Colonization of subterranean habitats by spiders in Central Europe

0392274 - BC 2014 RIV IT eng J - Journal Article
Růžička, Vlastimil - Šmilauer, P. - Mlejnek, R.
Colonization of subterranean habitats by spiders in Central Europe.
International Journal of Speleology. Roč. 42, č. 2 (2013), s. 133-140. ISSN 0392-6672. E-ISSN 1827-806X
Grant - others:GA JU(CZ) GAJU 04-142/2010/P
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : superficial and deep subterranean habitats * caves * spiders
Subject RIV: EH - Ecology, Behaviour
Impact factor: 1.275, year: 2013
http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1288&context=ijs

Using data from the Czech Republic, we studied the distribution of spiders in soils, crevice systems, scree and caves, i.e. subterranean habitats at depths spanning from 10 cm to 100 m. In total, we found 161 species. The number of species declines with increasing habitat depth, with a major drop in species richness at the depth of 10 meters. Thirteen species exhibit morphological adaptations to life in subterranean habitats. At depths greater than 10 meters, spider assemblages are almost exclusively composed of troglomorphic species. We propose a hypothesis of evolution of troglomorphisms at spiders during Quaternary climatic cycles.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0222726