title: Relationship between macrobenthos and physical habitat characters in tidal flat in eastern Seto Inland Sea, Japan.
abstract: The investigations were carried out at 6 tidal flats located on the eastern part of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. This study was focused on physical characteristics of sediments, namely as particle size of sediment and difference in elevation, and generalizes the relationship between sediments and macrobenthos. A total of 192 species were collected at 187 stations at 6 tidal flats. Physical characteristics of sediment were classified into 9 groups by cluster analysis in relation to sediment particle size and difference in elevation. Those groups had also significant difference in physical characteristics of sediments, and were characterized by some specific macrobenthos species. Distribution of macrobenthos can be explained by the classification of physical characteristics of sediment. These findings show the possibility to predict the variety of macrobenthos community using the physical characteristics of sediment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecosystem Engineering, College of Earth and Life Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Advanced Technology and Science, The University of Tokushima, 2-1 Minamijosanjima-cho, Tokushima, Japan. tanisou@eco.tokushima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Sosuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Otani
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kozuki
authors.forename: Kengo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurata
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Shigefumi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakai
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murakami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D017753:Ecosystem; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D007564:Japan; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010316:Particle Size; D014872:Water Movements