Comparison of univariate and multivariate aspects of estuarine meiobenthic community structure

摘要: In a survey of ten sites in the Tamar estuary January 1984, spatial variability species composition and structure nematode copepod assemblages was greater between over range 1–3 km than replicates at same site. Two aspects meiofauna community were studied: (1) multivariate information: identities or feeding types are retained used integrally with data on abundances during comparison using analyses [multidimensional scaling ordination (MDS)] (2) univariate taxonomic identity is not comparisons assemblage structure; analyzed includes numberical abundances, counts diversity. Multivariate closely correlated salinity for both copepods nematodes. For sediment disturbance may also have been important other unidentified factors clear secondary effects structure. Univariate did appear to be gradient Tamar, mouth head had more even distribution those middle reaches. Nematode strongly influenced by caused hydrographic processes, macrofauna, food resource availability some combination all three. Copepod numbers variable but became dominated less diverse increasing distance away from estuary. Data 1984 compared 1982 collected three Warwick Gee (1984). Persistence varied site according attribute under consideration.