Meiobenthic communities structure at different spatial scales on sandy beaches from a ria environment: The role of abiotic factors
Veiga, P.; Besteiro, C.; Rubal, M. (2011). Meiobenthic communities structure at different spatial scales on sandy beaches from a ria environment: The role of abiotic factors. Mar. Biol. Res. 7(5): 425-435. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17451000.2010.527987
In: Marine Biology Research. Taylor & Francis: Oslo; Basingstoke. ISSN 1745-1000; e-ISSN 1745-1019, more
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| Keywords |
Analysis > Mathematical analysis > Statistical analysis > Variance analysis > Multivariate analysis
Aquatic communities > Benthos > Meiobenthos
Rias
Sandy beaches
Water bodies > Coastal waters > Coastal landforms > Coastal inlets > Estuaries
Brackish water |
| Author keywords |
Estuary-ria environment; meiobenthos; multivariate analysis; sandybeaches; spatial scales |
| Authors | | Top |
- Veiga, P.
- Besteiro, C.
- Rubal, M.
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| Abstract |
This work aimed to study meiobenthic communities at different spatial scales in a Galician estuary–ria (NW Spain), elucidating the role of abiotic factors on their structure. Rias are transitional environments with brackish habitats on their inner part and fully marine environments in the outer area, and Galician estuarine–rias are very productive habitats due to upwelling events. Results showed that meiobenthic communities from estuarine–ria beaches, even in the range of other temperate beaches not in rias, reported high number of taxa and density values probably due to the highest primary production associated with estuarine–ria environment. Meiobenthic community variability increased as the scale widens, showing significant differences among almost all the studied beaches. Selected environmental variables were, in general, useful for explaining the variability of the main taxa. Meiobenthic community structures for beaches with different exposure and distances from the inner part of the estuary. |
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