title: Consistent patterns of variation in macrobenthic assemblages and environmental variables over multiple spatial scales using taxonomic and functional approaches.
abstract: 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.
authors: Laboratory of Coastal Biodiversity, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n 4150-181 Porto, Portugal; Estación de Bioloxía Mariña da Graña, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Casa do Hórreo, Rúa da Ribeira 1, 15590, A Graña, Ferrol, Spain. Electronic address: puri.sanchez@fc.up.pt.
authors: Puri
authors: P
authors: Veiga
authors: Laboratory of Coastal Biodiversity, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n 4150-181 Porto, Portugal.
authors: Ana Catarina
authors: AC
authors: Torres
authors: Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal, Facultade de Ciencias do Mar, Universidade de Vigo, Campus Universitario Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Spain; ECIMAT, Estación de Ciencias Mariñas de Toralla, Universidade de Vigo, Illa de Toralla, 36331 Vigo, Spain.
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Aneiros
authors: Laboratory of Coastal Biodiversity, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n 4150-181 Porto, Portugal.
authors: Isabel
authors: I
authors: Sousa-Pinto
authors: Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal, Facultade de Ciencias do Mar, Universidade de Vigo, Campus Universitario Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Spain; ECIMAT, Estación de Ciencias Mariñas de Toralla, Universidade de Vigo, Illa de Toralla, 36331 Vigo, Spain.
authors: Jesús S
authors: JS
authors: Troncoso
authors: Laboratory of Coastal Biodiversity, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n 4150-181 Porto, Portugal; Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal, Facultade de Ciencias do Mar, Universidade de Vigo, Campus Universitario Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Spain.
authors: Marcos
authors: M
authors: Rubal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D044822:Biodiversity; D002965:Classification; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Benthic ecology; Environmental variables; Functional groups; Macrobenthic assemblages; Nested design; Northeast Atlantic coast; Spatial scale; Taxonomic composition; Transitional water systems; Variability