Caeiro, SandraCosta, Maria HelenaGoovaerts, PeterMarco, PainhoFlavio, Martins2011-12-192011-12-192005Caeiro, Sandra [et al.] - Benthic biotope index for classifying habitats in the sado estuary [Em linha]: Portugal. "Marine Environmental Research" [Em linha]. ISSN 0141-1136 (Print) 1879-0291 (Online). Vol. 60, nº 5 (2005), p. 570-5930141-11361879-0291http://hdl.handle.net/10400.2/2005An integration of sediment physical, chemical, biological, and toxicity data is necessary for a meaningful interpretation of the complex sediment conditions in the marine environment. Assessment of benthic community is a vital component for that interpretation, yet their evaluation is complex and requires a large expenditure of time and funds. Thus, there is a need for new tools that are less expensive and more understandable for managers. This paper presents a benthic biotope index to predict from physical and chemical variables the occurrence of macrobenthic habitats. Parameters such as sediment type, organic matter, depth, and hydrodynamic parameters were selected, through a discriminant analysis, to compute the index. Other authors have used multivariate methods to determine the benthic biotopes for Sado Estuary. The index proved to be a valid tool to classify and assess the spatial patterns of benthic habitat and to synthesize stress biotope gradients.engBenthic habitatBiotope gradientSediment quality assessmentindicator and IndicesPollution effectsEstuariesjournal article