Figure 5. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (MDS) for all possible replicates and 3 replicates per site within the Paramuricea clavata (PCA) and Corallium rubrum (CRA) assemblages.

Each replicate corresponds to 8 contiguous quadrats, creating a sampling unit of 50×100 cm for PCA and 40×80 cm for CRA. Three studied regions of the NW Mediterranean are depicted by colors (dark blue  =  Corsica, green  =  Catalonia and light blue  =  Provence). See Table 1 for site abbreviations.