Comparison of spider diversity in two temperate forests by a rapid survey and its potential in nature conservation studies

Abstract

One of the crucial issues in nature conservation studies refers to the significant investment of time and energy required for a reliable estimation of biodiversity. To overcome this problem we designed a short survey for the estimation the richness of spider species in comparable habitats based on a semiquantitative approach. Carrying out the survey in protected and unprotected temperate forest in the northeast Slovenia provided sufficient data for evaluation and relative comparison of spider diversity between the forests. High diversity of spiders observed in both forests indicates their importance as refuge habitats in agriculturally degraded landscape. At the same time, the comparison between surveyed forests shows a significantly higher level of spider diversity in the protected one, which supports the current conservation acts and provides a base-line for future monitoring of spider diversity in the forest. Modified set of sampling methods used in the survey revealed high level of efficiency in sampling by hand-held suction device and suggests its potential as an additional method in spider diversity studies in temperate forests with dense undergrowth. As the study is based on one of the most diverse and abundant animal groups in terrestrial ecosystems, it provides a reliable comparison of estimated biodiversity between comparable sites and exhibits the potential to complement the current criteria for assignment and monitoring of the biodiversity required for efficient conservation planning.