Distribution maps of foraminiferal density (FD, n.°/g), Shannon Index (H’) values and percentage of the specie: <i>A</i>. <i>tepida</i>, <i>H</i>. <i>germanica</i>, <i>E</i>. <i>excavatum</i>, <i>T</i>. <i>inflata</i>, <i>P</i>. <i>mediterranensis</i>, <i>E</i>. <i>margaritaceum</i> and <i>Q</i>. <i>seminula</i>.

<p>Legend: OvCh—Ovar Channel, SJCH—São Jacinto Channel, MuCh—Murtosa Channel, EsCh—Espinheiro Channel, MiCh—Mira Channel.</p

Study area.

<p>The studied sites are labelled with numbers. Legend: OvCh—Ovar Channel, SJCH—São Jacinto Channel, MuCh—Murtosa Channel, EsCh—Espinheiro Channel, MiCh—Mira Channel.</p

Available concentrations (μg kg^-1) in the studied sites of: a) Zn, b) Pb, c) As, d) Cu and e) Hg, in the three mobile phases (S1, S2 and S3).

<p>Legend: OvCh—Ovar Channel, MuCh—Murtosa Channel, EsCh—Espinheiro Channel, AvC—Aveiro city canals, AvH—Aveiro Harbor</p

Distribution maps of: Pollution Load Index (PLI) values, total organic carbon (TOC, %) content, total concentrations of biopolymers (TBP, mg/g) and concentrations of proteins (PTN, mg/g), carbohydrates (CHO, mg/g) and lipids (LIP, mg/g).

<p>Legend: OvCh—Ovar Channel, SJCH—São Jacinto Channel, MuCh—Murtosa Channel, EsCh—Espinheiro Channel, MiCh—Mira Channel.</p

Total available concentrations (μg kg^-1) in the studied sites of toxic metals considered in this work.

<p>Legend: OvCh—Ovar Channel, MuCh—Murtosa Channel, EsCh—Espinheiro Channel, AvC—Aveiro city canals, AvH—Aveiro Harbor</p

DCA comparing the species distribution in each site with available concentrations of metals (μg.kg^-1), in three mobile phases, S1, S2 and S3 and total available concentrations (elements signed with 1, 2, 3 and T, respectively).

<p>Legend of the benthic foraminifera species: <i>A</i>. <i>tepida</i> (A.tepid), <i>A</i>. <i>balkwilli</i> (A.balkwi), <i>A</i>. <i>pseudospiralis</i> (A.pseudosp), <i>A</i>. <i>mexicana</i> (A.mexic), <i>B</i>. <i>ordinaria</i> (B.ordin), <i>B</i>. <i>pseudoplicata</i> (B.pseud), <i>B</i>. <i>elegantissima</i> (B.elegan), <i>C</i>. <i>ungerianus</i> (C.unger), <i>E</i>. <i>excavatum</i> (E.excav), <i>E</i>. <i>margaritaceum</i> (E. margar), <i>E</i>. <i>williamsoni</i> (E.william), <i>E</i>. <i>macrescens</i> (E.macres), <i>G</i>. <i>praegeri</i> (G.praeg), <i>H</i>. <i>manilaensis</i> (H.manil), <i>H</i>. <i>germanica</i> (H.german), <i>L</i>. <i>lobatula</i> (L.lobat), <i>M</i>. <i>fusca</i> (M.fusca), <i>P</i>. <i>mediterranensis</i> (P.mediter), <i>Q</i>. <i>seminula</i> (Q.semin), <i>S</i>. <i>lobata</i> (S.lobata), <i>T</i>. <i>comprimata</i> (T.compri), and <i>T</i>. <i>inflata</i> (T.inflata). The coefficients of variance for the axis 1 and for the axis 2 is indicated.</p