The spatial and temporal partitioning of a desert spider community, with descriptions of new species. American Museum novitates ; no. 2604
Supplemental Materials
Date
1976
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Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
New York, N.Y. : American Museum of Natural History
DOI
DOI
Abstract
"The habitat of desert spiders is characterized, and multivariate analyses are used to assess interspecific relations among spiders inhabiting a Recent lava bed area in south-central New Mexico. General habitat types (i.e., lava bed, mixed grassland, and rangeland) account for most of the variability in species dispersion. The majority of the 90 species present in the area frequented the lava bed; the fewest species occupied the mixed grassland habitat bordering the flow. The spider community can be readily divided into eight groups within which frequent interaction is expected. Five of these groups are distinguished by general habitat association and temporal and seasonal considerations. The remaining groups consist of species that exhibit preferences toward specific habitat features (grasses and shrubs). In most, but not all cases, closely related species are separated by spatial and temporal differences. Factors of the physical environment are thought to allow the coexistence of congeneric Pellenes (Salticidae) and Dictyna (Dictynidae) for which no niche partitioning is apparent. Nine new species are described from the study area: Zorocrates karli, Theridion leviorum, Drassyllus mumai, Zelotes chicano, Zelotes anglo, Phidippus reederi, Phidippus volcanus, Metaphidippus shaferi, and Sitticus juniperi"--P. [1].
Description
25 p. : ill., maps ; 26 cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 24-25).
Includes bibliographical references (p. 24-25).
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