Spider Diversity Research Articles

Spider Diversity on Herbaceous Plants in Samsun Province, Türkiye

In this study, spider diversity on herbaceous plants of Samsun province was investigated. Spider specimens were collected between 2015 and 2018 by using sweeping net, aspirators, and tweezer methods, and stored at -20 ˚C and in 96% ethyl alcohol. Most spiders were found on and around the Asteraceae family. Morphological descriptions are based on the spiders of the Palearctic region and nomenclature is based on the world spider catalog. As a result of the identification, from 397 spider samples belonging to 10 families, 12 genera and 15 species were determined. These are; Phylloneta impressa (L. Koch, 1881), Enoplognatha ovata (Clerck, 1757), Heterotheridion nigrovariegatum (Simon, 1873), Oxyopes lineatus Latreille, 1806, Tetragnatha montana Simon, 1874, Tetragnatha extensa (Linnaeus, 1758), Pulchellodromus pulchellus (Lucas, 1846), Evarcha arcuata (Clerck, 1757), Misumena vatia (Clerck, 1757), Runcinia grammica (C. L. Koch, 1837), Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli, 1772), Argiope lobata (Pallas, 1772), Neoscona adianta (Walckenaer, 1802), Neoscona byzanthina (Pavesi, 1876), Araneus quadratus Clerck, 1757. In the study, findings represent the first detailed spider records from herbaceous plants in the Samsun province.

Vitellogenesis and Embryogenesis in Spiders: A Biochemical Perspective.

This review compiles information on the biochemistry of spider reproduction, from vitellogenesis to postembryonic development. Despite the diversity of spiders, biochemical studies on their reproduction remain scarce. The structures, functions, and relationships of vitellogenins and lipovitellins across different groups are compared. Information on two vitellogenin-associated proteins (30 and 47 kDa) is presented and discussed. By analyzing females at different reproductive stages-previtellogenesis, early vitellogenesis, vitellogenesis, and postvitellogenesis-as well as males, we examined lipid and fatty acid synthesis, mobilization, and accumulation in the yolk. Lipid dynamics across vitellogenic organs, such as the intestinal diverticula, hemolymph, and ovaries, were established. Structural lipids, mainly phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, were the predominant yolk components, followed by triacylglycerols. The gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices are described for the first time in spiders, providing a new tool for studying vitellogenesis. Hemocyanin was detected in early spider eggs, suggesting a role in organogenesis, with its concentration increasing in later embryonic stages. In contrast, lipovitellin consumption was observed throughout embryonic development until juvenile emergence. The data compiled in this review provide valuable insights into the molecular interactions underlying a key process for oviparous animals.

Intensification of land use in Neotropical environments determines loss of taxonomic and functional diversity of spiders

Intensification of land use in Neotropical environments determines loss of taxonomic and functional diversity of spiders

ECR Spotlight – Alyvia Martinez

ECR Spotlight is a series of interviews with early-career authors from a selection of papers published in Journal of Experimental Biology and aims to promote not only the diversity of early-career researchers (ECRs) working in experimental biology but also the huge variety of animals and physiological systems that are essential for the ‘comparative’ approach. Alyvia Martinez is an author on ‘ The effects of anthropogenic sound on embryonic little skates (Leucoraja erinacea) and chain dogfish (Scyliorhinus rotifer)’, published in JEB. Alyvia conducted the research described in this article while an undergraduate researcher (REU) in Allen Mensinger's lab at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, USA. Alyvia is now a PhD student in the lab of Sönke Johnsen at Duke University, USA, investigating the visual diversity in sea spiders across many marine environments to understand how habitat-specific visual demands influence the evolution of their eye morphology.

Conservation implications of anthropogenic disturbances on island spider diversity: A case study from the Islands of Vembanad Lake – A Ramsar site in Kerala, India

Conservation implications of anthropogenic disturbances on island spider diversity: A case study from the Islands of Vembanad Lake – A Ramsar site in Kerala, India

Spiders Diversity in North East Gariaband Forest Regions of Chhattisgarh, India

The research was conducted in northeast Gariyaband region (Chhura). The research deals with spider (Arachnida : Aranae) diversity in north-east Gariaband region that provides fundamental knowledge about spider species in the region and their conservation status on habitat. In the research, a total of 55 species belonging to 42 Genus under 11 families were recorded from August 2024 to October 2024 (3 months) in the study area. All spider species are collected from different part of the area, like trees, shrubs, grassland and surfaces. There are Araneidae and Salticidae. Both are dominant families that have high species numbers. Spiders are important for ecosystem. The presence of spider species in a place indicates the good ecosystem of that area. The presence of spiders is more in forest region of Gariaband.

Spider diversity and ecological drivers in hill range environments of Pampa biome

ABSTRACT Environmental complexity can drive spider diversity and guild distribution across the landscape. Grasslands and other natural areas in the South American Pampa biome have been affected in the last century mainly by extractive activities (eg forestry) or changes in land use (eg agricultural and livestock production). In this scenario of human disturbances, efforts are required to describe the biodiversity of these threatened environments. The aim of this study is to describe and compare the spider communities of a hill range landscape of the Pampean region in Uruguay, which includes hillside forests, riparian forests and natural grasslands, and to evaluate the influence of environmental complexity in these communities. Sampling was carried out in autumn and spring using pitfall traps, G-Vac and manual collection. Environmental variables of soil surface temperature and moisture, leaf litter depth, ground vegetation cover, tree canopy cover and herbaceous plant species richness were recorded. Spider species richness and diversity were highest in grasslands. Hillside forests, riparian forests and grasslands were different in terms of their spider species composition. A high variability of species composition was found within hillside forests and grasslands. The environmental variables that explained differences in abundance among spider guilds in hillside forests were the canopy cover (mainly for ground hunters, sheet web weavers and spatial web weavers) and soil moisture. In riparian forests the main environmental variable driving spider abundance was the leaf litter depth (especially for orb web weavers, space web weavers, stalkers and ambushers) while in grasslands it was the soil moisture (mainly for ambushers, space web weavers and sheet web weavers). Spider indicator species were found for the studied environments. Our results provide knowledge about the spider diversity in hill range environments of the Pampa biome, highlighting the need for urgent implementation of conservation plans in these natural environments.

How to promote spider diversity of heathlands: impact of management intensity

Heathland health is deteriorating across Northwestern Europe due to various threats which commonly are the result of global change drivers and inadequate management. Varying traditional management practices have been modified to counteract this development, all of which have inevitable trade-offs in terms of promoting associated biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services. These trade-offs are mainly between low (low biomass/soil removal) and high (large biomass/soil removal) intensity management practices. Here we analysed the impacts of low (mowing) versus a newly developed high intensity (scarification, i.e. mowing with subsequent moss removal) management practice on spider diversity, as an excellent bioindicator for habitat quality shifts due to environmental change. We sampled spiders at 15 plots, 5 replicates of the two management practices each, as well as 5 unmanaged controls in the Lüneburg Heath, Northern Germany, one year after the management was implemented. No spider species showed aversion to mowed plots likely due to the increased habitat heterogeneity provided by mowing, while spider abundance and functional richness responded negatively to the increased homogeneity induced by scarification. However, scarification benefited some critically endangered specialists such as Psimmitis sabulosa due to their preference for high bare soil cover. Therefore, managing heathlands with a mosaic of mowed and scarified patches could likely promote spider diversity and protect threatened species while limiting negative effects on functional diversity. Since our results apply to the effect of management on spider biodiversity only one year after the management has been implemented, future research should focus on how these effects change over time.

Spider diversity in a disturbed forest landscape highlights the importance of management heterogeneity

Abstract Anthropogenic climate and land use change pose threats to biodiversity. For example, timber production is altering forest ecosystems worldwide, often resulting in climate‐sensitive monocultures. In central Europe, ongoing climate change has resulted in a large‐scale dieback of spruce plantations, raising concerns about the appropriate management of such sites. Here, we investigated the direct and indirect effects of forest management on epigeal spider diversity in a disturbed, spruce‐dominated forest landscape in western Germany. We compared five management strategies and evaluated the impact of various environmental variables on taxonomic spider diversity as well as community and functional composition. Forest management directly affected spider diversity, with lowest values found in spruce stands and highest in salvage‐logged and succession sites. Spider abundance was negatively related to canopy closure, and spider diversity positively to deadwood occurrence on‐site and at the landscape scale. Community composition differed strongly among management regimes, with the highest number of forest specialists occurring in deadwood stands and of open landscape species on clear cuts. Our results highlight the role of non‐intervention sites as refuges for forest spiders in a highly disturbed forest landscape, while salvage‐logged sites showed the highest overall spider diversity. Based on the occurrence of highly distinct spider assemblages among management regimes, our results stress the importance of landscape heterogeneity for spider diversity. Forest management should therefore be planned at a landscape rather than stand‐scale. By applying intervention and non‐intervention strategies, large‐scale spruce monocultures may be transformed into diverse forest landscapes with beneficial effects for both biodiversity and forestry.

Richness, diversity and faunal similarity estimators of soil spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in two vegetation formations of the Cerrado biome

Studies on soil araneofauna in the Cerrado biome are still scarce in northeastern Brazil, especially in Maranhão. This study aimed to conduct an inventory of richness, diversity, and faunal similarity estimators of soil spiders in two vegetation formations of the Cerrado biome, namely gallery forest and Cerrado sensu stricto, in the Inhamum Municipal Environmental Protection Area (EPA), Caxias, Maranhão, Brazil. Collections were carried out during dry and rainy periods using Provid-type traps. For faunal analysis, species richness, diversity and equitability tests were used in the Anafau program and faunal similarity tests in the R program. In the present inventory, 23 families, 37 genera, and 43 species were identified. Richness estimators and species accumulation curves generated for both sites (gallery forest and Cerrado sensu stricto) revealed that the sampling effort was not sufficient to fully quantify soil araneofaunal species; therefore, the richness of soil spiders at the two analyzed sites of the Inhamum EPA is underestimated, suggesting that it might be possible to record even higher richness values in the two studied vegetation formations of the Cerrado biome. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′) and Pielou's evenness index (J′) were similar and indicated a moderate diversity of soil spiders in both gallery forest and Cerrado sensu stricto sites. Similarity dendrogram analysis showed that the soil spider communities analyzed were substantially similar, with most species occurring at both sites.

Trait diversity and spider community composition are associated with lower herbivory in young forest plantations

Trait diversity and spider community composition are associated with lower herbivory in young forest plantations

Spider Diversity in and Around the Annasaheb Magar Mahavidyalaya, Hadapsar, Haveli Taluka, Pune District, M.S., India

Spiders are the key components of an ecosystem. The objective of the present study was to update the list of spiders in the studied area. Spiders of Annasaheb Magar Mahavidyalaya Campus, Hadapsar, Maharashtra, India and the nearby area was observed and documented. The study area is divided into two parts like human constructions and arboreal. Active searching and handpicking methods were used for spider record preparation. They were photographed without disturbing their natural habitat and used for identification. In all total 29 spider species representing 21 genera and 10 families were recorded. Aranaidae and Saltidae are the most dominant families each representing 24% of species. Among various guild, orb web spiders (38%) dominate the AMM campus and its nearby area. The high species diversity of spiders in college campus can be attributed to the high diversity of plants and insects.Spiders are the key components of an ecosystem. The objective of the present study was to update the list of spiders in the studied area. Spiders of Annasaheb Magar Mahavidyalaya Campus, Hadapsar, Maharashtra, India and the nearby area was observed and documented. The study area is divided into two parts like human constructions and arboreal. Active searching and handpicking methods were used for spider record preparation. They were photographed without disturbing their natural habitat and used for identification. In all total 29 spider species representing 21 genera and 10 families were recorded. Aranaidae and Saltidae are the most dominant families each representing 24% of species. Among various guild, orb web spiders (38%) dominate the AMM campus and its nearby area. The high species diversity of spiders in college campus can be attributed to the high diversity of plants and insects.

Spider communities in the aboveground oak forests of central Europe are determined by vertical scale: An important missing link for biodiversity conservation

AbstractSpiders are generalist predators able to respond very well to environmental conditions. Therefore, they are good bioindicators for forest management practices. The vertical distribution of spiders in forest stands has very rarely been studied. Thus, we investigated patterns in species richness, diversity, life‐history traits and functional diversity of spiders within the aboveground vertical stratification of oak dominated forests and their response to the canopy cover gradient. There were three localities sampled during four growing seasons (2008–2011, Southern Moravia, Czech Republic). Spiders were sampled monthly by flight intercept traps, which were placed in three stratigraphical levels of oak stands. Altogether, 3592 spiders, representing 18 families, and 112 distinguishable species were collected during the study. We found that species richness, total abundance the abundance of ambush hunters, other hunters and scarce, rare and very rare species of spiders increased from ground level to the canopy, and that species composition changed across the vertical gradient. Some of these characteristics were significantly influenced by interaction with canopy cover. Less common ballooning species preferred the ground part of forest stratification. Canopy cover evaluation showed that the abundance of orb web weavers and less common ballooning species was highest in the more closed canopies. The opposite trend was found for sheet web weavers, very abundant species and open habitat species. Space web weavers, other hunters and very common ballooning species showed increased abundance in the higher layers under conditions of more open canopy cover. Our results suggest that sampling spiders across the vertical gradient of forest stands might be important for a proper biodiversity and management practice evaluation, although most recent assessments were conducted on ground‐dwelling spiders obtained from pitfall traps.

Ecological trait divergence over evolutionary time underlies the origin and maintenance of tropical spider diversity

Relative to its size, tropical Asia is likely to be the richest region in terms of biodiversity. However, the factors of species diversity formation and maintenance in Southeast (SE) Asia and neighboring regions remain poorly understood. Here we infer the evolutionary relationships within psilodercid spiders by incorporating fossil information into a robust, unprecedentedly complete species‐level phylogeny of 202 extant species to explore potential abiotic drivers and ecological features underlying their stable diversification history. The combination of extant and extinct historical biogeographic data indicates that in situ speciation is the predominant form of diversification in tropical Asia but diverse Cretaceous psilodercids in Myanmar ambers were replaced by other biogeographical lineages during the northward movements of the Burma Terrane. Furthermore, our diversification analyses show no diversification rate changes through time and across geographic space in this family, but the genus Althepus displays an accelerated rate of species diversification driven by the remarkable expansion of leg length. Trait evolution analysis shows that ecological trait divergence contributes to the diversification and accumulation of tropical spiders by facilitating species coexistence. These findings provide empirical evidence that the ecological trait divergence over evolutionary time scales is key to forming species diversity hotspots in SE Asia. Thus, this study integrating molecular evidence and paleontological interpretation provides a new framework for understanding the evolution of tropical species diversity.

Assessing spider community structure and ecological dynamics across urban and natural environments

AbstractThis study explores the diversity and distribution of spider populations across urban and natural‐semi natural habitats in Gongju‐si, South Korea. This study aims to investigate the ecological dynamics of spider populations across different habitat types and assess their implications for urban planning, particularly in terms of maintaining biodiversity through habitat heterogeneity and informed urban development strategies. Employing methodologies such as sweeping, manual collection, and pit‐fall traps, the research identifies 128 spider species and evaluates alpha and beta diversity, nestedness, and species interactions using advanced statistical and ecological tools. The findings indicate significant variations in spider diversity across different habitats, with urban areas exhibiting notable biodiversity despite human influences. Natural habitats, especially forests, demonstrate higher biodiversity and more intricate species interactions. Nestedness analysis reveals distinct community structures across habitats, while association rule learning highlights complex interspecies relationships. The study underscores the importance of maintaining habitat heterogeneity and incorporating ecological principles in urban planning to support biodiversity. It offers valuable insights into the roles of various habitats in ecological networks, emphasizing the necessity for balanced urban development and effective conservation strategies.

Diversity of spiders in Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, Chongqing, China (I), three new Cicurina species of Cicurinidae (Araneae).

Three new species of the genus Cicurina Menge, 1871 are described from Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, Chongqing, China: C.chengkou sp. nov. (♂♀), C.dabashan sp. nov. (♂♀) and C.longihamata sp. nov. (♂♀). Morphological descriptions, photos and illustrations of copulatory organs are provided.

Soutpansberg Mountain: a spider hotspot in the Limpopo Province of South Africa (Arachnida, Araneae)

The Soutpansberg Mountain (SM) range in the northern part of the Limpopo Province within the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, is a refuge for high diversity of organisms due to its geological history and location. As part of the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA), the spider diversity of the Soutpansberg Mountain was determined over 27 years: 58 families, 293 genera, and 585 species were recorded. The Salticidae with 85 species, followed by Thomisidae (81 species), Araneidae, and Gnaphosidae, with 45 species each, are the most species-rich, while 11 families are represented by single species. Global distributions, endemicity, and conservation assessment are provided for each species using IUCN criteria. Most species (516, 88.1%) are widely distributed with no known threats and are of Least Concern, whereas eight species (1.4%) are of special concern. Of these, five species are Rare and one each is Critically Rare, Vulnerable, and Near Threatened. Twenty-five new species have been described from the SM since 1997, but 17 species (2.9%) are still Data Deficient, and 44 species were not evaluated due to unresolved taxonomy. The SM represents a spider biodiversity hotspot in the Limpopo Province, representing 25.4% of the total spider fauna of South Africa and 64.3% of the known spider fauna of the Limpopo Province.

The Impact of Plant Diversity on Spider Populations in a Tropical Butterfly Conservatory, Tiruchirappalli, South India

Spiders, as crucial predators and biodiversity indicators, significantly influence ecosystem health. This study investigates the intricate relationship between plant diversity and spider communities within distinct habitats of the Tropical Butterfly Conservatory, Tiruchirappalli, India. By classifying spiders based on their hunting strategies, we aim to understand their ecological roles. This research establishes a baseline for the spider fauna within the conservatory, emphasizing the impact of plant life on spider diversity and distribution. Our findings contribute to a comprehensive evaluation of the ecological importance of spiders in this unique ecosystem, providing valuable insights for future conservation and management efforts. By unravelling the complex interplay between plants and spiders, this study underscores the necessity of preserving plant diversity to sustain a robust and balanced spider community.

Spider (Araneae: Araneomorphae) diversity in Annaba Province, Northeastern Algeria

Spiders, as predatory arthropods, play essential roles in ecosystem equilibrium and serve as bioindicators. To contribute to the understanding of spider diversity in northeast Algeria (Annaba province), a survey of spider fauna was conducted in both forest and urban sites over two consecutive years using the "hand collecting" method. A total of 879 adult spiders (681 females and 198 males) were identified, representing 25 families and 67 species. The Salticid Plexippus paykulli (Audouin, 1826) was the most abundant species, with 127 specimens collected. The most abundant families were Salticidae and Araneidae, with counts of 171 and 139 individuals, respectively. The Shannon-Weaver index varied from 2.17 to 3.68 bits across the different sites, while evenness values ranged from 0.60 to 0.75. This study significantly expanded the known spider species in Annaba province from 96 to 138.

Diversity, Composition and Distribution Patterns of Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in Sand Forest, South Africa

ABSTRACTSpiders are the dominant representative of the top predator guild in many terrestrial ecosystems, but their diversity and distribution in forests in South Africa are still understudied. This study aimed to determine ground‐dwelling spider diversity, composition and distribution patterns in both sand forest and savanna (and their ecotone) using pitfall traps and to provide a spider species checklist for these three habitats in Phinda Private Game Reserve. A total of 410 individuals from 64 species and 21 families were recorded from the three habitat types. The Lycosidae family and Pardosa crassipalpis were the most dominant family and species. Spider abundances were similar between sand forest and the ecotone, but lower in savanna. However, species richness was similar across habitats. Spider species assemblages were similar between sand forest and the ecotone, but differed from the species assemblages in savanna. Spiders play an important role in food webs both below‐ and aboveground. Therefore, determining their diversity and distribution contributes to the overall understanding of the ecosystem in addition to promoting conservation efforts of key habitats such as the critically endangered sand forest.