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One Step forward: Benthic Pelagic Coupling and Indicators for Environmental Status |
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| Authors: | Panagiotis D Dimitriou Nafsika Papageorgiou Christos Arvanitidis Georgia Assimakopoulou Kalliopi Pagou Konstantia N Papadopoulou Alexandra Pavlidou Paraskevi Pitta Sofia Reizopoulou Nomiki Simboura Ioannis Karakassis |
| Institution: | 1. University of Crete, Biology Department, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.; 2. Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 71013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.; 3. Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece.; Auckland University of Technology, NEW ZEALAND, |
| Abstract: | A large data set from the Eastern Mediterranean was analyzed to explore the relationship between seawater column variables and benthic community status. Our results showed a strong quantitative link between the seawater column variables (Chlorophyll a and Eutrophication Index) and various indicators describing benthic diversity and community composition. The percentage of benthic opportunistic species increased significantly in the stations with high trophic status of the seawater column and so did the strength of the coupling between values of seawater column and benthic indicators. The Eutrophication Index threshold level of 0.85, separating the “Bad and Poor” from “Moderate to High” conditions could serve as an acceptable critical value above which there is a readily observable change in benthic community composition. |
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