Web spider community response along an edge between pasture and Araucaria forest

Abstract

We investigated how vegetation features and temporal variation influenced web spider richness, abundance and composition along an edge between Araucaria forest and pasture in southern Brazil. Web spiders and vegetation were surveyed four times over a 1-year period, in five 5 × 5 m plots randomised in four locations: 50 m into the pasture, 0, 50 and 250 m into the forest. We collected a total of 836 web spiders (33 morphospecies and six families). We found different web spider assemblages occurring at the pasture edge and forest interior. The richness and abundance of web spiders decreased up to 50 m towards the forest interior in all seasons, and we found a positive influence of vegetation richness on web spider abundance. In conclusion, web spider assemblages are influenced by an edge gradient, this pattern is consistent throughout the year and is strongly related to vegetation features.