An ecological comparison of spiders from urban and natural habitats in California.

Abstract

Spider-community composition at the urban habitat consisted primarily of web-building spiders above ground level (aerial). Ground-surface spiders were fewer in number and species due to manipulation of the environment by homeowners. In a relatively undisturbed coastal chaparral habitat total numbers and numbers of species of aerial spiders were low, but ground-surface spiders were more numerous, probably due to an abundance of prey. Plant architecture in conjunction with local climate influenced aerial spider community composition. A greater diversity of plant species provided a heterogeneous habitat for aerial spiders at both urban and semi-native habitats. The cooler and more humid climates at these sites reduced exposure to potentially limiting factors such as desiccation. Low diversity of plant architecture and a hot and dry climate restricted aerial spider numbers and species at the native site. -from Authors