Standardised inventories of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) of Macaronesia II: The native forests and dry habitats of Madeira archipelago (Madeira and Porto Santo islands).

Octávio Paulo,Fernando Pereira,Ana Vieira,Mário Boieiro,Isamberto Silva,François Rigal,Jagoba Malumbres-Olarte,Pedro Cardoso,Alejandra Ros-Prieto,Luís Carlos Crespo,Carla Rego,Rui Carvalho,Nuria Macías Hernández,Paulo Borges,Rosalina Gabriel

doi:10.3897/bdj.8.e47502

Abstract

BackgroundHere we present the data obtained from the samples collected as part of a large research project (MACDIV) which aims at understanding the drivers of spider (Araneae) community assembly in Macaronesian islands. To obtain the data, we applied the sampling protocol COBRA (Conservation Oriented Biodiversity Rapid Assessment), in twelve 50 m x 50 m native forest plots and five dry habitat plots on the island of Madeiraand in 5 dry habitat plots on the island of Porto Santo. Through this publication, we contribute to the knowledge of the arachnofauna of the Madeiran archipelago.New informationFrom the samples that we collected, we obtained a total of 14,902 specimens, of which 49% were adults (7,263). We identified these specimens to 87 species and 18 morphospecies (undescribed), belonging to 26 families. Species of the family Linyphiidae dominated the samples, with 24 (morpho)species. Out of the 105 recorded (morpho)species, 34 were endemic, 26 native non-endemic, 22 introduced and 23 species of unknown origin. We report seven new records of possibly recently introduced species in the Madeiran archipelago. We also present 21 new records for Madeira island and 32 for Porto Santo (33 for the whole archipelago).

Highlights

The north Atlantic archipelago of Madeira is composed of the volcanic islands of Madeira, Porto Santo and the Desertas, as well several islets
We present 21 new records for Madeira island and 32 for Porto Santo (33 for the whole archipelago)
This publication is the second of a series on Macaronesian spider fauna and provides habitat, biogeographic and colonisation information on the species collected in 12 native forest plots and 10 native dry habitat plots on the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo through the project MACDIV

Summary

Background

We present the data obtained from the samples collected as part of a large research project (MACDIV) which aims at understanding the drivers of spider (Araneae) community assembly in Macaronesian islands. From the samples that we collected, we obtained a total of 14,902 specimens, of which 49% were adults (7,263). We identified these specimens to 87 species and 18 morphospecies (undescribed), belonging to 26 families. Out of the 105 recorded (morpho)species, 34 were endemic, 26 native non-endemic, introduced and species of unknown origin. We report seven new records of possibly recently introduced species in the Madeiran archipelago. We present 21 new records for Madeira island and 32 for Porto Santo (33 for the whole archipelago). Arthropoda, Araneae, Madeira, Porto Santo, native forest, dry habitat, exotic species, standardised sampling

Introduction

Sampling methods

Results