by Tam Tze Wai. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-114). / Abstract also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.v / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.vi / LIST OF TABLES --- p.viii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.ix / Chapter CHAPTER1 --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- Modelling the Dynamics of a Coral Community --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- New Paradigm in Understanding Complex System --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Ecological Models under the New Paradigm --- p.3 / Chapter 1.4 --- Hong Kong Marine Environment and Its Degradation --- p.6 / Chapter 1.5 --- Objectives of the Present Study --- p.8 / Chapter CHAPTER2 --- FIELD STUDIES OF A CORAL COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2 --- Study Area --- p.10 / Chapter 2.3 --- Materials and Methods --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Preliminary Study of the Coral Cover and Diversity / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Extensive Study of the Coral Cover and Diversity / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Relative Abundance and Species Diversity / Chapter 2.4 --- Results and Discussion --- p.14 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Preliminary Study / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Extensive Study / Chapter CHAPTER3 --- COMPUTER SIMULATION OF A CORAL COMMUNITY / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.40 / Chapter 3.2 --- Object-oriented Programming (OOP) --- p.42 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Objects / Chapter 3.2.2 --- "Classes, Hierarchies and Inheritance" / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Object-oriented Simulation / Chapter 3.3 --- Object-oriented Simulation of a Five-Coral Community --- p.46 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Class BenthicEnvir / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Class Coral / Chapter 3.3.3 --- The Objects Behaviour / Chapter 3.3.4 --- The Simulation / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Diversity Index and Statistical Analysis / Chapter 3.4 --- Results and Discussion --- p.66 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Growing Behaviour of the Corals / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Dynamical Behaviour of the Coral Community in Simulation without Disturbance / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Dynamical Behaviour of the Simulated Coral Community with Disturbance / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Utility of the Object-oriented Model / Chapter CHAPTER4 --- GENERAL DISCUSSION / Chapter 4.1 --- Mechanisms Structuring a Coral Community --- p.94 / Chapter 4.2 --- Comparison between Field Studies and the Computer Model / Chapter 4.3 --- Utilities and Limitations of the Present Model / REFERENCES --- p.107 / APPENDIX --- p.115