Pak Ah Pan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 149-158). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / 摘要 --- p.vi / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.vii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.ix / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xiv / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xvi / Chapter CHAPTER ONE --- LITERATURE REVIEWS --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1. --- Sediment pollution problems --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2. --- Effects of suspended sediments (SS) on aquatic biota --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3. --- Histopathological biomarkers in fish --- p.7 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO --- INTRODUCTION --- p.20 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.23 / Chapter 3.1. --- Sediments --- p.23 / Chapter 3.1.1. --- Sediment sampling sites --- p.23 / Chapter 3.1.2. --- Sediment collection and handling --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1.3. --- Chemical analysis of sediments --- p.25 / Chapter 3.2. --- Collection and maintenance of fish --- p.26 / Chapter 3.3. --- Sediment bioassays for groupers (E. coioides) --- p.28 / Chapter 3.3.1. --- Preparation of suspended sediments (SS) --- p.28 / Chapter 3.3.2. --- Experimental design --- p.30 / Chapter 3.3.2.1. --- 10-day exposure experiment --- p.30 / Chapter 3.3.2.2. --- 30-day exposure experiment --- p.31 / Chapter 3.3.2.3. --- Time-course and recovery experiment --- p.33 / Chapter 3.3.3. --- Measurement of oxygen consumption and ventilation rates --- p.33 / Chapter 3.4. --- "Tissue sample collection, preparation and examinations" --- p.35 / Chapter 3.4.1. --- Study of sediment clogging --- p.35 / Chapter 3.4.2. --- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study --- p.37 / Chapter 3.4.3. --- Histopathological investigations --- p.38 / Chapter 3.4.3.1. --- Histopathology of gills --- p.40 / Chapter 3.4.3.2. --- Histopathology of liver --- p.40 / Chapter 3.4.3.3. --- Histopathology of kidney --- p.41 / Chapter 3.5. --- Sediment bioassays for seabreams (A. schlegeli) --- p.42 / Chapter 3.6. --- Statistical analysis --- p.43 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR --- RESULTS --- p.44 / Chapter 4.1. --- Chemical analysis of sediments --- p.44 / Chapter 4.2. --- Physicochemical parameters --- p.47 / Chapter 4.3. --- Sediment bioassays for groupers (E. coioides) --- p.49 / Chapter 4.3.1. --- Feeding rate --- p.49 / Chapter 4.3.2. --- Growth rate --- p.49 / Chapter 4.3.3. --- Sediment clogging --- p.53 / Chapter 4.3.4. --- Survival rates --- p.53 / Chapter 4.3.5. --- Oxygen consumption rate and ventilation rate --- p.56 / Chapter 4.3.6. --- SEM study --- p.56 / Chapter 4.3.7. --- Histopathological investigations --- p.64 / Chapter 4.3.7.1. --- Histopathology of gills --- p.64 / Chapter 4.3.7.2. --- Histopathology of liver --- p.82 / Chapter 4.3.7.3. --- Histopathology of kidney --- p.94 / Chapter 4.4. --- Sediment bioassays for seabreams (A. schlegeli) --- p.113 / Chapter 4.4.1. --- Survival rates --- p.113 / Chapter 4.4.2. --- Histopathological investigations of gills and liver --- p.113 / Chapter CHAPTER FIVE --- DISCUSSION --- p.122 / Chapter 5.1. --- Hypoxic effects of SS on histopathology --- p.122 / Chapter 5.2. --- Synergistic effects between SS and chemical --- p.126 / Chapter 5.3. --- Effects of gill impairment on biological responses --- p.131 / Chapter 5.4. --- Reparability of histopathological alterations --- p.135 / Chapter 5.5. --- Species differences in sensitivity to SS --- p.135 / Chapter 5.6 --- Recommendation --- p.136 / Chapter CHAPTER SIX --- CONCLUSION --- p.138 / APPENDICES --- p.140 / REFERENCES --- p.149