Community structure of spiders in coastal habitats of a Mediterranean delta region (Nestos Delta, NE Greece)

Abstract

Habitat zonation and ecology of spider assemblages have been poorly studied in Mediterranean ecosystems. A first analysis of spider assemblages in coastal habitats in the east Mediterranean area is presented. The study area is the 250 km2 Nestos Delta, located in East Macedonia in the North-East of Greece. Spiders were caught in pitfall traps at 17 sites from the beginning of April to the end of June 2004. Nonparametric estimators were used to determine species richness and alpha diversity. Ordination analysis (redundancy analysis) indicated four clearly separable spider species groups (salt meadows, dunes, meadows and floodplain forests),along a soil salinity and moisture gradient. Based on these results we discuss the habitat preferences of these spiders and include the first ecological data on several species. © 2009 Museu de Ciències Naturals.