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The results of correlation analyses between adult P. elegans abundances and those of
P. elegans new recruits, together with those of other species with mean abundances
greater than 1 per core, are presented in Table 7.3. The results suggest that in general,
P. elegans densities were not significantly correlated with those of any other species
(except a positive correlation with C. edule during July (replicate 3)). The non-
significant results obtained were supported by their scatter plots which indicated a
lack of correlation in each case. However, the results also suggest that there appeared
to be a significant positive correlation in the abundances of adult P. elegans adults
with the abundances of new recruits during June 1997 (replicates 1 and 2). These
significant correlations were supported by their scatter plots (not shown) and to a
certain extent by their density plots.
Sediment water, organic and silt/clay contents.
The density plots of the sediment variables % water, % silt/clay and % organic
contents for replicate transects 1-3 are presented in Figures 7.7(i-ix). All of these
variables produced significant correlograms (Figures 7.8(i-ix)) suggesting that they
were all spatially structured within P. elegans patches. Within replicate 1, the density
plots and autocorrelation analysis suggested that all 3 variables appeared spatially
correlated, forming patches up to 25cm across. In patch replicate 2, these variables
appeared less positively correlated and formed smaller patches, between 3-9cm.
Within replicate 3, % water and % organic contents appeared positively correlated,
forming patches between 3-9cm while % silt/clay content, which appeared less
correlated from the density plots, formed patches of approximately the same size.
Within none of the patches did the sediments contain patches of increased % water, %
silt/clay or % organic contents at the same scale (