Journal
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
Volume 129, Issue -, Pages 396-407Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.07.002
Keywords
Benthic ecology; Sediments; Macrobenthos; Community composition; Environmental variables; Coastal waters; Shallow sublittoral; Northeast Atlantic
Funding
- Polis Litoral Norte S.A. through the project Estudo de caracterizacao da actividade pesqueira costeira e dos seus impactes nos recursos e nas comunidades marinhas do Litoral Norte
- Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia [SFRH/BPD/81582/2011, SFRH/BDP/104225/2014]
- [UID/Multi/04423/2013]
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia [UID/Multi/04423/2013] Funding Source: FCT
Ask authors/readers for more resources
We establish baseline knowledge of abundance, diversity and multivariate structure of macrobenthos from shallow sublitoral soft bottoms in the North Portuguese coast and elucidate main environmental factors that shape their,spatial patterns. In this area distribution of soft bottoms is patchy, surrounded by boulders and rocky substrates. This particular landscape and the lack of significant anthropogenic disturbances are values for the conservation of this habitat. Sediment and physicochemical properties of the water column were studied to provide models for each studied macrobenthic variable. Our models highlighted that most of variation (59%-72%) in macrobenthic spatial patterns was explained by the studied environmental variables. Sedimentary variables were more relevant that those of the water column. Therefore, disturbances affecting sedimentary environment could cause dramatic changes in macrobenthic assemblages because of the limited availability of soft bottoms in the area. In this way, results are useful to adopt right management and conservation strategies. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available