Multiple discriminant analysis of macrobenthic infaunal assemblages

Multiple discriminant analysis is applied, in a general benthic survey, to correlate the animal associations with some measurements of physical and chemical variables. Four major macrobenthic assemblages are identified in the study area. In addition, species characterizing the various faunal groups are defined. The delineation of such animal assemblages is mainly due to the relative organic carbon content and the fine silt-clay fraction (positive graphic skewness) of the sediment, which is largely deposited in the sampling area by a river drainage. The application of multiple discriminant analysis to demonstrate such correlative relationships between biotic and abiotic variables in benthic studies is discussed.