Structure and abundance of arachnid communities in Scots and lodgepole pine plantations

Abstract

Between April and September 1994, six plots within Aberfoyle Forest in Scotland, three of Scots ( Pinus sylvestris) and three of lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta), were surveyed for spiders and harvestmen, as these are predators of several forest invertebrate pests. A total of 64 species of spider were trapped in Scots and lodgepole pine; 56 in Scots pine and 32 in Lodgepole pine. The most abundant spiders, both in Scots and Lodgepole pine, were Linyphiidae. Scots pine plots were floristically more diverse and structurally more complex than lodgepole pine plots. More species of spiders and harvestmen (midsummer only) were found at ground level in Scots pine than lodgepole pine plots. More species and a greater numbers of spiders were found in the canopy of Scots pine than in that of lodgepole pine. However, no differences in the abundance of harvestmen were found between the canopies of Scots and lodgepole pine. Spider species diversity was greatest in Scots pine.