| The spatial and temporal variations of the polychaete assemblages were studied within and off a shallow (10-25 m) tropical bay (Bahía de Portete). The polychaete abundances at family level and their trophic mechanisms were used for this purpose. Sediment samples were collected at six stations in this bay during the wet and dry seasons. Multivariate analysis indicated that off- Bay polychaete assemblages were different from the bay ones; this spatial variation was related to sedimentary characteristics, depth and turbid-water conditions. On the other hand, these assemblages did not show significant differences between the dry and wet seasons. The differences between these two assemblages were given specially by the Syllidae, Gonidadidae, Nephtyidae,... |
