Analysis of soil-dwelling spider community in agricultural landscape

Abstract

This study was conducted to provide basic information for environmental monitoring and developing strategies for conservation of biological diversity in ecosystems by comparing soil-dwelling spider communities among differently stressed areas. Study sites were located in Paltan-myun, Hwaseong city, Kyunggi-do, Korea. Three sites were selected after consideration of waterway, traffic, and land use, etc. Four habitat types (levee, upland dike, hillock, and stream ridge), which were adjacent, were selected within each site. Study sites were mainly agricultural (paddy field and upland) and forest area (site 1), industrial area (site 2), and residential area (site 3). Pitfall trap samplings were carried out 38 times from November 2000 to October 2002. A total of 15,182 soil-dwelling spiders were collected and total 173 species 109 genera belonging to 29 families of spiders were identified. Among three sites, the site 2 had the least number of individuals and species. Among the same habitat types of three sites, the number of individuals of the levee and the stream ridge had the highest in the site 3. That of the upland dike and the hillock was the highest in the site 2. The number of species of the site 2 was the least in three habitat types except the levee. Among habitat types within each site, population sizes were different. Number of species was high in the hillock and low in the stream ridge. Seasonal occurrence of soil dwelling spider populations showed a similar pattern among sites and reached peak in August. Population size was higher in the site 1 than in other sites in 2001. It was higher in the site 3 in 2002 more. Among the same habitat types of three sites, more similar seasonal fluctuation patterns were shown in the hillock than in other types of habitat. Among habitat types within each site, seasonal fluctuation patterns were similar in all habitat types. In the site 1 and site 3, population size was higher in the hillock than in other habitat types. In site 2, it was higher in the levee and the stream ridge than in other habitat types...