Use of a combination of a novel pitfall trap setup and Lindgren funnel traps at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park resulted in the collection of few specimens due to a higher than normal ground water level. Despite this, some unusual specimens of Arachnida and Diplopoda were found, including the second known record of Mysmena incredula Gertsch and Davis, 1936 (Araneae: Mysmenidae) in Florida.
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park (FSPSP) is an 80,000+ acre preserve approximately 20 miles long by 5 miles wide in Collier County, Florida, receiving on average about 60 inches (1524 mm) of rain per year during May to October. It is largely a seasonally flooded depression in the underlying limestone, with elevations vary­ing from
No list of spiders or other arthropods has previously existed for FSPSP. Due to interest by the authors in documenting the species of spiders occurring in the state, and interest by park personnel in documenting the flora and fauna in the park, a cooperative agreement was developed by which certain unique and generally non-public areas of FSPSP could be surveyed by two trapping methods - Lindgren funnel and a novel PVC pitfall trap similar to that used for mole cricket sampling

Edwards, G. B.

Relish, Karen

English

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Insecta Mundi Center for Systematic Entomology, Gainesville, Florida 4-28-2023 A preliminary report on non-insect arthropods (Arachnida, Diplopoda) at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park G. B. Edwards FDACS, Division of Plant Industry, Florida State Collection of Arthropods, GB.Edwards@freshfromflorida.com Karen Relish Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Copeland, FL, relishka@hotmail.com Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/insectamundi  Part of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, and the Entomology Commons Edwards, G. B. and Relish, Karen, "A preliminary report on non-insect arthropods (Arachnida, Diplopoda) at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park" (2023). Insecta Mundi. 1484. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/insectamundi/1484 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for Systematic Entomology, Gainesville, Florida at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Insecta Mundi by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Center for Systematic Entomology, Inc., Gainesville, FLDate of issue: April 28, 20230986A preliminary report on non-insect arthropods  (Arachnida, Diplopoda)  at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State ParkG. B. EdwardsFlorida State Collection of Arthropods, Division of Plant Industry, FDACS, Gainesville, FL, 32608Karen RelishFakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Copeland, FL 34137Insecta MundIA journal of world insect systematicsPage Count: 5Edwards and RelishEdwards GB, Relish K. 2023. A preliminary report on non-insect arthropods (Arachnida, Diplopoda) at Faka-hatchee Strand Preserve State Park. Insecta Mundi 0986: 1–5.Published on April 28, 2023 byCenter for Systematic Entomology, Inc.P.O. Box 141874Gainesville, FL 32614-1874 USAhttp://centerforsystematicentomology.org/Insecta Mundi is a journal primarily devoted to insect systematics, but articles can be published on any non-marine arthropod. Topics considered for publication include systematics, taxonomy, nomenclature, checklists, faunal works, and natural history. Insecta Mundi will not consider works in the applied sciences (i.e. medi-cal entomology, pest control research, etc.), and no longer publishes book reviews or editorials. Insecta Mundi publishes original research or discoveries in an inexpensive and timely manner, distributing them free via open access on the internet on the date of publication.Insecta Mundi is referenced or abstracted by several sources, including the Zoological Record and CAB Abstracts. Insecta Mundi is published irregularly throughout the year, with completed manuscripts assigned an individual number. Manuscripts must be peer reviewed prior to submission, after which they are reviewed by the editorial board to ensure quality. One author of each submitted manuscript must be a current member of the Center for Systematic Entomology.Guidelines and requirements for the preparation of manuscripts are available on the Insecta Mundi website at http://centerforsystematicentomology.org/insectamundi/Chief Editor: David Plotkin, insectamundi@gmail.comAssistant Editor: Paul E. Skelley, insectamundi@gmail.comLayout Editor: Robert G. ForsythEditorial Board: Davide Dal Pos, Oliver Keller, M. J. PaulsenFounding Editors: Ross H. Arnett, Jr., J. H. Frank, Virendra Gupta, John B. Heppner, Lionel A. Stange, Michael C. Thomas, Robert E. WoodruffReview Editors: Listed on the Insecta Mundi webpagePrinted copies (ISSN 0749-6737) annually deposited in librariesFlorida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Gainesville, FL, USAThe Natural History Museum, London, UKNational Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USAZoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint-Petersburg, RussiaElectronic copies (online ISSN 1942-1354) in PDF formatArchived digitally by Portico.Florida Virtual Campus: http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/insectamundiUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln, Digital Commons: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/insectamundi/Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-135240This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons, Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unre-stricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/Insecta MundI0986: 1–5 2023A preliminary report on non-insect arthropods  (Arachnida, Diplopoda)  at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State ParkG. B. EdwardsFlorida State Collection of Arthropods, Division of Plant Industry, FDACS, Gainesville, FL, 32608GB.Edwards@fdacs.govKaren RelishFakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Copeland, FL 34137relishka@hotmail.comAbstract. Use of a combination of a novel pitfall trap setup and Lindgren funnel traps at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park resulted in the collection of few specimens due to a higher than normal ground water level. Despite this, some unusual specimens of Arachnida and Diplopoda were found, including the second known record of Mysmena incredula Gertsch and Davis, 1936 (Araneae: Mysmenidae) in Florida.Key words. Millipedes, short-tailed whipscorpions, spiders.ZooBank registration. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BB76066E-EA16-4A19-8A3E-54D3BE5F94E7IntroductionFakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park (FSPSP) is an 80,000+ acre preserve approximately 20 miles long by 5 miles wide in Collier County, Florida, receiving on average about 60 inches (1524 mm) of rain per year during May to October.  It is largely a seasonally flooded depression in the underlying limestone, with elevations vary-ing from <0.5 to 6.0 feet over short distances of 100 yards/91.44 meters or less. The strands are characterized by a canopy of bald cypress, red maple, and laurel oak trees.  About 0.5% of the Preserve consists of rockland hammocks, also referred to as tropical hardwood hammocks, characterized by gumbo limbo, strangler fig, royal palm, and stopper trees (Carver 2014). Rockland hammocks can also be seasonally flooded but normally less so than strands. During some years, rockland hammocks can experience seasonal flooding sometimes ~30–60 days whereas for strands the hydroperiod is typically ~250 days per year in southwest Florida (Duever and Roberts 2013).No list of spiders or other arthropods has previously existed for FSPSP. Due to interest by the authors in documenting the species of spiders occurring in the state, and interest by park personnel in documenting the flora and fauna in the park, a cooperative agreement was developed by which certain unique and generally non-public areas of FSPSP could be surveyed by two trapping methods - Lindgren funnel and a novel PVC pitfall trap similar to that used for mole cricket sampling. Materials and MethodsCustom-built pitfall traps were 2′ long lengths of 4″ PVC pipe with end caps (28″ long with end caps), one of which screwed on and off for ease of emptying the trap (Fig. 1).  There was a 1″ wide slit cut lengthwise in the trap that was positioned at the top when the trap was buried flush with the ground with only the slit exposed (Fig. 2–3). Each trap was covered with a wooden ‘roof ’ to prevent direct rainfall from entering, and to prevent wild animals from disturbing the trap (Fig. 4). Four traps were used, two each at two locations situated about three miles apart. One site was in the southeast portion of Janes Scenic Drive, south of East Main/Gate 12. Data from a USGS water level recorder, located in the center of Fakahatchee approximately 20 feet from this site, provided information on above ground water level. The other site was 9.84 feet (3 m) southwest of Well 12 or 0.5 mile 2 · April 28, 2023 Edwards and Relish(805 m) southwest of Deep Lake located along SR 29 in Big Cypress National Preserve. These areas were located in rockland hammock habitat. The traps at each location were set at right angles to each other (Fig. 3–4). The PVC traps were partially filled with pink RV propylene glycol as a preservative. Two Lindgren funnel traps were provided by the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS). These traps (Fig. 5) were standard multi-level stacked funnel traps hung from tree branches, with 70% isopropyl alcohol as a preservative in the bottom cup. The set of central holes averaged about 0.25 inch/5.7 mm in diameter.  The overall traps were approximately 44 inches/112 cm long by 7 inches/17.78 cm wide when fully extended and contained 12 funnels. One Lindgren funnel trap was placed near the pitfall traps at each site.Traps were emptied at various intervals (usually once every two weeks, range one to four weeks) from June 2012 to September 2013 due to variable water levels. Most of the specimens came from pitfall traps. Only four Lindgren funnel samples had spiders; however, these samples added some foliage-dwelling species that otherwise would not have been caught. All specimens are deposited in the Florida State Collection of Arthropods.ResultsBased on data from a USGS water level recorder, from 1973 to 2013 the annual fluctuation in water levels above or below ground in the hardwood hammocks during the study period was relatively normal (Mike Duever, pers. comm. 2016). However, the wet season started much later in 2012 as compared to 2013 by almost 4 months. For the 2012 study year, the water level rose above ground on September 15, 2012, and fell below ground on January 29, 2013.  For the second summer wet season during the study, the water level rose above ground on May 21, Figures 1–4. Photos of traps used. 1) PVC pitfall trap structure. 2) PVC pitfall trap buried with top flush with ground surface. 3) Paired PVC pitfall traps in situ without roof. 4) Paired PVC pitfall traps in situ each with wooden roof (black arrows).Non-insect arthropods at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park Insecta Mundi  0986 · 32013, and remained above ground through the end of the study. An earlier start to the wet season with frequent subsequent rain would bring the soil to complete saturation earlier and keep it saturated. Once the water table reached the ground surface, the soil would be completely saturated, so a slow transition, i.e., a very gradual rise and subsequent fall of the water table during and after rainfall events, would have occurred in 2013, whereas in 2012, there was a rapid rise and fall of the water table during and after rainfall events when the soil was not completely saturated. The transition point was determined to be at 6 feet above mean sea level. This may account for why the preservative fluid became severely diluted, especially during the second summer (2013) wet season.Because of the unusually extended above-ground water levels, significant damage was done to specimens in all trap samples, although some were worse than others. Most small, soft-bodied specimens such as spiders were in poor condition, often with abdomens cleared or completely missing. However, thanks to the presence of sclerotized genitalia, adult specimens could still be identified. All specimens were identified to species if possible, otherwise to the lowest taxonomic level that could be determined. Specimens were preserved in 70% isopropyl alcohol and deposited in the Florida State Collection of Arthropods. Due to the damage, non-target organisms were discarded.The taxa list given here is from the results of a permit report given to the Florida Department of Environ-mental Protection (see Acknowledgments).ARACHNIDAAraneae (Spiders)LinyphiidaeAgyneta sp. ?GenusFigure 5. Lindgren funnel trap in rockland habitat, Karen Relish taking notes.4 · April 28, 2023 Edwards and RelishMysmenidaeMysmena incredula (Gertsch and Davis, 1936)Oonopidae?GenusPholcidaeModisimus sp.PhrurolithidaePhrurotimpus cf. alarius (Hentz, 1847)TheridiidaeChrysso pulcherrima (Mello-Leitão, 1917)Coleosoma floridanum Banks, 1900?Dipoena sp.Faiditus caudatus (Taczanowski, 1874)Platnickina mneon (Bösenberg and Strand, 1906)Theridion sp. ?GenusSchizomida (Short-tailed whipscorpions)Hubbardiidae Stenochrus portoricensis Chamberlin, 1922DIPLOPODA JulidaParajulidae?Genus juvenilePolydesmidaParadoxosomatidaeOxidus gracilis (C.L. Koch, 1847)Discussion. Most of the specimens consist of small to very small species. None of the spiders had a body length exceeding 3 mm, and most were much smaller. Most species were singletons, but none exceeding four specimens (Coleosoma floridanum). Some were interesting due to their rarity while some theridiids were of concern for pos-sible non-native status. Seven of the 13 species of spiders collected were only found in Lindgren funnels, including the tiny mys-menid Mysmena incredula, until recently placed in the synonymized genus Calodipoena (Lopardo and Hormiga 2015).  This is only the second record of this species in Florida for this species described from Texas; the previous record also was from Collier County (Levi 1956). The other six spider species, schizomids, and millipedes were found only in the pitfall traps.While it is well known that Florida was connected to Texas multiple times during maximum glaciation events at least as far back as the Pliocene (e.g., Rice 2013), resulting in the migration of flora and fauna from west to east, there seems to be a particular connection with southwest Florida that may be due to a singular migration event. In addition to the presence of Mysmena incredula, the distinctive salticid Cheliferoides longimanus Gertsch, 1936, described from Texas also can be found in this part of Florida.The pholcid Modisimus sp. appears to be the same as an undetermined species that has been found along the southeast coast of Florida.Surprisingly, several normally well-represented families were not found in the pitfalls (e.g., Gnaphosidae, Lycosidae, Salticidae, Thomisidae). It is not known if this lack of species diversity is due to the abnormally wet conditions, unusual trap design, or other unknown factors.  Perhaps a 2″ slit in the trap rather than a 1″ slit would have been more productive for larger arthropods.Of concern are the theridiid spiders Chrysso pulcherrima, Coleosoma floridanum and Platnickina mneon, which are cosmopolitan in distribution (World Spider Catalog 2022). Probably none of them are native (despite the specific epithet of one of them), and it is unknown what effect they might have on native species. Since usually Non-insect arthropods at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park Insecta Mundi  0986 · 5introduced exotic species of spiders are found in disturbed or synanthropic habitat (personal observation, GBE), this is a matter of concern. How these species might be monitored or what, if any, effect they have on native spe-cies is a subject that requires further investigation. The millipede Oxidus gracilis is also a cosmopolitan species, and sometimes a nuisance in the ornamental plant industry due to its large numbers.A surprising development was the difficulty in identification of a few adult specimens. Two of the theridi-ids have not yet been recognized, and both linyphiids belong to an incompletely known group that will require further investigation.ConclusionThe low numbers of species in this survey seems more due to unfortunate timing of sampling with high water conditions than it does potential lack of diversity. It is recommended that hand collecting in the same habitats with other sampling methods (e.g., beating, sweeping) be conducted to supplement the results of this survey. The total spider diversity in the park is probably several times greater than indicated by the above-mentioned trap-ping methods, although the traps utilized may have picked up a few species that may not have been sampled by other methods. The fact that some rare and unrecognized species turned up in this survey should provide further impetus for additional study of the FSPSP fauna.AcknowledgmentsWe would like to thank Cyril Marks for making this survey possible by construction of terrestrial traps and assisting with tending the traps. We would also like to thank Mike Duever of Natural Ecosystems for sharing his expertise in hydrology. In addition, we would like to thank Mike Owen, FSPSP Biologist, Florida Department of Environmental Protection; Julieta Brambila, USDA; Leroy Whilby, CAPS; and Patricia and John Relish, for logistical assistance. This research was conducted under the auspices of Florida Department of Environmen-tal Protection permit #08011214, Valinda Subic, Bureau Chief. We also thank Erin Powell and Bill Grogan for reviewing the manuscript.Literature CitedCarver J. 2014. Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Unit Management Plan. State of Florida, Department of Environ-mental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks. Available at: https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/2014_FakahatcheeStrandPreserveStatePark_AP%20reduced.pdf (Last accessed December 22, 2022.)Duever MJ, Roberts RE. 2013. Successional and transitional models of natural South Florida, USA, plant communities. Fire Ecology 9(1): 110–123.Levi HW. 1956. The spider genus Mysmena in the Americas (Araneae, Theridiidae). American Museum Novitates 1801: 1–13.Lopardo L, Hormiga G. 2015.  Out of the twilight zone: phylogeny and evolutionary morphology of the orb-weaving spider family Mysmenidae, with a focus on spinneret spigot morphology in symphytognathoids (Araneae, Araneoidea). Zoo-logical Journal of the Linnean Society 173: 527–786.Rice AC. 2013. Geologic history of Florida: major events that formed the Sunshine State. University of Florida Press; Gaines-ville; FL. 229 p.World Spider Catalog. 2022. World Spider Catalog. Version 23.5. Natural History Museum Bern. Available at http://wsc.nmbe.ch (Last accessed October 28, 2022.)Received December 22, 2022; accepted March 16, 2023.Review editor David Plotkin.

A preliminary report on non-insect arthropods (Arachnida, Diplopoda) at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2485&context=insectamundi

A preliminary report on non-insect arthropods (Arachnida, Diplopoda) at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska