## Results and Discussion
### Ecological Profiles of the Different Areas: Cluster Analysis  
According to the analysis by hierarchical clusters, the ecological profiles of the sampled areas can be grouped into four clusters, although only two of them are relevant. The first cluster was composed of areas 13 (sink), 5 (storage cabinet for tools), 9 (slicer B), 3 (sump in the slicing room), and 4 (carcasses airing room floor). The distance between these areas is short, so their ecological profiles can be considered as similar (Figure 2). The second main cluster is made up of areas 6 (work room floor), 7 (fresh meat carts cleaning room floor), and 10 (Iberian sausage transportation carts). The areas 8 (cured meat carts cleaning room floor) and 2 (slicer) form the other two clusters, each one on its own. These two profiles were remarkably different from the rest and could therefore be considered as outliers. As the technique of classification by hierarchical conglomerates is sensitive to the presence of outliers they can appear as two differentiated clusters. Ecological profiles could not be established in areas 11 (vacuum machine slide) and 12 (heat treatment room floor) (Table 1) due to the lack of growth on the PCA plates. In fact, in the quantitative study carried out by [PERSON] et al. these two areas were described as the least microbiologically contaminated [16]. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c} \hline \hline
**Identified Species** & **Total** & **\%** \\ \hline _Candida zeylanoides_ & 27.0 & 61.4 \\ _Cryptococcus ungittultatus_ & 3.0 & 6.8 \\ _Candida krusei_ & 2.0 & 4.5 \\ _Candida cferri_ & 2.0 & 4.5 \\ _Candida_ spp. & 2.0 & 4.5 \\ _Candida pelliculosa_ & 1.0 & 2.3 \\ _Candida magrolinea_ & 1.0 & 2.3 \\ _Cryptococcus terreus_ & 1.0 & 2.3 \\ Non-identified & 5.0 & 11.4 \\
**Total** & **44.0** & **100.0** \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 4: Identified molds and yeasts from cultures in PCA, in number of isolates and respective percentage from the total of lactic acid bacteria. Figure 2: Analysis by hierarchical clusters showing the degree of similarity of the ecological profile of the sampled areas. There are two main clusters: One grouping with areas 3, 4, 5, 13, 9, and 1 and another with areas 6, 7, and 10. Cluster 1 grouped the areas dominated by _Pseudomonas_ spp. (Figure 3). These areas may have similar ecological profiles because they intervene in successive stages of the productive process. The carcasses are taken from the carcass airing room to the cutting room where the manipulated tools are stored in the storage cabinet. Therefore, how the different areas may be related to each other and how the movement of microbiota between them can occur are very relevant, especially in the transfer of pathogens such as _L. monocytogenes_. Area 13 (sink) also had the same proportion of _Bacillus_ spp. and _Pseudomonas_ spp., so it could be considered as belonging to both clusters. The work room receives products from the cutting room and processes such as chopping are carried out there. In this conglomerate, four of the six areas presented 13 to 50% of _Aeromonas_ spp. and less abundantly _Bacillus_ spp., _Rhizobium radiolobacter_, _Corynebacterium_ spp., and _Leifsonia aquatica_. Figure 3: Individual profiles of the areas categorized as cluster 1. _Pseudomonas_ spp. was predominant in most areas and there was also a notable presence of _Aeromonas_ spp. Like in the present study, [PERSON] and [PERSON] identified the presence of _Pseudomonas_ spp. and _Aeromonas_ spp. in the sinks [30]. In other studies, _Pseudomonas_ spp. [27; 37], _Enterobacteriaceae_, and yeasts and molds have been found on knives, tables, and chopping machines [35]. _Pseudomonas_ spp. is commonly found in soil and water where it plays an important role in the degradation of organic material. They are part of the normal microbiota of human skin and are found in the respiratory tract and intestines [38]. _Aeromonas_ spp. is also ubiquitous, usually found in water sources, soil, arthropods, mollusks, mammals, birds, fish, and insects [39].