Results of multivariate multiple regression analyses (distLM) using data from: (a) all estuaries, (b) estuaries with a median sediment grain size of <250 µm and (c) estuaries with a median grain size of >250 µm.

Prop. = the proportion of variance in the macrofaunal community structure explained by each environmental variable. Prop. BEST = the proportion of variance explained by the variables selected as the key environmental drivers using the BEST procedure (AICc selection criterion). Significant (pperm <0.05) predictor variables are in bold. Macrofaunal data were log(x +1) transformed prior to analysis. Abbreviations: TN flux = flux of total nitrogen, TN ratio = ratio of total nitrogen loading pre-European settlement to present. In order to achieve approximate normally distribution, data were (a) square root, (b) log and (c) 4th root transformed.