New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Abundance and species richness of field-margin and pasture spiders (Araneae)
in Canterbury, New Zealand
A. R. G. Mclachlan*
S. D. Wratten
Ecology and Entomology Group
Soil, Plant, and Ecological Sciences Division
P.O. Box 84
Lincoln University
Canterbury, New Zealand
*Present address: Teaching and Learning Services, P.O. Box 84, Lincoln
University,
Canterbury, New Zealand. Email: mclaca@lincoln.ac.nz
Abstract The density and species composition of ground-dwelling
spiders were assessed using suction sampling from August 1994 to July 1995
at various distances from a field edge into a single grazed pasture, and
from March 1996 to March 1997 in the same and three additional grazed pastures
and adjacent fenced shelterbelts on the Canterbury Plains, New Zealand. Spider
density declined rapidly with distance from the shelterbelt (mean 241 m-2)
into the pasture (means 72.5 m-2 at 2.5 m, and 10.3 m-2
at 5 m). Mean spider densities in the four pastures were 53.0 m-2
while in the shelterbelts they reached 316 m-2. The fauna in both
habitats was dominated by the European linyphiid, Tenuiphantes tenuis
(Blackwall). An unidentified theridiid was common only in the shelterbelt,
while unidentified immature linyphiids and theridiids were common in both
habitats. Of the c. 28 species collected, 25 were found in shelterbelts,
and 13 in pasture. Thirteen endemic, one native, and one introduced species
were found only in shelterbelts, while from pasture all but two endemic species
were also recognised from shelterbelts. There was little evidence that the
shelterbelts acted as refuges for spiders which could subsequently disperse
to the adjacent paddocks.
Keywords shelterbelt; suction sampling; Linyphiidae;
Tenuiphantes tenuis; Lycosidae
Z00012 Received 5 July 2000; accepted 18 October 2002; published 21 March
2003
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2003, Vol. 30: 57-67
0301-4223/03/3001-0057 $7.00/0 © The Royal Society of New Zealand
2003
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