Assessing the relationship between multivariate community structure and environmental variables

Clarke & Ainsworth's (1993; Mar Ecol Prog Ser 92:205-219) method of linking multivanate community structure to environmental variables possesses a n heuristic and conceptual interest. However, we believe that there are other strategies which require less computational effort and also p e r m ~ t a n accurate statistical test of the relationship between multivariate community structure and environmental variables. The objective of this communication is to discuss some of these many strategies, emphasizing the flexib~lity of Mantel test design for this task.