Chan, Hoi Weun Kilkenny. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 233-248). / Abstract also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ABSTRACT (IN CHINESE) --- p.iv / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.vi / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.viii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xiv / LIST OF PLATES --- p.xvi / LIST OF APPENDICES --- p.xvii / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xviii / Chapter CHAPTER ONE --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Conceptual framework --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Study objectives --- p.9 / Chapter 1.4 --- Significance of research --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5 --- Organization of thesis --- p.12 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO --- LITERATURE REVIEW / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2 --- The geographical setting of Hong Kong --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Climate of Hong Kong --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Geology of Hong Kong --- p.16 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Soils of Hong Kong --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Vegetation of Hong Kong --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3 --- Forestry management in Hong Kong --- p.19 / Chapter 2.4 --- Land degradation and growth constraints --- p.20 / Chapter 2.5 --- Importance of ecological rehabilitation --- p.23 / Chapter 2.6 --- Use of exotic and native species in ecological rehabilitation --- p.27 / Chapter 2.7 --- Myths of native species --- p.32 / Chapter 2.8 --- Quarrying and quarry rehabilitation in Hong Kong --- p.34 / Chapter 2.8.1 --- Permit quarries --- p.34 / Chapter 2.8.2 --- Contract quarries --- p.36 / Chapter 2.8.3 --- Quarry rehabilitation contracts --- p.37 / Chapter 2.9 --- Constraints of quarry rehabilitation --- p.39 / Chapter 2.10 --- Characteristics of quarry growth substrates --- p.41 / Chapter 2.11 --- Soil amendment materials --- p.42 / Chapter 2.12 --- Summary --- p.43 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE --- SCREENING OF SOIL AMENDMENT MATERIALS FOR THE GROWTH OF SCHIMA SUPERB A / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2 --- Methodology --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Experimental design --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Post-planting care --- p.53 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Plant performance measurements --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3 --- Laboratory analysis --- p.55 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Soils --- p.55 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Amendment materials --- p.59 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Foliar nutrient contents --- p.60 / Chapter 3.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.61 / Chapter 3.5 --- Results and discussion --- p.61 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Physical and chemical properties of decomposed granite --- p.61 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Chemical properties of soil amendment materials --- p.64 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Plant growth performance --- p.68 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- Effect of SAMs on growth performance of the seedlings --- p.78 / Chapter 3.6 --- Summary --- p.81 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR --- SOILS AND VEGETATION CHARACTERISTICS OF THREE RESTORED QUARRY SITES / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.85 / Chapter 4.2 --- Study area --- p.87 / Chapter 4.3 --- Methodology --- p.92 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Experimental design --- p.92 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Soil sampling --- p.93 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Vegetation survey --- p.94 / Chapter 4.4 --- Data processing and statistical analysis --- p.95 / Chapter 4.5 --- Results and discussion --- p.96 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Characteristics and properties of the restored soils --- p.96 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Vegetation survey --- p.110 / Chapter 4.6 --- Summary --- p.130 / Chapter CHAPTER FIVE --- EFFECT OF ENGINEERING DESIGN AND RAINSTORM ON ECOLOGICAL REHABILITATION / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.133 / Chapter 5.2 --- Methodology --- p.135 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Experimental design --- p.135 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Assessment of plant growth and storm damage --- p.142 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Laboratory analysis --- p.143 / Chapter 5.3 --- Statistical analysis --- p.143 / Chapter 5.4 --- Results and discussion --- p.143 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Physical and chemical properties of the growth substrate --- p.143 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Chemical properties of the soil amendment materials --- p.146 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- The weather and growth conditions in ARQ --- p.149 / Chapter 5.4.4 --- Damage caused by the rainstorm --- p.155 / Chapter 5.4.5 --- Survival rates of the seedlings --- p.161 / Chapter 5.4.6 --- Growth performance of seedlings 3 months after planting --- p.163 / Chapter 5.4.7 --- Lessons learnt from this experiment --- p.167 / Chapter 5.5 --- Summary --- p.174 / Chapter CHAPTER SIX --- GROWTH OF SCHIMA SUPERBA AND RHAPHIOLEPIS INDICA ON DECOMPOSED GRANITE (DG) AND DECOMPOSED VOLCANIC (DV) / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.177 / Chapter 6.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.179 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Experimental design --- p.179 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Plant performance measurements and data processing --- p.181 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Laboratory analysis --- p.182 / Chapter 6.3 --- Statistical analysis --- p.182 / Chapter 6.4 --- Results and discussion --- p.183 / Chapter 6.4.1 --- Properties of decomposed granite and decomposed volcanic --- p.183 / Chapter 6.4.2 --- Properties of the soil amendment materials --- p.186 / Chapter 6.4.3 --- Survival rates of the seedlings --- p.188 / Chapter 6.4.4 --- Height growth of seedlings --- p.198 / Chapter 6.4.5 --- Stem basal diameter growth of seedlings --- p.201 / Chapter 6.4.6 --- Overall growth performance of seedlings --- p.203 / Chapter 6.5 --- Summary --- p.204 / Chapter CHAPTER SEVEN --- CONCLUSIONS / Chapter 7.1 --- Introduction --- p.207 / Chapter 7.2 --- Summary of major findings --- p.207 / Chapter 7.3 --- Implications of the study --- p.216 / Chapter 7.3.1 --- Screening of soil amendment materials to promote early growth of seedlings in decomposed granite --- p.216 / Chapter 7.3.2 --- Successional development in the restored quarry sites under existing revegetation programme --- p.218 / Chapter 7.3.3 --- Constraints of quarry rehabilitation --- p.221 / Chapter 7.3.4 --- Potential use of native species in quarry rehabilitation --- p.225 / Chapter 7.4 --- Limitations of the study --- p.228 / Chapter 7.5 --- Suggestions for further study --- p.230 / REFERENCES --- p.233 / APPENDICES --- p.249

The Warsaw Quarries of Coshocton County, Ohio, virtually ignored since Holmes' landmark papers of 1919, are investigated to achieve several goals: 1) to create a revised general typology of the material culture of bedded-chert lithic procurement sites; 2) to demonstrate that the occurrence of radiocarbon samples at lithic procurement sites is the norm rather than the exception; 3) to clarify the nature of activity at the site through a synthesis of functional and attribute analyses of material recovered from a peripheral spoils ridge; 4) to demonstrate that data collected at procurement sites by surface collection constitutes an insufficient database for analysis; 5) to test an hypothesis that the presumed absence of classic site elements (stratigraphy, diagnostic artifacts, dateable material) is incorrect. Since the completion of late 19`h and early 20`h century work in the field, analysis of quarry sites in North America has been limited to sporadic and usually very subject-specific research. By neglecting to evaluate the overall nature and function of lithic procurement sites, recent work has relegated lithic procurement to a sub-field of only secondary interest to archaeologists. / Department of Anthropology

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Landscape Architecture

Yu Chi Cheung. / Thesis submitted in: August 2005. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-169). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract / Declaration --- p.i / Acknowledgement --- p.ii / Contents --- p.iv / List of Figures --- p.vi / List of Tables --- p.vii / List of Plates --- p.x / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- About Hong Kong --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Geography --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Climate --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Vegetation --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Wildlife conservation in Hong Kong --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2 --- Land Restoration --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- General processes of restoration --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Plantation in Hong Kong quarries --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Ecological succession in Hong Kong --- p.16 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Problems in quarry restoration --- p.17 / Chapter 1.3 --- Objectives --- p.18 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Study sites --- p.18 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Soil-plant ecosystem --- p.27 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Insect study --- p.28 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Lepidopteran as a study group --- p.29 / Chapter 1.3.5 --- Odonata as a study group --- p.31 / Chapter 1.4 --- Project Significant --- p.32 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Soil Status in Restored Quarries in Hong Kong --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Soil sampling --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Soil analysis --- p.37 / Chapter 2.3 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.39 / Chapter 2.4 --- Results and Discussion --- p.39 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- General properties of soil in the restored quarries --- p.39 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Soil description on different phases among the sites --- p.43 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Soil comparison on different phases with the same age --- p.45 / Chapter 2.5 --- Conclusion --- p.47 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Vegetation Study of Restored Quarries --- p.49 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.52 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Vegetation survey --- p.52 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Quadrat analysis --- p.53 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Vegetation description --- p.53 / Chapter 3.2.3.1 --- Similarity index --- p.53 / Chapter 3.2.3.2 --- Species richness index --- p.53 / Chapter 3.2.3.3 --- Diversity index --- p.54 / Chapter 3.2.3.4 --- Evenness index --- p.54 / Chapter 3.2.3.5 --- Effective number of species --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.55 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Vegetation coverage on restored quarries --- p.55 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Vegetation structure and diversity on restored quarries --- p.58 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Ecological indices on various sites --- p.78 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Successful plants at various phases among the sites --- p.80 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- "Tree vs shrubs, native vs exotic" --- p.85 / Chapter 3.4 --- Conclusion --- p.87 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Butterfly Communities on Restored Quarries --- p.89 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.89 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.90 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Pollard-walk method --- p.90 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Statistical analysis --- p.95 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.95 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- General description of the butterfly communities --- p.95 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Uncommon species found on the quarries --- p.99 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Butterfly species found on various phases of the sites --- p.102 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Ecological indices on various sites --- p.114 / Chapter 4.4 --- Conclusions --- p.117 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Moth Communities on Restored Quarries --- p.118 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.118 / Chapter 5 2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.119 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Light trapping method --- p.119 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.120 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- General description of moth community --- p.120 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Ecological indices of moth on various sites --- p.123 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Moth species found on various phases of the sites --- p.129 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Ecological importance of Lepidopterans --- p.142 / Chapter 4.4 --- Conclusion --- p.143 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- General Conclusion --- p.145 / Chapter 6.1 --- Soil Development and Species Diversity --- p.145 / Chapter 6.2 --- Current Status of Restored Quarries in Hong Kong --- p.148 / Chapter 6.3 --- Conservation Value of Restored Quarries --- p.150 / Chapter 6.4 --- Limitation of the study --- p.151 / Chapter 6.4.1 --- Light trap --- p.151 / Chapter 6.4.2 --- Correlation vs causation --- p.153 / Chapter 6.5 --- Area for Further Investigation --- p.154 / Chapter 6.4.1 --- Seed bank analysis --- p.154 / Chapter 6.4.2 --- Other inventories --- p.154 / References --- p.156 / Appendix Odonate Communities on Restored Quarries --- p.170 / Introduction --- p.170 / Materials and Methods --- p.172 / Visual encounter survey --- p.172 / Statistical analysis --- p.172 / Results and Discussion --- p.173 / General description of odonate community --- p.173 / Ecological indices of odonate on various sites --- p.175 / Odonates species on various phases of the sites --- p.179 / Conclusion --- p.183 / References --- p.184

Wong Cheuk Yuet. / Thesis submitted in: July 2003. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 223-233). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.i / ABSTRACT --- p.iv / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.ix / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xii / LIST OF PLATES --- p.xiv / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xv / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- About the thesis --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Background of Hong Kong --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Geography --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Climate --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Vegetation and their distribution --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Floristic composition --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Urban development and forestry history --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3 --- Restoration of degraded lands --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Importance of restoration --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Sites for restoration --- p.16 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Substratum for restoration in Hong Kong --- p.16 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Revegetation --- p.19 / Chapter 1.4 --- Species for plantation --- p.20 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Exotics vs. natives --- p.20 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Fields of controversy --- p.23 / Chapter 1.5 --- Project objectives and significances --- p.26 / Chapter 1.6 --- Study sites --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Criteria for site selection --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Shek O Quarry and Lam Tei Quarry --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- Rehabilitation of the quarries --- p.31 / Chapter 1.6.4 --- Site specificity and representativeness --- p.33 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- Characterization of CDG on Site --- p.37 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Soil sampling --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Soil analysis --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3 --- Statistical analysis --- p.42 / Chapter 2.4 --- Results and discussion --- p.43 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Characterization and comparison of soil stock between two sites --- p.43 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Comparison between raw soil and grassed soil --- p.46 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Comparison among phases --- p.49 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Comparison with other studies --- p.56 / Chapter 2.4.5 --- Soil development in two quarries --- p.58 / Chapter 2.5 --- Conclusions --- p.59 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- Natives Performance in Revegetation on CDG - I. Common PlantationSpecies --- p.61 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.61 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.64 / Chapter 3.3 --- Statistical analysis --- p.66 / Chapter 3.4 --- Results and discussion --- p.68 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Height and basal diameter at the beginning of study --- p.68 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Relative growth rates of different ages --- p.72 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Comparison between sites --- p.84 / Chapter 3.5 --- Conclusions --- p.89 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- Natives Performance in Revegetation on CDG ´ؤ II. the Neglected Species --- p.91 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.91 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Seed dispersal and rehabilitation --- p.91 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Conservation and rehabilitation --- p.92 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Framework species --- p.93 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.95 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Species selection --- p.95 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Planting area --- p.97 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Planting scheme --- p.97 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Planting protocol --- p.100 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Field measurements --- p.102 / Chapter 4.3 --- Statistical analysis --- p.106 / Chapter 4.4 --- Results and discussion --- p.107 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- General performance of the planted species --- p.107 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- General inter-specific comparison --- p.116 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Effect of aspect on seedling performance --- p.120 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Effect of elevation on seedling performance --- p.140 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Overall species evaluation --- p.147 / Chapter 4.5 --- Conclusions --- p.151 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- Further Exploration of Other Potential Pioneer Natives --- p.153 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.153 / Chapter 5.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.155 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.156 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Inter-site comparison --- p.161 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Inter-phase comparison --- p.163 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Ranking of species --- p.171 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Invaders for exploration --- p.171 / Chapter 5.4 --- Conclusions --- p.177 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- Performance of Five Natives under Different N:P Combinations --- p.180 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.180 / Chapter 6.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.181 / Chapter 6.3 --- Statistical analysis --- p.185 / Chapter 6.4 --- Results and discussion --- p.186 / Chapter 6.4.1 --- Height --- p.186 / Chapter 6.4.2 --- Basal diameter --- p.193 / Chapter 6.4.3 --- Leaf number --- p.200 / Chapter 6.4.4 --- Total dry weight --- p.200 / Chapter 6.4.5 --- Aerial and underground dry weight --- p.202 / Chapter 6.4.6 --- "Chlorophyll florescence, stomatal conductance and transpiration" --- p.207 / Chapter 6.4.7 --- General species performance in treatments --- p.214 / Chapter 6.4.8 --- Comparison with seedling performance in field trial --- p.215 / Chapter 6.5 --- Conclusions --- p.216 / Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- General Conclusions --- p.217 / REFERENCES --- p.223 / APPENDIX I --- p.234 / APPENDIX II --- p.235 / APPENDIX III --- p.237 / APPENDIX IV --- p.238 / APPENDIX V --- p.241 / APPENDIX VI --- p.242

Ecological changes in soil covers were studied in terms of physical, chemical and biological properties in the three quarries. Results show that all soils were classified as sand loam in texture, and high bulk density and low total porosity were common problems. Soils were strongly acidic to moderately acidic in reaction. Organic C, total N, extractable NO3 - and extractable cations increased with increasing rehabilitation age, but others did not show similar trends. The results of mineral N flux in soil show that ammonification predominated over nitrification in TH and LT, while nitrification predominated in SO in wet season. In dry season, ammonification predominated over nitrification in all phases, except TH. Net N mineralization increased with age. The results of soil microbial study show that older sites had the highest total microbial abundance and biomass C and N, while those in younger sites were low. Metabolic abilities of soil microbes developed gradually with ages in SO, but TH and LT had the similar patterns of carbon source utilization. The group of G- bacteria dominated in all sites, in which cy19:0 represented more than 15% of the total extracted FAMEs. The group of fungi and AM fungi decreased with increasing ages in the three quarries. / Lacks of seed rain and seed bank were major factors limiting vegetation regeneration. Physical and chemical problems of cover soils are still severe even after 10 years of rehabilitation. Therefore, adding native species with fleshy fruits to attract birds, and leguminous species to assist in the buildup of nitrogen capital should be recommended. Application of organic composts should be considered by quarry contractors and managers during early rehabilitation period to improve soil structure and raise nutrient storage capacities. / To evaluate the ecological succession in the floristic composition and structure of closed quarries, studies of the current vegetation development and seed dynamics were carried out in the three quarries, namely Turret Hill Quarry (TH), Lam Tei Quarry (LT) and Shek O Quarry (SO). The floristic composition shows that the species richness and Shannon index were higher on older phases than other younger phases in the overstorey and understorey vegetation. Although planted exotic species dominated the overstorey at different phases, some native species became more dominant in the understorey, and the importance value of native species accounted for more than 50%. Seed rain results show that older sites had higher seed number and seed species than younger sites. In terms of number of seeds, half were dispersed by birds, while 23% and 27% were dispersed by wind and civets, respectively. Seed germination experiment shows that most species from all twelve woody species had higher germination in SO, though most emerging seedlings finally died under the field condition. In the soil seed bank study, high seed species and density were recorded on older sites. Non-woody species predominated on all phases of the three quarries, but some pioneer tree and shrub species were better represented on older sites. / Zhang, Hao. / Adviser: L.M. Chu. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-02, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 238-280). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

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published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Landscape Architecture

Molluscan succession was studied in 18 abandoned limestone quarries of different age in Bohemian Karst. The number of species in studied quarries increases in the time. The less species were found in the oldest quarries. This trend was probably caused by habitat diversity decline although it is not conclusive. The best predictors of mollusk species composition are type of surrounding vegetation, light and the cover of tree layer. It is important to take into account correlations of the other environmental variables with light and the cover of tree layer. Compositions of mollusk assemblages of north and south-facing slopes differ, but these differences diminish with ongoing succession. Quarries represent suitable model sites for the study of succession.

Pedreiras se destacam pela intensa relação com as comunidades situadas em seu entorno, uma vez que a proximidade aos centros consumidores configura importante vantagem competitiva, por possibilitar uma redução nos custos de transporte. Essa proximidade, entretanto, também intensifica os impactos ambientais percebidos pela população. Dentre os impactos ambientais negativos destaca-se o ruído, gerado pela maior parte das atividades desenvolvidas em pedreiras. Um adequado prognóstico dos níveis de pressão sonora, durante a fase de licenciamento ambiental, permite minimizar o número de moradores expostos a esse incômodo. Um programa de monitoramento dos níveis de ruído constitui também uma ferramenta para indicar em quais locais do entorno as comunidades podem estar expostas a níveis de pressão sonora superiores aos padrões normativos. Para realizar um prognóstico dos níveis de ruído parte-se da potência sonora dos equipamentos. Esta informação, entretanto, não está disponível para a maior parte dos equipamentos utilizados em pedreiras. Para o prognóstico dos níveis de ruído existem pacotes de software revendidos pelos principais fabricantes de sonômetros que, entretanto, possuem preços elevados, além de não possuírem um banco de dados com potências sonoras para equipamentos de pedreiras. Dessa forma, são raros os estudos ambientais em pedreiras que contam com um adequado prognóstico ambiental de ruído. Neste estudo foram selecionadas três pedreiras de pequeno, médio e grande porte para levantamentos de campo. Os três empreendimentos mineiros apresentam conflitos com as comunidades relacionados com o ruído. Por meio de medições de níveis de pressão e de intensidade sonoras, foram determinados os níveis de potências sonoras de equipamentos empregados na lavra e na britagem para essas três pedreiras. Existem na bibliografia diversos modelos de atenuação do ruído com a distância, incorporando fatores como barreiras, reflexões no solo, presença de vegetação, absorção pelo ar, parâmetros meteorológicos, entre outros. Estes modelos variam em complexidade, em quantidade de informações de entrada necessárias e em precisão. Foram comparados os resultados de três modelos: o modelo que considera apenas a divergência geométrica das ondas sonoras, o modelo da OCMA (Oil Companies Materials Association) e o modelo da norma ISO 9613. O modelo da norma ISO 9613, mais complexo, requer mais dados de entrada, mas fornece, por outro lado, resultados consideravelmente mais precisos que os outros dois modelos. Desenvolveu-se um software, denominado PROGNOISE, baseado na norma ISO 9613, que representa uma alternativa gratuita aos softwares comerciais e que, em conjunto com as potências sonoras das máquinas e equipamentos determinadas neste trabalho, formam uma ferramenta acessível para o prognóstico do ruído ambiental em pedreiras. / Quarries stand out by the intense elationship with communities located in its surroundings. The proximity of these mines to consumer centers constitutes an important competitive advantage, allowing a reduction in transportation costs. This proximity, however, also intensifies the environmental impacts perceived by the population. Among the negative environmental impacts, we can highlight noise generated by most activities in quarries. A proper prognosis of sound pressure levels during the environmental licensing phase minimizes the number of residents exposed to this nuisance, providing indication of areas where high levels are expected and required to be incorporated into the boundaries of the enterprise, the locations indicated for deployment of the processing facilities aiming at smaller spread of noise for residential areas, or indicating locations for implementation of noise barriers. An environmental noise monitoring program is also a tool to indicate locations in the surrounding communities that may be exposed to sound pressure levels exceeding the regulatory standards. A forecast of noise levels starts with the sound power of equipment. This information, however, is not available for most of the equipment used in quarries. There are software packages resold by leading sound level meter manufacturers for prognosis of noise levels, which, however, have high prices, in addition to not having a sound power database for quarries. In this way, only few environmental studies for quarries have a proper environmental noise prognosis. In this study, we selected three quarries for field surveys: small, medium and large sized. These three quarries are facing noise conflicts with the community. The sound power levels of the main mining equipment used in quarries were determined through sound pressure levels. There are several noise forecasting models in the bibliography, incorporating factors such as barriers, reflections on the ground, presence of vegetation, air absorption and meteorological conditions, among others. These models vary in complexity, in amount of necessary input information, and precision. The results of three models were compared: a simple model considering only the geometric divergence of sound waves, the OCMA (Oil Companies Materials Association) model and the ISO 9613 standard model. While the ISO 9613 standard model requires more input data and is more complex, it provides on the other hand considerably more accurate results than the other two models. A software, called PROGNOISE, was developed based on the ISO 9613 standard, which represents a free alternative to commercial software and, together with the sound power of the machines and equipment determined in this study, form an accessible tool for the prognosis of environmental noise in quarries.