benthos (version 1.3-9)

read_iti: Read and Validate Infaunal Trophic Index Files

Description

This function reads and checks files containing Infaunal Trophic Index (ITI) data (Gittenberger & Van Loon, 2013)

Usage

read_iti(filename)
validate_iti(.data)

Value

A data frame with columns TAXON containing taxa and

GROUP containing user-defined ITI-groups (see Gittenberger & Van Loon, 2013).

Arguments

filename

name of the ITI file (character).

.data

table in ITI-format

Functions

• validate_iti(): validator for ITI-format

Details

The function performs the following tasks:

• checks the existence of filename;

• checks availability of required columns (case insensitive), i.e., TAXON and GROUP;

• removes redundant spaces;

• removes duplicated records;

• checks if all ITI classes are I, II, III, or IV

The column 'GROUP' contains the Roman numerals I, II, III, and IV, with the following meaning:

I:

suspension feeders;

II:

interface feeders;

III:

surface deposit feeders;

IV:

subsurface deposit feeders.

References

Gittenberger A. and W. van Loon, 2013. Sensitivities of marine macrozoobenthos to environmental pressures in the Netherlands. Nederlandse Faunistische Mededelingen 41: 79-112.