Analysis of meiobenthic community structure in relation to pollution and disturbance in Iraklion Harbour, Greece

The community structure of meiobenthic nematodes and copepods was investigated in Iraklion harbour, Crete, in the south Aegean Sea. A grid of seventeen stations was sampled to cover the inner most polluted area to the outer comparatively clean harbour. Results indicate clear zonation of nematode communities according to proximity to pollutant (waste outfalls) and physical disturbance (from shipping). The copepod zonation was not as clear-cut although there was evidence of distinct changes in community structure from the inner to the outer harbour areas. Depth, organic carbon, copper and cadmium for nematodes, and copper for copepods showed the highest correlation between environmental variables and community structures in BIOENV analysis but these correlations were rather poor. It is concluded that because of low variability in concentrations between stations metal contamination is not likely to influence meiofaunal communities. Other factors, such as TBT, which are known to affect the meiofaunal community structure, could play a more important role.