One interesting contrast was found between the different forms of chlorophyll. Although chlorophyll b (characteristic of green algae), contributed more strongly to variation among habitats in all bays (as discussed above), chlorophyll a contributed most to variation within each of the habitats. The latter is found in all algae, which suggests that other components of microphytobenthos (e.g. diatoms) may show most change at increasing spatial scales within some or all of these habitats. Identifying more precisely the forms and variation in different components of the microphytobenthos may identify relationships between benthos and sediment more clearly and is part of an ongoing programme of research.