Abstract:
The objectives of this survey were to describe the distribution of benthic communities and environmental parameters in Bangpakong Estuary, Chon Buri province. This survey was conducted during June 2003 and May 2004.A total of 82 taxa belonging to 5 groups were; Polycheata (57.05%), Crustacea (31.12%), Bivalvia (7.98%), Gastropoda (1.76%) and others (2.09%). The result based on Principle Component Analysis (PCA) ordination through variance/convariance implemented in PC-ORD suggested that the distribution of benthos was influenced by irrigation canals from Bangpakong River. It was possible to distinguish the benthic comunities into 2 assemblages. The first assemblage covered stations along the distance from the Bangpakong River mouth during wet season and all stations in dry season. The second assemblage covered stations approaching Bangpakong River mouth during wet season. The abundance and biomass of benthos did not have significant relationship with chlorphyll a and phaeopigment a in surface water, suspended solids in bottom water, medium sand and coarse sand (p<0.05). However, the abundance and biomass of Polycheata had a negative relationship with turbidity. The abundance of Polycheata had a positive relationship with salinity transparency and total dissolved solids in water. The abundance and biomass of Crustacea had a positive relationship with salinity conductivity and total dissolved solids in water. And the abundance of Bivalvia has a positive relationship with suspended solids in surface water and a negative relationship with chlorophyll a in bottom water (p<0.05).