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Elsevier, Marine Environmental Research, 5(60), p. 570-593

DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2005.04.002

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Benthic biotope index for classifying habitats in the Sado Estuary: Portugal.

Journal article published in 2005 by S. Caeiro ORCID, M. H. Costa, P. Goovaerts, F. Martins
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

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Abstract

An integration of sediment physical, chemical, biological, and toxicity data is necessary for a meaningful interpretation of the complex sediment conditions in the marine environment. Assessment of benthic community is a vital component for that interpretation, yet their evaluation is complex and requires a large expenditure of time and funds. Thus, there is a need for new tools that are less expensive and more understandable for managers. This paper presents a benthic biotope index to predict from physical and chemical variables the occurrence of macrobenthic habitats. Parameters such as sediment type, organic matter, depth, and hydrodynamic parameters were selected, through a discriminant analysis, to compute the index. Other authors have used multivariate methods to determine the benthic biotopes for Sado Estuary. The index proved to be a valid tool to classify and assess the spatial patterns of benthic habitat and to synthesize stress biotope gradients.