The use of the log-normal distribution of individuals among species in monitoring zoobenthos in the northern Baltic archipelago

The log-normal distribution of individuals among species of shallow, brackish water benthos is compared to other, more commonly used methods. This method, the use of which was introduced in marine monitoring in 1979, has not previously been tested on macrobenthos of the northern Baltic Sea. The relevance of other indices are discussed in relation to the log-normal distribution. Based on samples from three localities (soft littoral benthos, soft bottom benthos and sand bottom benthos) it is shown that the log-normal distribution could well be used as an important tool in interpreting benthic data sets from low-saline waters with few macrozoobenthic species. It illustrates natural and anthropogenic changes on the zoobenthic communities more adequately than the other parameters calculated.