Research Fund; HK$979,627
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
CO-I: Dr. Itzue CAVIEDES-SOLIS, Ivan P. Y. LAM
Disentangling the influence of ecology and evolution on the host-microbiome relationship in amphibians

2021–2023 Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong; Conservation Fund; HK$297,700
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Co-I: Dr. Yik-Hei SUNG, Dr. Duc Minh LE (Vietnam National University), Dr. Robert THOMSON (University of Hawaii)
Assessing the genetic diversity and ecological role of the endangered wattle-necked softshell turtle (Palea steindachneri) through the study of remnant populations

2020–2023 Research Grants Council; General Research Fund; HK$1,032,078
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Co-I: Dr. Yik-Hei SUNG (University of Hong Kong), Dr. Matthew FUJITA (University of Texas at Arlington)
Conservation genomics of two endangered Hong Kong turtles—the big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum) and Beal’s eyed turtle (Sacalia bealei)

2019–2021 Hong Kong Government; Environment and Conservation Fund; HK$1,094,304
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Co-I: Dr. Yik-Hei SUNG (University of Hong Kong)
Building a natural history collection of Hong Kong’s amphibians for conservation and education, with a genetic case-study on the endangered Romer’s tree frog (Liuixalus romeri)

2019–2020 Lingnan University; Faculty Research Grant; HK$50,000
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Microbial differences between conventional and organic agriculture in Hong Kong

2019–2020 Croucher Foundation; Chinese Visitorship; HK$144,000
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Co-I: Dr. ZHOU Jing (Qufu Normal University)

2019–2020 Lingnan University; Faculty Research Grant; HK$48,100
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Insights into turtle physiology, ecology, and evolution through comparing the gut microbiome of wild and captive individuals

2019 Lingnan University; Direct Grant; HK$77,718
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Proof of concept–demonstrating the ability to import CITES-protected species to Hong Kong

2019 Croucher Foundation; Chinese Visitorship; HK$144,000
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Co-I: Dr. DING Li (Hainan Normal University)

2018–2020 Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong; Conservation Fund; HK$599,722
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Co-I: Dr. Yik-Hei SUNG (Hong Kong Baptist University)
Conservation genomics of the critically endangered golden coin turtle (Cuora trifasciata) and application to ex-situ breeding and wildlife DNA forensics

2018–2019 Lingnan University; Faculty Research Grant; HK$49,950
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Systematic study on the freshwater snail genus Sinotaia (family Viviparidae, Gastropoda: Caenogastropoda) from China using morphological and molecular methods

2017–2018 Croucher Foundation; Chinese Visitorship; HK$144,000
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Co-I: Dr. SHU Fengyue (Qufu Normal University)

2017 Croucher Foundation; Chinese Visitorship; HK$144,000
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Co-I: Dr. LIN Liu (Hainan Normal University)

2016–2020 Research Grants Council; Early Career Scheme; HK$827,773
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Developing environmental DNA approaches to study the ecology and conservation of endangered Hong Kong turtles

research (co-I) (total hk$9,035,047)

2024–2026 Hong Kong Government; Environment and Conservation Fund; HK$900,000
PI: Dr. Anthony LAU
Co-I: Dr. Jonathan FONG, Dr. Ken SO Ying Kin
Monitoring and Eradication of Invasive Crayfish Using Mark-Recapture and eDNA Methods

2024–2026 Hong Kong Government; Environment and Conservation Fund; HK$1,198,994
PI: Dr. HUI Tin Yan
Co-I: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Forgotten Habitat: Physical Environments and Biodiversity Patterns of Hong Kong Intertidal Boulder Fields

2024–2026 Hong Kong Government; Lantau Conservation Fund; HK$2,314,669
PI: Dr. Roger Ho LEE
Co-I: Tsz Wi LOONG, Dr. Jonathan FONG, Dr. Benoit Guenard (University of Hong Kong
Revitalising farmland ecology to conserve insect pollinators and ecosystem services in Mui Wo

2023–2026 Hong Kong Government; Environment and Conservation Fund; HK$889,000
PI: Dr. Roger Ho LEE
Co-I: Dr. Benoit GUENARD (University of Hong Kong), Dr. Jonathan FONG
Nature-based greening solutions for insect pollinator conservation and sustainable agriculture development

2022–2024 Hong Kong Government; Environment and Conservation Fund; HK$794,080
PI: Dr. Simon SIN (University of Hong Kong)
Co-I: Dr. Yik-Hei SUNG, Dr. Jonathan FONG
Assessment of the population status of the endangered Hong Kong cascade frog (Amolops hongkongensis)

2021–2023 Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong; Conservation Fund; HK$392,680
PI: Dr. Yik-Hei SUNG
Co-I: Brian KATONA, Dr. Jonathan FONG, Anthony YEUNG (Hong Kong Society of Herpetology)
New technological and traditional behavioral approaches for freshwater turtle conservation

2021–2022 Hong Kong Government; Environment and Conservation Fund; HK$500,000
PI: Dr. Anthony LAU
Co-I: Dr. Yik-Hei SUNG, Dr. Jonathan FONG
Territory-wide environmental DNA (eDNA) survey on distribution and status of invasive fish and crayfish

2020–2022 Hong Kong Government; Environment and Conservation Fund; HK$482,400
PI: Dr. Yik-Hei SUNG
Co-I: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Uncover the underground–distribution and population status of endemic blind snakes and Bogadek’s burrowing lizard

2019–2021 Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong; Conservation Fund; HK$488,544
PI: Dr. Yik-Hei SUNG (University of Hong Kong)
Co-I: Dr. Jonathan FONG
A data-driven approach to strengthening trade enforcement of turtles

2018–2020 Hong Kong Government; Environment and Conservation Fund; HK$497,720
PI: Dr. Yik-Hei SUNG (Hong Kong Baptist University)
Co-I: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Filling the knowledge gap–current status of endangered freshwater turtles

2017–2019 Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong; Conservation Fund; HK$576,960
PI: Dr. Yik-Hei SUNG (Hong Kong Baptist University)
Co-I: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Safeguarding freshwater turtle populations in Hong Kong

teaching & knowledge transfer (total hk$4,516,827)

2022–2024 Lingnan University; Teaching Development Grant; HK$196,900
PI: Dr. Helen GENG
Co-I: Dr. Jonathan FONG, Dr. Paulina WONG, Dr. Helen HAN
Implementing carbon footprint in four cluster courses: shaping a path to cross-disciplinary collaboration to achieve SDGs

2022–2024 Environment and Ecology Bureau; Sustainable Development Fund; HK$1,329,520
PI: Science Unit and Office of Service Learning, Lingnan University
Carbon neutral action

2021 Lingnan University; Teaching Development Grant; HK$198,187
PI: Dr. Albert KO Wing Yin
Co-I: Dr. Jonathan FONG, Dr. Jasper VAN HOLSTEIJN, Dr. Zoe XIAO
Mini-MOOC for engaging students through self-directed skills-based learning in an uncertain educational environment

2020–2021 Lingnan University; Innovation and Impact Fund, Entrepreneuership Programme; HK$80,000
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Co-I: Dr. Albert KO Wing Yin, Dr. Aloysius AROKIARAJ (Office of Service Learning) 
Establishing an affordable, accessible solution to the water challenges in developing countries

2019–2020 Environmental Campaign Committee; Environmental Education and Community Action Projects; HK$1,887,906
PI: Outdoor Wildlife Learning Hong Kong (OWLHK)
Co-I: Dr. Jonathan FONG
ECF Exploring WILD Lantau

2019–2020 Cross-Institutional Capacity Building for Service Learning in Hong Kong Higher Education Institutions; Support Programme for Service-Learning Action Research; HK$10,000
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Investigating the impacts of intergenerational collaboration on service-learning projects

2017–2019 Environmental Campaign Committee; Environmental Education and Community Action Projects; HK$736,616
PI: Outdoor Wildlife Learning Hong Kong (OWLHK)
Co-I: Dr. Jonathan FONG
ECF joyful learning in forest ecology–board game-outdoor-environmental education

2017 Lingnan University; Knowledge Transfer Project Fund; HK$69,850
PI: Dr. Mark MCGINLEY
Co-I: Dr. Jonathan FONG, Outdoor Wildlife Learning Hong Kong (OWLHK)
Developing intergenerational education and partnerships to encourage conservation of reptiles and amphibians in Hong Kong 

2015–2016 Lingnan University; Centre for the Advancement of Outcomes Based Education; HK$7,848
PI: Dr. Mark MCGINLEY
Co-I: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Testing instruments to assess learning outcomes of the Science, Technology, and Society Core Curriculum Cluster

government tenders (total hk$218,612)

2023 Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; HK$119,700
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
DNA analysis, stable isotope, fecal, and age estimation analysis on seized freshwater turtles (3 projects)

2022 Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; HK$49,900
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
DNA analysis on seized freshwater turtles

2020–2021 Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; HK$49,012
PI: Dr. Jonathan FONG
Detection of European Eel (Anguilla anguilla) from water samples by DNA metabarcoding method