Effects of parent material on soil characteristics and vegetation development on fire-affected sites in Hong Kong.

Abstract

Chan Wing Kan.Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 158-173).Abstracts in English and Chinese.ABSTRACT --- p.iABSTRACT (CHINESE) --- p.iiiACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.ivTABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.viLIST OF TABLES --- p.ixLIST OF FIGURES --- p.xiLIST OF APPENDICES --- p.xiiiChapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1Chapter 1.2 --- The Problems --- p.2Chapter 1.3 --- Conceptual Framework --- p.5Chapter 1.4 --- Objectives of the Study --- p.9Chapter 1.5 --- Significance and Scope of Study --- p.10Chapter 1.6 --- Organization of the Thesis --- p.11Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- STUDY AREAS --- p.13Chapter 2.1 --- Geographical Setting of Hong Kong --- p.13Chapter 2.1.1 --- Climate --- p.13Chapter 2.1.2 --- Geology --- p.15Chapter 2.1.3 --- Soil --- p.16Chapter 2.1.4 --- Vegetation --- p.16Chapter 2.2 --- Site Selection --- p.17Chapter 2.3 --- Site Description --- p.22Chapter 2.3.1 --- Tai Mo Shan --- p.22Chapter 2.3.2 --- Wu Kau Tang --- p.23Chapter 2.3.3 --- Tai Lam --- p.24Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- EFFECTS OF PARENT MATERIAL ON SOIL CHARACTERISTICS ON FIRE-AFFECTED SITES --- p.25Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.25Chapter 3.2 --- Methodology --- p.30Chapter 3.2.1 --- Soil Sampling --- p.30Chapter 3.2.2 --- Sample Preparation --- p.30Chapter 3.2.3 --- Soil Texture --- p.31Chapter 3.2.4 --- Soil Reaction --- p.31Chapter 3.2.5 --- Total Exchangeable Acidity --- p.31Chapter 3.2.6 --- Organic Carbon --- p.32Chapter 3.2.7 --- Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) --- p.32Chapter 3.2.8 --- Mineral Nitrogen (N03-N and NH4-N) --- p.33Chapter 3.2.9 --- Total Phosphorus --- p.33Chapter 3.2.10 --- Available Phosphorus (PO4-P) --- p.34Chapter 3.2.11 --- "Exchangeable Cations (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn)" --- p.34Chapter 3.3 --- Data Processing and Statistical Analysis --- p.34Chapter 3.4 --- Results and Discussion --- p.36Chapter 3.4.1 --- Soil Texture --- p.36Chapter 3.4.2 --- Soil Reaction --- p.38Chapter 3.4.3 --- Total Exchangeable Acidity (TEA) --- p.42Chapter 3.4.4 --- Soil Organic Matter (SOM) --- p.44Chapter 3.4.5 --- Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) --- p.47Chapter 3.4.6 --- The Carbon: Nitrogen Ratio (C: N Ratio) --- p.49Chapter 3.4.7 --- Mineral Nitrogen --- p.51Chapter 3.4.8 --- Soil Total and Available Phosphorus --- p.55Chapter 3.4.9 --- Soil Exchangeable Cations --- p.59Chapter 3.4.10 --- Effective Cation Exchange Capacity and Base Saturation --- p.67Chapter 3.4.11 --- Soil Trace Elements --- p.71Chapter 3.5 --- Conclusion --- p.77Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- EFFECTS OF PARENT MATERIAL ON VEGETATION DEVELOPMENT ON FIRE-AFFECTED SITES --- p.81Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.81Chapter 4.2 --- Methodology --- p.87Chapter 4.2.1 --- Field Survey --- p.87Chapter 4.2.2 --- Nomenclature --- p.87Chapter 4.3 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.88Chapter 4.3.1 --- Floristic Analysis and Indices --- p.88Chapter 4.3.2 --- Ordination --- p.89Chapter 4.3.3 --- Classification --- p.90Chapter 4.4 --- Results and Discussion --- p.92Chapter 4.4.1 --- Overall Floristic Characteristics --- p.92Chapter 4.4.2 --- The Effects of Parent Materials on Vegetation Communities --- p.101Chapter 4.4.2.1 --- Floristic Characteristics of individual site --- p.101Chapter 4.4.2.2 --- Ecological Indices --- p.105Chapter 4.4.2.3 --- Ordination (Detrended Correspondence Analysis) --- p.108Chapter 4.4.2.4 --- Two Way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN) --- p.114Chapter 4.5 --- Conclusion --- p.125Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- INTEGRATED DISCUSSION --- p.128Chapter 5.1 --- Nature of Disturbance --- p.128Chapter 5.2 --- Site Characteristics --- p.134Chapter 5.3 --- Rate of Vegetation Regeneration --- p.136Chapter 5.4 --- Species Selection --- p.141Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- CONCLUSION --- p.150Chapter 6.1 --- Summary of Findings --- p.150Chapter 6.1.1 --- Soil Properties --- p.150Chapter 6.1.2 --- Vegetation Regeneration --- p.153Chapter 6.2 --- Limitation of the Study --- p.154Chapter 6.3 --- Suggestion for Future Study --- p.156REFERENCES --- p.158APPENDIX --- p.17