Species Diversity and Community Structure of Ground-Dwelling Spiders in Unpolluted and Moderately Heavy Metal-Polluted Habitats

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between ground-dwelling spider communities and the degree of soil contamination of heavy metals, Cd and Pb. Six sites were selected according to expected differences in Cd and Pb contamination levels in soil and similarity in vegetation composition. Ground-dwelling spiders were collected monthly in 2003 and 2004 by pitfall trapping. Species diversity of ground-dwelling spiders between unpolluted and moderately polluted sites was not significantly different although the value was higher in the unpolluted site. Species diversity tended to decrease with increasing Pb levels in soil although no statistical significance was obtained. No trend was shown between species diversity and Cd levels in soil. The community structure of ground-dwelling spiders was similar for the two types of sites. Overall ground-dwelling spider communities may be not sensitive enough to discriminate moderate heavy metal contamination levels in soil. However, among the dominant spider families, the composition and structure of Linyphiidae separated unpolluted and moderately polluted sites. Pardosa astrigera and P. laura (Lycosidae) have a potential as heavy metal accumulator indicator species and Oedothorax insulanus (Linyphiidae) has a potential as a heavy metal sentinel indicator species.