Abstract
Abstract Species of Geolycosa (burrowing wolf spider) found in the eastern USA exhibit one of two species-specific microhabitat associations with associated burrow architectures: “turricolous” species burrow in areas covered in leaf litter and construct a distinct turret of silk and debris at the burrow mouth, while “aturricolous” species locate their burrows in more barren areas and do not construct a turret. Our research goal was to document the relationship between spider coloration, burrow-site selection, and burrow-construction behaviors in five Geolycosa species in Florida (G. micanopy, G. hubbelli, G. xera, G. patellonigra, and G. escambiensis). Discriminant analysis of morphological data supports our contention that each ecomorph has a distinct pattern of pigmentation, with the barren-substrata species being paler. Field studies of species pairs at three sites in Florida (Archbold Biological Station, Ocala National Forest, and the Panhandle) documented the species-specific association with one of ...
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