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Evaluation Of Long Term Changes In The Macrobenthic Community Of The Southern Branch Of The Elizabeth River, Virginia, William S. Hunley
Evaluation Of Long Term Changes In The Macrobenthic Community Of The Southern Branch Of The Elizabeth River, Virginia, William S. Hunley
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
Long-term changes in the macrobenthos of the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River, Virginia were investigated by comparing the present study of community structure with that described ten years earlier by Hawthorne (1980). The results indicated that dominant organisms remained relatively constant in composition but exhibited considerable fluctuation in density. Differences in diversity and spatial distribution of fauna were also observed relative to the previous decade.
Multivariate statistical analyses indicated the macrobenthos exhibited significant spatial and seasonal patterns. Sediments characterized as silts and clays predominated down river while sandier sediment types were most common farther upriver. The spatial distributions of …