Abstract
We investigated the habitats and interspecific associations of eight species of
zodariid spiders in the Negev Desert of Israel. The spiders were collected for
3 years using pitfall traps at 10 sites in the northern and central Negev Desert
as part of a large-scale pitfall-trapping project. Zodariidae were the second
most abundant family of spiders (after Gnaphosidae) collected in the pitfall
traps. One species, Zodarion nitidum, was the most abundant of all trapped
spiders (17.5%). Lachesana blackwalli showed a preference for sand;
Trygetus sexoculatus, Lachesana rufiventris, Z. nitidum, and Ranops expers,
for rock; and Zodarion judaeorum, for loess. Further, T. sexoculatus showed
an affinity to wadi habitats, and Z. judaeorum, Zodarion cyrenaicum, and
L. blackwalli, to plateau habitats, whereas Z. nitidum and R. expers occurred
mainly on slopes. T. sexoculatus and Z. nitidum tended to occur at northern
(low-altitude) sites with higher rainfall. Palaestina eremica, L. blackwalli,
and R. expers were more abundant in southern (high-altitude) sites, but with
low rainfall. Analysis of the interspecific associations provides a list of
spiders of other families that are found in association with zodariid spiders.
zodariid spiders in the Negev Desert of Israel. The spiders were collected for
3 years using pitfall traps at 10 sites in the northern and central Negev Desert
as part of a large-scale pitfall-trapping project. Zodariidae were the second
most abundant family of spiders (after Gnaphosidae) collected in the pitfall
traps. One species, Zodarion nitidum, was the most abundant of all trapped
spiders (17.5%). Lachesana blackwalli showed a preference for sand;
Trygetus sexoculatus, Lachesana rufiventris, Z. nitidum, and Ranops expers,
for rock; and Zodarion judaeorum, for loess. Further, T. sexoculatus showed
an affinity to wadi habitats, and Z. judaeorum, Zodarion cyrenaicum, and
L. blackwalli, to plateau habitats, whereas Z. nitidum and R. expers occurred
mainly on slopes. T. sexoculatus and Z. nitidum tended to occur at northern
(low-altitude) sites with higher rainfall. Palaestina eremica, L. blackwalli,
and R. expers were more abundant in southern (high-altitude) sites, but with
low rainfall. Analysis of the interspecific associations provides a list of
spiders of other families that are found in association with zodariid spiders.
| Original language | English GB |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 123-123 |
| Journal | Israel Journal of Zoology |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| State | Published - 2004 |