Neotropical arachnological collections: Basic tools for the development of spider research

Abstract

Natural history collections are essential tools for development in biological research. Since the nineteenth century, arachnological collections in the Neotropics have been collaborating to carry out research on spiders and human resource training. In many cases, they have been the starting point of several research fields and the first steps allowing the development of arachnological studies in many Latin American countries. An important part of the future production of arachnological knowledge is deposited in these collections. They preserve critical data about the natural history of Neotropical spiders in several areas of knowledge, such as taxonomy, systematics, ecology, ethology, and biogeography. The present chapter is focused on the historical, present, and future perspectives of Neotropical arachnological collections and their contribution to spider research. We also discuss the main role that araneological collections will play in the future of knowledge of Neotropical spider diversity and its conservation.