A comparative study of Northern Ireland's estuaries based on the results of beam trawl fish surveys

A global assessment of fish estuary associations: A numerical approach to assessing estuary‐associated fish functional guilds

“…This multi‐method approach has been used in several studies (e.g. Coates et al., 2007; Connor et al., 2019; Harrison et al., 2017; Harrison & Whitfield, 1995, 2008) and is recognized as an example of European Best Practice in the field (Elliott & Hemingway, 2002).…”

“…A functional analysis of estuary fish communities in relation to different estuary types was investigated in subtropical South African estuaries (Harrison & Whitfield, 2008), warm‐temperate estuaries in south‐western Australia (Tweedley et al., 2016), and cold‐temperate estuaries in Northern Ireland (Harrison et al., 2017).…”

“…Harrison et al., (2017) identified four estuary groups in Northern Ireland based on variations in their physico‐chemical attributes. These groupings followed a broad geographical pattern where estuaries on the north‐west coast were separate from those on the south‐east coast.…”

“…These groupings followed a broad geographical pattern where estuaries on the north‐west coast were separate from those on the south‐east coast. The estuaries on the north‐west coast could be further sub‐divided based on size (Harrison et al., 2017). A significant link between the estuary types and their fish communities was reported where each estuary group contained a somewhat distinctive fish community.…”