Consistent patterns of variation in macrobenthic assemblages and environmental variables over multiple spatial scales using taxonomic and functional approaches

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2016

Authors

Veiga, P (Author) Other; Torres, AC (Author) Other; Aneiros, F (Author) Other; Isabel Sousa Pinto (Author) FCUP; Troncoso, JS (Author) Other; M Rubal (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Marine Environmental Research

Vol. 120

Pages: 191-201

ISSN: 0141-1136

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 17 Citations

Scopus - 20 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-V08

DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2016.08.011

Abstract (EN): Spatial variability of environmental factors and macrobenthos, using species and functional groups, was examined over the same scales (100s of cm to >100 km) in intertidal sediments of two transitional water systems. The objectives were to test if functional groups were a good species surrogate and explore the relationship between environmental variables and macrobenthos. Environmental variables, diversity and the multivariate assemblage structure showed the highest variability at the scale of 10s of km. However, abundance was more variable at 10s of m. Consistent patterns were achieved using species and functional groups therefore, these may be a good species surrogate. Total carbon, salinity and silt/clay were the strongest correlated with macrobenthic assemblages. Results are valuable for design and interpretation of future monitoring programs including detection of anthropogenic disturbances in transitional systems and propose improvements in environmental variable sampling to refine the assessment of their relationship with biological data across spatial scales.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11