Table 2. Summary of results from the biota-environment (BIOENV) analysis in the Thames estuary.

No. of variables	Correlation	Environmental variables
(a)
3	0.689	D10, % fine sand, mean salinity range
2	0.672	% Fine sand, mean salinity range
2	0.667	D10, % fine sand
4	0.665	Peak velocity, D10, % fine sand, mean salinity range
3	0.659	% Fine sand, % coarse sand, mean salinity range
4	0.659	Peak bed shear stress, D10, % fine sand, mean salinity range
4	0.655	D10, % fine sand, % medium sand, mean salinity range
5	0.654	Peak velocity, D10, % fine sand, % medium sand, mean salinity range
5	0.649	D10, % fine sand, % medium sand, % gravel, mean salinity range
6	0.648	Peak velocity, D10, % fine sand, % medium sand, % gravel, mean salinity range
(b)
4	0.702	D10, % fine sand, mean salinity range, macrofauna species richness
5	0.697	D10, % fine sand, % medium sand, mean salinity range, macrofauna species richness
6	0.685	Peak velocity, D10, % fine sand, % medium sand, mean salinity range, macrofauna species richness
6	0.683	D10, % fine sand, % medium sand, % coarse sand, mean salinity range, macrofauna species richness
5	0.680	Peak velocity, D10, % fine sand, mean salinity range, macrofauna species richness
5	0.677	D10, % fine sand, % coarse sand, mean salinity range, macrofauna species richness
5	0.676	D50, % clay, % fine sand, % medium sand, mean salinity range, macrofauna species richness
3	0.676	D10, % fine sand, mean salinity range
6	0.675	Peak bed shear stress, D10, % fine sand, % medium sand, mean salinity range, macrofauna species richness
5	0.675	Peak bed shear stress, D10, % fine sand, mean salinity range, macrofauna species richness

Abbreviation: D10 and D50, particle diameter at 10% and 50% in the cumulative distribution of grain sizes.

(a) All stations included, macrofauna data not included. (b) Cadogan Pier (CP), Kew (K) and London Bridge (LB) sites excluded, macrofauna data included.

Correlation values correspond to Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (ρ).