Habitat structure of two fragments influencing leaf litter spider

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the structural habitat of two small forest remnants and the richness and composition of leaf litter spiders. Two areas were evaluated, one measuring approximately 5 ha and a second one with around 10 ha. On each of the remnants were defined 60 sample units, whereas on each remnant were installed 60 pitfalls. For the evaluation of the remnants’ complexity there were measured nine variables, such as litter depth, frequency of fallen logs, microhabitats, litter and herbaceous cover, breast height circumference, distance measure between the trees, and temperature and luminosity. There were found an ordination pattern among the remnants illustrating dissociation among them. Later on, it was verified that the remnants differ in relation to environmental variables. There were collected 555 spiders distributed in 18 families, 185 adult, divided into 30 species. The species composition and richness differ among the remnants. It was verified that the FRG1 presented a more reduced richness, thus, a higher frequency of generalist species. It is suggested that the connectivity on the FRG2 is favoring the maintenance of species, which possibly, are more demanding, once the contiguity promotes the dispersion among communities. Thereafter, we ratify that the connectivity is an important factor for the maintenance of leaf litter spider communities.

Key words: remnants, spider richness, connectivity, soil.