Uma avaliação da herpetofauna das florestas orientais de “Sweetgum” no sudoeste da Anatólia, Turquia

Oriental Sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis) is a threatened tree species restricted to Rhodes Island (Greece) and southern Anatolia (Turkey), best known for its rare riparian forests. These small patches of forests are severely fragmented and scattered, and are rarely found in southwestern Turkey. Based on field sampling and data compilation, we performed an assessment of the herpetofauna in these forests in southwestern Turkey during the spring of 2019 and 2021. Sampling was carried out using a line-transect method in 13 forests with various habitats, resulting in data at the community and population levels. Sixteen families, including 26 amphibian and reptile species (four anurans, four turtles, nine lizards, and nine snakes), were recorded from these unique forests, based on 1440 individuals. Twenty-two species were recorded for the first time from these forests; in addition, Emys orbicularis and Elaphe sauromates were recorded for the first time from the region. Richness in the forest patches, habitat use by the recorded species, and interspecific interactions are discussed to explain the conspicuous patterns observed in the species distributions. The unique distribution pattern of Phoenicolacerta laevis among the existing forest patches represents the most prominent finding, with implications for a recent introduction. The fossorial species Xerotyphlops vermicularis, Blanus strauchi, and Eryx jaculus are unlikely to occur in the Oriental Sweetgum forest due to annual flooding. The data obtained during this study will be transferred to the Oriental Sweetgum forest conservation action plan (2019–2024) as part of the biodiversity monitoring tools for use in the long-term conservation of these forests.O “Oriental Sweetgum” (Liquidambar orientalis) é uma espécie de árvore ameaçada, restrita à Ilha de Rodes (Grécia) e ao sul da Anatólia (Turquia), mais conhecida por suas raras florestas ripárias. Essas pequenas manchas de floresta são severamente fragmentadas e dispersas e raramente são encontradas no sudoeste da Turquia. Com base em amostragem de campo e compilação de dados, fizemos uma avaliação da herpetofauna nessas florestas no sudoeste da Turquia durante aprimavera de 2019 e 2021. A amostragem foi realizada pelo método de transecto de linha em 13 florestas com vários habitats, resultando em dados nos níveis de comunidade e população. Dezesseis famílias, incluindo 26 espécies de anfíbios e répteis (quatro anuros, quatro tartarugas, nove lagartos e nove serpentes), foram registradas nessas florestas únicas, com base em 1440 indivíduos. Vinte e duas espécies foram registradas pela primeira vez nessas florestas; além disso, Emys orbicularis e Elaphe sauromates foram registradas pela primeira vez na região. A riqueza nas manchas florestais, o uso do habitat pelas espécies registradas e as interações interespecíficas são discutidas para explicar os padrões conspícuos observados nas distribuições das espécies. O padrão único de distribuição de Phoenicolacerta laevis entre os fragmentos florestais existentes representa a descoberta mais proeminente, com implicações para uma introdução recente. É improvável que as espécies fossórias Xerotyphlops vermicularis, Blanus strauchi e Eryx jaculus ocorram nesse tipo florestal devido à inundação anual. Os dados obtidos durante este estudo serão usados no plano de ação de conservação da floresta “Oriental Sweetgum” (2019-2024) como parte das ferramentas de monitoramento da biodiversidade para uso na conservação dessas florestas a longo prazo

Cyrtophora citricola (Araneae: Araneidae: Cyrtophorinae), a first record for Turkey

We recorded the tent-web spider Cyrtophora citricola (Forsskål, 1775) (Araneidae: Cyrtophorinae) from Turkey for the first time at two sites. Body measurements and a brief description of the female are presented, as well as information on the sites (olive and orange orchards, shrubs) and the accompanying spider fauna

Continental data on cave-dwelling spider communities across Europe (Arachnida: Araneae)

Background Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) are widespread in subterranean ecosystems worldwide and represent an important component of subterranean trophic webs. Yet, global-scale diversity patterns of subterranean spiders are still mostly unknown. In the frame of the CAWEB project, a European joint network of cave arachnologists, we collected data on cave dwelling spider communities across Europe in order to explore their continental diversity patterns. Two main datasets were compiled: one listing all subterranean spider species recorded in numerous subterranean localities across Europe and another with high resolution data about the subterranean habitat in which they were collected. From these two datasets, we further generated a third dataset with individual geo-referenced occurrence records for all these species. New information Data from 475 geo-referenced subterranean localities (caves, mines and other artificial subterranean sites, interstitial habitats) are herein made available. For each subterranean locality, information about the composition of the spider community is provided, along with local geomorphological and habitat features. Altogether, these communities account for > 300 unique taxonomic entities and 2,091 unique geo-referenced occurrence records, that are made available via the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (Mammola and Cardoso 2019). This dataset is unique in that it covers both a large geographic extent (from 35 south to 67 degrees north) and contains high-resolution local data on geomorphological and habitat features. Given that this kind of high-resolution data are rarely associated with broad-scale datasets used in macroecology, this dataset has high potential for helping researchers in tackling a range of biogeographical and macroecological questions, not necessarily uniquely related to arachnology or subterranean biology

The global spread of misinformation on spiders

In the internet era, the digital architecture that keeps us connected and informed may also amplify the spread of misinformation. This problem is gaining global attention, as evidence accumulates that misinformation may interfere with democratic processes and undermine collective responses to environmental and health crises1,2. In an increasingly polluted information ecosystem, understanding the factors underlying the generation and spread of misinformation is becoming a pressing scientific and societal challenge3. Here, we studied the global spread of (mis-)information on spiders using a high-resolution global database of online newspaper articles on spider–human interactions, covering stories of spider–human encounters and biting events published from 2010–20204. We found that 47% of articles contained errors and 43% were sensationalist. Moreover, we show that the flow of spider-related news occurs within a highly interconnected global network and provide evidence that sensationalism is a key factor underlying the spread of misinformation

An expert-curated global database of online newspaper articles on spiders and spider bites

Mass media plays an important role in the construction and circulation of risk perception associated with animals. Widely feared groups such as spiders frequently end up in the spotlight of traditional and social media. We compiled an expert-curated global database on the online newspaper coverage of human-spider encounters over the past ten years (2010-2020). This database includes information about the location of each human-spider encounter reported in the news article and a quantitative characterisation of the content-location, presence of photographs of spiders and bites, number and type of errors, consultation of experts, and a subjective assessment of sensationalism. In total, we collected 5348 unique news articles from 81 countries in 40 languages. The database refers to 211 identified and unidentified spider species and 2644 unique human-spider encounters (1121 bites and 147 as deadly bites). To facilitate data reuse, we explain the main caveats that need to be made when analysing this database and discuss research ideas and questions that can be explored with it.Peer reviewe

The global spread of misinformation on spiders

Non peer reviewe

An expert-curated global database of online newspaper articles on spiders and spider bites

Mass media plays an important role in the construction and circulation of risk perception associated with animals. Widely feared groups such as spiders frequently end up in the spotlight of traditional and social media. We compiled an expert-curated global database on the online newspaper coverage of human-spider encounters over the past ten years (2010–2020). This database includes information about the location of each human-spider encounter reported in the news article and a quantitative characterisation of the content—location, presence of photographs of spiders and bites, number and type of errors, consultation of experts, and a subjective assessment of sensationalism. In total, we collected 5348 unique news articles from 81 countries in 40 languages. The database refers to 211 identified and unidentified spider species and 2644 unique human-spider encounters (1121 bites and 147 as deadly bites). To facilitate data reuse, we explain the main caveats that need to be made when analysing this database and discuss research ideas and questions that can be explored with it. </p

The global spread of misinformation on spiders

In the internet era, the digital architecture that keeps us connected and informed may also amplify the spread of misinformation. This problem is gaining global attention, as evidence accumulates that misinformation may interfere with democratic processes and undermine collective responses to environmental and health crises. In an increasingly polluted information ecosystem, understanding the factors underlying the generation and spread of misinformation is becoming a pressing scientific and societal challenge. Here, we studied the global spread of (mis-)information on spiders using a high-resolution global database of online newspaper articles on spider–human interactions, covering stories of spider–human encounters and biting events published from 2010–2020. We found that 47% of articles contained errors and 43% were sensationalist. Moreover, we show that the flow of spider-related news occurs within a highly interconnected global network and provide evidence that sensationalism is a key factor underlying the spread of misinformation. </p

Muğla, Milas, Kıyıkışlacık'ta yer alan bir zeytinlik ile ilişkili çalılık alanların örümcek faunası ve örümceklerin alandaki çeşitliliği ve kompozisyonu üzerine notlar.

In the period from May 2010 to August 2011, spider fauna of semi natural olive groves and associated shrub-lands were sampled in Muğla Province, Milas District, Kıyıkışlacık Village at the Western Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Semiquantitative sampling protocols were performed by use of pitfall traps, sweep nets, by active collecting, by sifting of tree litter and beating branches of shrubs. A total of 9967 spider specimens were obtained, from these, 3034 adult specimens were determined up to the lowest taxonomic category, and a detailed checklist is produced for the study area, composed of a total of 220 species belonging to 147 genera and 38 families. 39 species were recorded for the first time in Turkey. Species accumulation curves were used to test the representativeness of field surveys and to perform richness estimates, which were resulted in high completeness values and richness estimations around 250 – 300 species for the study area. Results on composition, phenology and distributional patterns of the spider assemblage was also briefly discussed and found to be typical for Mediterranean habitats. Diagnostic photographs for each species in the collection are also provided in the appendix.M.S. - Master of Scienc