Preliminary assessment of use of Spider webs for the indication of air contaminants

Abstract

Spider webs found in polluted areas could absorb air contaminants. In order to check their cumulative ability, two different study sites had been chosen in Wroclaw (in the area of wet ponds and in the residential district of Biskupin) where spider silk was collected (after 10 days from the time of its construction). Web types of appropriate thickness and size were chosen for analyses. The representatives of Agelenidae family belonging to two species Malthonica silvestris and Malthonica ferruginea proved to be the most adequate for further studies. The level of selected heavy metal cumulation was assessed (Pb, Zn, Pt) in the collected samples. As the background, the level of air pollution concerning dust and selected heavy metals was also analysed by classic methods. Based on the web analysis, it was found that site 2 (Biskupin) exhibited the highest level of pollution with some metals. Similar results were obtained with the application of classic methods. The results of research are promising and confirm the possibility of obtaining a practical tool for the indication of air pollutants based on spiders silk, particularly on webs belonging to Agelenidae family.