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Species Transect 20m 80m 100m 150m 230m 250m
P. elegans 1 Yes
C. edule 1 Yes
2 Yes Yes Yes
3 Yes Yes Yes
4 Yes Yes
C. capitata n/s
N. hombergii 3 Yes
E. cfflava 1 Yes
B. sarsi n/s
Table 2.1: Scales of variability found to be statistically significant using One-way
ANOVA with a Tukey multiple comparison test at 5% level of significance for P.
elegans, C. capitata and C. edule on log(x+1)-transformed data and Kruskal-Wallis on
the raw abundance data for E. cfflava, M. balthica and B. sarsi with post hoc Tukey
test. 'Yes' indicates statistical significance and n/s represents not significant at any
scale for all transects.
The results of the sediment organic content and granulometric analyses are presented
in Figures 2.4(i-iv) showing the % silt/clay, % organics, Md phi and the sorting
coefficient values for each plot along transects 1-4. Due to different sampling
protocols and to the random positioning of sediment cores within plots rather than
within faunal cores, correlation analysis between sediment properties and faunal
abundances cannot be unequivocally carried out. These results, however, do suggest
that there were no distinct patches or definite gradient in the environmental variables
measured within the study area. Although the values did vary along and between
transects it is not possible to assess whether these are significant differences without
replication. The sediments of the study site have silt/clay contents of 0.50-2.89%;
organic carbon contents of 0.95-2.08%; Md phi of 2.57-2.89 (fine sand) and sorting
coefficients of between 0.52-0.80 (moderately sorted to moderately well-sorted).
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