Patterns of salinity regime in coastal lakes based on structure of benthic invertebrates.

ABSTRACT: The macrozoobenthic diversity patterns along a brackish-freshwater salinity gradient have been identified, considering effects of differences in the level of hydrological connection of coastal lakes with the sea on the structure of benthic invertebrate communities. The study is based on samples from six coastal lakes located along the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in Poland. The analysis of environmental and biological data confirmed the existence of stable phases (brackish water vs. freshwater), but as a result of periodical intrusion of seawater, adaptation of animal communities takes place, which was reflected in low values of the predictors describing them (number of taxa, density and diversity). Redundancy analysis indicates that values of conductivity and salinity are the major fa

SUBMITTER: Obolewski K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6257944 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature