Spatial and temporal structure of the spider community in the clay semi-desert of western Kazakhstan

The spatial and temporal structure of spider communities was studied in the clay semi-desert of the north-western Caspian Lowland, western Kazakhstan (49°23' N, 46°47' E). The soils and vegetation are complex, being composed of a mosaic of desert and steppe plant communities. Besides the native associations, there are plantations of different tree species. The ground-dwelling spider assemblages in the native habitats are the most diverse. The number of species inhabiting forest plantations is three times as small. Gnaphosidae is the leading family in the ground layer. They show high abundance and diversity levels during the whole season. Thomisidae, Lycosidae, Philodromidae, and Salticidae are abundant as well. The species diversity of herbage-dwelling spiders in different open native habitats is very similar. The spectrum of dominant families (Thomisidae, Oxyopidae, Araneidae, and Salticidae) and the seasonal dynamics of their ratio in desert and steppe associations have much in common. Spider assemblages of native and artificial habitats are characterised by change from multispecies polydominant spring-summer communities to impoverished imbalanced autumn ones. Seasonal changes in the species structure of mature spider groupings in native habitats are well pronounced, while the impact of seasonal conditions is even stronger than between-habitat differences. Complexes of typical species with different levels of habitat preference are revealed

Faunistic spider collections in the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin: The collection of Erich Hesse

The ‘Hesse collection’ of spiders (Araneae) and harvestmen (Opiliones) in the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin is documented. Biographical notes on Erich Hesse – a former arachnid curator at the museum (1921–1940) – are provided. The ‘Hesse collection’ was actually put together by other workers, and can be broadly divided into two parts. One comes from Bielinek (= Bellinchen) on the Polish side of the Oder Valley (West Pommerania); now part of the ‘Unteres Odertal’ National Park. This Bielinek material includes notable records of Heriaeus oblongus Simon, 1918 and Gibbaranea ullrichi (Hahn, 1835). The other part of the collection comes from Colbitz-Letzlinger Heide in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Notable here are Pistius truncatus (Pallas, 1772) and Philodromus buchari Kubcová, 2004; the latter representing the first record of this species for Saxony-Anhalt

In memoriam RNDr. Ing. Ludek J. Dobroruka, 1933 - 2004

Obituar

Assemblages of herb-dwelling spiders (Araneae) of various steppe types in Ukraine and the Central Chernozem region of Russia

A total of 107 spider species from 15 families were recorded in the herbaceous vegetation of the steppe ecosystems of Ukraine and the Central Chernozem region of Russia. Araneidae, Thomisidae, Salticidae and Theridiidae were the most species-rich. The species composition depended on the steppe type; adjacent forest habitats influenced steppe fauna in the forest-steppe and northern part of the steppe natural zone. The number of generalist, forest and wetland dwelling species in the steppe vegetation showed a tendency to decrease towards the south. Dominance of herb-dwelling spiders was specific to each steppe type; no single species was found to predominate in all the steppe habitats

Spiders (Araneae) of Chernivtsi City (Ukraine)

The spider fauna of buildings and other urban habitats (city parks, green areas of industrial enterprises, and housing estates) of Chernivtsi city was surveyed. In the period 2002-2011, 212 species belonging to 26 families were recorded. Previous studies found a total of 173 species of spiders belonging to 26 families from the territories which are now included in the city limits of Chernivtsi. Currently, the total spider species list for Chernivtsi includes 260 species of 30 families, of which 125 species (21 families) were recorded both by earlier researchers and by ourselves. The most important reasons for changes in urban spider assemblages are as follows: species habitat change, introduction of alien species, and description of new species unknown in the late 19th – early 20th centuries

First record of Evarcha jucunda (Araneae: Salticidae) in Germany

One specimen of the jumping spider Evarcha jucunda was discovered in the fruit department of a general store in Gießen, Germany. The species has obviously been introduced with transported fruit from mediterranean countries

Ground-living spiders (Araneae) at polluted sites in the Subarctic

Spiders were studied around the Pechenganikel smelter combine, Kola Peninsula, north-western Russia. The average spider density was 6-fold greater and the density of Linyphiidae specimens 11.5-fold higher at slightly polluted sites, compared with heavily polluted sites. Altogether, 18 species from 10 families were found at heavily polluted sites, the theridiid Robertus scoticus clearly dominating (23.3 % of identifiable specimens), also Neon reticulatus (9.6 %), Thanatus formicinus (9.6 %) and Xysticus audax (8.2 %) were abundant. The most numerous among 58 species found at slightly polluted sites were Tapinocyba pallens (18.5 %), Robertus scoticus (13.7 %), Maso sundevalli (9.5 %) and Alopecosa aculeata (8.2 %). The family Linyphiidae dominated at slightly polluted sites, 64 % of species and 60 % of individuals; compared with heavily polluted sites, 23 % and 38 % respectively

Spiders (Araneae) from the Panský diel (Starohorské vrchy Mts, Slovakia)

Spiders were collected at the massif 'Panský diel' near the city of Banská Bystrica (Central Slovakia). We recorded 252 spider species for the territory and one new species for Slovakia. Although the summit reaches an altitude of 1.100 m a.s.l., more or less thermophilous species apparently prevail here, especially at lower moderate sites. On the other hand, only several typical oreophilous species were documented. Many recorded species are scarce or even very rare. This indicates the very high value of this territory from both a genetic and an environmental perspective

Pseudicius epiblemoides (Araneae: Salticidae) in Central Europe

Pseudicius epiblemoides (Araneae: Salticidae) in Central Europe. A new record of this rare south-eastern European species is presented which represents the northernmost and westernmost locality and the second one in Central Europe. A detailed description of its diagnostic characters is given

Check list of the Hungarian Salticidae with biogeographical notes

An updated check list of the Hungarian jumping spider fauna is presented. 70, species are recorded from Hungary so far. Four species are new to the Hungarian fauna: Hasarius adansoni, Neon valentulus, Sitticus caricis, Synageles subcingulatus. With 12 original drawings