Functional capabilities of spiders in support of sustainable agriculture

Abstract

Modern agricultural techniques have a detrimental effect on ecosystems, and hence ecofriendly agriculture is required for sustainable agriculture with biodiversity conservation. Spiders play a vital role in keeping pest populations under control as an alternative to chemical pesticides. This study assessed the functional diversity of spiders to control pest populations by estimating their diversity in diurnal and seasonal appearance, preferred microhabitats, and hunting strategies. From August 2020 to November 2021, random quadrate sampling was undertaken in cultivated and wild plant communities. A metaanalysis of the ecology and diversity found that spiders have the capability to provide biological pest control against a wide variety of pests in Odisha’s coastal environment.