published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

published_or_final_version / abstract / Biological Sciences / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Biological Sciences / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Choi, Yuk Kam. / Thesis submitted in: December 2008. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 204-221). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Abstact (in Chinese) --- p.iv / Acknowlegement --- p.vi / Table of contents --- p.viii / List of tables --- p.xiii / List of figures --- p.xv / List of plates --- p.xvi / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Research background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Conceptual framework --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Research objectives --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4 --- Significance of the study --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5 --- Organization of this thesis --- p.11 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2 --- Hong Kong's forestry and use of native species in ecological restoration --- p.14 / Chapter 2.3 --- Factors limiting the use of native species in ecological rehabilitation --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4 --- The climate and soils in Hong Kong --- p.19 / Chapter 2.5 --- Soil physical properties --- p.22 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Soil water and water holding capacity --- p.23 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Penetration resistance --- p.26 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Soil structure --- p.27 / Chapter 2.6 --- Soil amendment materials --- p.29 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Compost --- p.30 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Coconut meal --- p.32 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Water absorbing polymer --- p.35 / Chapter 2.7 --- Summary --- p.39 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- EFFECT OF AMENDMENT MATERIALS ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF DECOMPOSED GRANITE AND THE GROWTH OF SCHIMA SUPERBA : GREENHOUSE EXPERIMENT I --- p.41 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.41 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.42 / Chapter 3.3 --- Experimental design --- p.43 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- "Amending DG with water absorbing polymer, coconut meal and compost" --- p.43 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Watering treatment --- p.45 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Post-planting treatment --- p.47 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Monitoring of penetration resistance and soil moisture content --- p.48 / Chapter 3.4 --- Plant growth measurement --- p.49 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Survival rate --- p.49 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Height and basal diameter --- p.49 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Chlorophyll fluorescence --- p.49 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Aboveground biomass --- p.50 / Chapter 3.5 --- Laboratory analysis --- p.50 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Texture --- p.50 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Reaction pH and conductivity --- p.51 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Organic carbon of soil and the amended substrates --- p.51 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- Total carbon of coconut meal and compost --- p.51 / Chapter 3.5.5 --- Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen --- p.52 / Chapter 3.5.6 --- Total phosphorus --- p.52 / Chapter 3.5.7 --- Exchangeable A1 and H and total exchangeable acidity --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5.8 --- "Total potassium, sodium，calcium and magnesium" --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5.9 --- Heavy metals --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5.10 --- Exchangeable cations --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5.11 --- Water absorbency of water absorbing polymer --- p.54 / Chapter 3.5.12 --- Water retention capacity --- p.54 / Chapter 3.5.13 --- Mean weight diameter --- p.54 / Chapter 3.6 --- Statistical analysis --- p.55 / Chapter 3.7 --- Results and discussion --- p.55 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- Properties of decomposed granite --- p.55 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- "Properties of water absorbing polymer, coconut meal and compost" --- p.58 / Chapter 3.8 --- Effects of amendment materials on DG --- p.60 / Chapter 3.8.1 --- Penetration resistance --- p.60 / Chapter 3.8.2 --- Soil moisture --- p.64 / Chapter 3.8.3 --- Water release characteristic curves and available water content --- p.69 / Chapter 3.8.4 --- Effect of amendment materials on soil organic carbon --- p.74 / Chapter 3.8.5 --- Relationship between SOC and water release characteristics --- p.77 / Chapter 3.8.6 --- Mean weight diameter --- p.78 / Chapter 3.9 --- Effects of amendment materials on the growth of Schima superba --- p.81 / Chapter 3.9.1 --- Survival rate --- p.81 / Chapter 3.9.2 --- Height and basal diameter increment --- p.84 / Chapter 3.9.3 --- Aboveground biomass --- p.88 / Chapter 3.9.4 --- Chlorophyll florescence --- p.89 / Chapter 3.10 --- Summary --- p.91 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- EFFECT OF AMENDMENT MATERIALS ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF DECOMPOSED GRANITE AND THE GROWTH OF CASTANOPSIS FISSA: GREENHOUSE EXPERIMENT II --- p.94 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.94 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.95 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Materials --- p.95 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Experimental design --- p.96 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Preparation of growth substrates --- p.96 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Soil sampling --- p.98 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Monitoring of soil moisture change and penetration resistance --- p.99 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Plant growth measurement --- p.100 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- Laboratory analysis --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3.1. --- Properties of DG --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Water absorbency of ALCOSORB® --- p.103 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Effect of amendment materials on physical properties of DG --- p.103 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Effect of soil amendment on water release characteristic curves --- p.109 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Soil evaporation test --- p.113 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Soil organic carbon --- p.119 / Chapter 4.3.7 --- Mean weight diameter --- p.121 / Chapter 4.3.8 --- Effects of amendment materials on the growth of Castanopsis fissa --- p.123 / Chapter 4.3.8.1 --- Survival rate --- p.123 / Chapter 4.3.8.2 --- Height and basal diameter --- p.126 / Chapter 4.3.8.3 --- Aboveground biomass --- p.132 / Chapter 4.3.8.4 --- Chlorophyll fluorescence --- p.134 / Chapter 4.4 --- Summary --- p.136 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- CAN WATER ABSORBING POLYMER BENEFIT QUARRY REHABILITATION IN THE DRY SEASON? --- p.139 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.139 / Chapter 5.2 --- The study area --- p.142 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- The Anderson Road Quarry --- p.142 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Rehabilitation of Anderson Road Quarry --- p.143 / Chapter 5.3 --- Experimental design --- p.145 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Site preparation --- p.145 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Selection of native species for planting --- p.147 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- The planting --- p.148 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Data logging the growth environment --- p.150 / Chapter 5.3.5 --- Plant growth measurement --- p.150 / Chapter 5.3.6 --- Soil sampling and analysis --- p.151 / Chapter 5.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.151 / Chapter 5.5 --- Results and discussion --- p.152 / Chapter 5.5.1 --- Properties of decomposed granite in ARQ --- p.152 / Chapter 5.5.2 --- Survival rate --- p.155 / Chapter 5.5.3 --- Height and basal diameter increments --- p.157 / Chapter 5.5.4 --- Major limiting factors for the establishment of seedlings --- p.160 / Chapter 5.5.4.1 --- Drought --- p.160 / Chapter 5.5.4.2 --- Soil erosion caused by rainstorm --- p.163 / Chapter 5.6 --- Summary --- p.165 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- EFFECT OF WATER ABSORBING POLYMER ON THE GROWTH OF NATIVE SPECIES IN A RESTORED QUARRY --- p.167 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.167 / Chapter 6.2 --- Study area --- p.168 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Data logging the growth environment --- p.169 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- Plant growth measurement --- p.169 / Chapter 6.3.4 --- Spatial variation of irrigation water --- p.170 / Chapter 6.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.170 / Chapter 6.5 --- Results and discussion --- p.170 / Chapter 6.5.1 --- Survival rate --- p.170 / Chapter 6.5.2 --- Height and basal diameter increments --- p.178 / Chapter 6.5.3 --- Growth environment in Anderson Road Quarry --- p.185 / Chapter 6.5.4 --- Weed competition --- p.189 / Chapter 6.6 --- Summary --- p.190 / Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- CONCLUSIONS --- p.191 / Chapter 7.1 --- Summary of major findings --- p.191 / Chapter 7.2 --- Implications of the study --- p.196 / Chapter 7.3 --- Limitations of the study --- p.199 / Chapter 7.4 --- Suggestions for further study --- p.200 / REFERENCES --- p.204 / APPENDICES --- p.222

Wong, Man Shan Michelle. / Thesis submitted in: November 2006. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-167). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.I / Abstract --- p.III / Table of contents --- p.VI / List of Tables --- p.X / List of Figures --- p.XI / List of Plates --- p.XIV / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Wetlands --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Importance of wetlands --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Wetland plants --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4 --- Adaptations of wetland plants to flooding --- p.7 / Chapter 1.5 --- Effects of hydrology on wetland plants --- p.13 / Chapter 1.6 --- Other factors affecting plant growth in wetlands --- p.16 / Chapter 1.7 --- Wetlands in the world --- p.19 / Chapter 1.8 --- Wetlands in Hong Kong --- p.19 / Chapter 1.8.1 --- Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site --- p.19 / Chapter 1.8.2 --- Wetland conservation in Hong Kong --- p.21 / Chapter 1.9 --- "Successful cases and constraints on wetland restoration, creation and conservation" --- p.22 / Chapter 1.9.1 --- The Ramsar Convention and wetland conservation --- p.22 / Chapter 1.9.2 --- Constraints in wetland restoration and creation --- p.32 / Chapter 1.9.3 --- Cases of wetland restoration and creation --- p.32 / Chapter 1.9.3.1 --- Restoring the habitat of endangered bird in southern California --- p.33 / Chapter 1.9.3.2 --- Creating tidal wetlands in San Diego Bay --- p.33 / Chapter 1.9.4 --- Constraints on wetland restoration and creation in Hong Kong --- p.33 / Chapter 1.9.4.1 --- Small scaled projects --- p.33 / Chapter 1.9.4.2 --- Lack of long-term management --- p.34 / Chapter 1.9.4.3 --- Lack of clear goals and objectives --- p.34 / Chapter 1.10 --- "Objectives, significance and outline of the present study" --- p.35 / Chapter 1.10.1 --- Research objectives --- p.35 / Chapter 1.10.2 --- Significance of the research --- p.35 / Chapter 1.10.3 --- Outlines of the thesis --- p.37 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Growth performance of selected species of freshwater emergents under different levels of submergence in a natural wetland / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Site description --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Planting --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Sampling --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2.3.1 --- Water --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.3.2 --- Soil --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.3.3 --- Plants --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Analysis --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.4.1 --- Water --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.4.2 --- Soil --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.4.3 --- Plants --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Statistical analysis --- p.48 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.48 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Water quality in the trial plots at the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve --- p.48 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Soil properties in plots under different levels of submergence at the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve --- p.53 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Growth of freshwater emergents under different submergence levels --- p.59 / Chapter 2.3.3.1 --- Aboveground biomass --- p.59 / Chapter 2.3.3.2 --- Plant nutrient concentrations --- p.66 / Chapter 2.3.3.3 --- Plant nutrient yields --- p.67 / Chapter 2.4 --- Conclusions --- p.76 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Growth performance of selected species of freshwater emergents under different levels of submergence in a created wetland / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.78 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.80 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Site description --- p.80 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Planting --- p.80 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Sampling --- p.80 / Chapter 3.2.3.1 --- Water --- p.80 / Chapter 3.2.3.2 --- Soil --- p.84 / Chapter 3.2.3.3 --- Plants --- p.84 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Analysis --- p.85 / Chapter 3.2.4.1 --- Water --- p.85 / Chapter 3.2.4.2 --- Soil --- p.86 / Chapter 3.2.4.3 --- Plants --- p.86 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Statistical analysis --- p.87 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.87 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Water quality in the freshwater marshes at the Hong Kong Wetland Park --- p.87 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Soil properties in the freshwater marshes under different levels of submergence at the Hong Kong Wetland Park --- p.92 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Growth of freshwater emergents under different submergence levels --- p.100 / Chapter 3.3.3.1 --- Aboveground biomass --- p.100 / Chapter 3.3.3.2 --- Plant nutrient concentrations --- p.105 / Chapter 3.3.3.3 --- Plant nutrient yields --- p.109 / Chapter 3.4 --- Conclusions --- p.112 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Growth performance of selected species of freshwater emergents under different levels of submergence and soil types in a greenhouse pot experiment / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.114 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.115 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Experimental setup --- p.115 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Harvesting --- p.117 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Tissue analysis --- p.117 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.117 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.118 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Aboveground biomass --- p.118 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Plant nutrient concentrations --- p.128 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Plant nutrient yields --- p.134 / Chapter 4.4 --- Conclusions --- p.140 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- General Conclusions / Chapter 5.1 --- Summary and implications of major findings --- p.142 / Chapter 5.2 --- Limitations of the study --- p.144 / Chapter 5.3 --- Further investigations --- p.145 / References --- p.148

Many complaints were received from the residential area around the Shatin Sewage Treatment Works (STSTW) about the presence of odour. The dominant odour marker H2S was selected to be studied. A review of the odour measurement and sampling methods, together with the specification of the standard limits and health effects were made. The formation process of H2S was investigated and the abatement and control measures in terms of physical, chemical and biological techniques were compared. The monthly rate of H2S emission in the atmosphere was calculated from the soluble sulfide and the measured wastewater flow at the inlet works, primary sedimentation tanks, aeration tanks, and sludge digestive and storage tanks, and the H2S mapping was carried out at the same places. Meteorological data including wind speed, wind direction, temperature and pressure were collected. The effect of temperature and pH on H2S generation is shown, and the effectiveness of odour control and deodourization processes was studied. A Gaussian dispersion model of Industrial Source Complex version 3 (ISC3) was applied in predicting the ground H2S level at various air sensitive receivers in the vicinity of STSTW. None of the places exceeded the recommended H2S concentration of World Health Organization (WHO) and the odour is a localized problem in STSTW of 35% area having H2S ranging in 0.01--‐0.023ppm. Recommendations are suggested in both short-term improvement in operation and maintenance practice and long-term design and construction of sewage treatment facilities. / published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Ecology and Biodiversity / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Geography and Geology / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Ecology and Biodiversity / Master / Master of Philosophy