A satisfactory
classification was observed for all the cases (total seaweed
samples and differentiating the three zones) with percentages of
correct classification near or higher than 80% except green
seaweed for the total and zone C. The best classifications were
found for the red seaweed samples, while the green seaweed
samples were less specific and, therefore, they were overlapped
with other types of seaweed. After application of the stepwise DA to all the data a high percentage(80.8% of seaweed samples; 76.7% after cross-validation)
of correct classification was obtained when selecting the K, Ca, Mg and Fe variables. When the values of the two discriminant functions were represented, a clear tendency to the differentiation of the seaweed samples according to the type of seaweed,particularly the red seaweed samples, was observed (Fig. 4)