Benthic communities of the inner Argolikos Bay

Benthic assemblages of the inner Argolikos Bay were investigated as an indi cation of the quality of the marine environment of the area. Samples were t aken with a Ponar grab at 5 and 10 m. The assemblages found corresponded to two communities of the infralittoral (SVMC and SFBC) and one of the circal ittoral (VTC). Communities of the two zones were clearly separated. The var iety of substrata offered by the presence of plants is the most probable ca use for the higher diversity found in the shallower stations. Although dive rsity is relatively high, the abundance of Capitella capitata and Levinseni a gracilis indicates that the shallow stations are moderately disturbed, pr obably due to organic loading.