ISSN:
1573-5117
Keywords:
macrobenthos
;
subtidal communities
;
long-term evolution
;
statistical analysis
;
West English Channel
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract Long term monitoring for eight years of the fine sand community from the bay of Morlaix has allowed the determination of the principal stages of its structural evolution. Principal component analysis on the general trends of 43 species has permitted the division of the chronological series into six successive periods. The rapid evolution of the community during the first four years after the Amoco Cadiz oil spill indicates a period of perturbation which is followed by a stabilisation of the macrobenthos. This evolution is a function of changes in direction in gradients within the populations. The resemblance metric and the dissimilarity correlograms were used after regrouping the species into six trophic groups. The Mantel test allowed measurement of the contrasts between equilibrium and restructuration periods. The extended variogram function showed different behaviour of trophic groups related to demographic strategies. The generalization of these methods in benthic studies should allow the comparison in space and time of the scale of the physical factors responsible for the observed phenomena.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00026757
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