ARACHNOLOGISCHE GESELLSCHAFT

Doi
10.5431/aramit2002
Author

Framenau VW & Smit J

Year
2000
Title

Die epigäische Spinnenfauna (Araneae) anthropogener Kleinflächen im Universitätsgebiet der Philipps-Universität auf den Lahnbergen bei Marburg

Title translated

Epigaeic spiders (Araneae) of small man-made habitats on the Lahnberge Campus of the Philipps-University Marburg (Hesse, Germany)

Issue

Heft 20

Pages
26-42
Abstract

During May and June 1994, 45 pitfall traps were exposed in three types of small, urban habitats: traffic islands, flat gravel roofs and courtyards ranging from 65 to 1.800m2. The three habitat types differ in their exposure to sun and wind creating microclimatic conditions similar to a variety of natural habitats, i.e. grassland, rocky outcrops and forests. In total, 2.163 spiders (147 juveniles) were caught, belonging to 61 species in 16 families. A cluster analysis showed distinctively different spider assemblages for the three habitat types. Traffic islands are inhabited by a typical openland community. Dominating species are Alopecosa pulverulenta, Pardosa pullata and Pachygnatha degeeri. Gravel roofs show high numbers of salticids, in particular Euophrys lanigera. Courtyards lack dominant species and show a high number of species naturally occurring in forest habitats. The activity density on the gravel roofs and in the courtyards does not appear to be high enough to support stable populations.

Data package
Keywords

Araneae, spider, traffic island, gravel roof, courtyard, man-made habitat, urban ecology, Hesse, Germany