Web spiders in temperate and tropical forests: Relative abundance and environmental correlates
American Midland Naturalist
1986
Journal Article
115
1
42-51
Reserva Nacional Tambopata animals invertebrates arthropods spiders Arachnida animal behavior abundance large spatial scales ecology population density population dynamics Madre de Dios Bibliography
The number of actively foraging web spiders was monitored at different times of day at three forested areas (temperate zone Pennsylvania, USA; subtropical Peru; tropical Gabon). In Pennsylvania spider activity rose during the day to a peak in the evening and dropped off again at night. In Peru and Gabon spiders were more active at night. A multiple regression analysis was run using abundance of vegetation, insect activity, temperature humidity as potential predictor of spider numbers. Vegetation was consistently the best predictor on all sites. Both insect activity and temperature were significant additional variables. The regression equations generated for the Peru and Gabon sites were not significantly different from one another. Data of this nature may aid in determining when spider populations may exert the most pressure on insect populations. In addition, comparisons can be made between temperate and tropical habitats.