One step forward: benthic pelagic coupling and indicators for good environmental status

A large data set from the Eastern Mediterranean was analyzed to explore the relationship between water column variables and benthic community status. Our results showed a strong quantitative link between the water 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 water column and so did the strength of the coupling between values of water 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.

This dataset includes enviromental variables and indicators form the water column and bethos form different areas in the Aegean Sea.