Spatial and seasonal patterns of ground-dwelling spider assemblages belonging to the retrolateral tibial apophysis clade (Araneae: Araneomorphae) in two remnants of pine-oak forest from Mexico

Abstract

ABSTRACT We analyzed the spatial-seasonal patterns on the abundance, composition, structure (i.e. abundance distribution among species), and diversity of the ground-dwelling spiders belonging to the retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA) clade in two pine-oak forest remnants from Mexico. Additionally, a short review to compare the RTA ground-dwelling communities from Mexican habitats was carried out. Spiders were collected monthly, from July 2010 to June 2011, using pitfall-traps at each site. Species composition was seasonally, but not spatially, different. Estimated diversity for the Hill number 1 was influenced by the sites, and a site–season interaction effect was yielded for the Hill number 2. Abundance and community structure were strongly influenced by both sites and seasons. Six species exhibited strong associations with spatial and seasonal-specific conditions (possible bioindicators). Bibliographic analysis showed the highest richness and the lowest number of undescribed species in desert habitats of northern Mexico, pointing those as possible species repositories for the RTA clade. Our results showed a heterogenous spatial-seasonal response in the RTA ground-dwelling spiders, together with a weak influence of the regional variation in temperature and precipitation on the abundance and species richness, suggesting a stronger influence of ecological drivers at the microhabitat scale.