Experts of the UB publish the most complete biological inventory of spider populations in peninsular

The biodiversity catalogue of peninsular spiders is now adding the discovery of a dozen new species –from seven different families- that are mainly found in edaphic environments (soil), according to an article led by Professor Miquel Àngel Arnedo, from the Faculty of Biology and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio) of the University of Barcelona. The new study, covering the largest study area on this animal group in peninsular territory, is now published in the journal Biodiversity Data Journal.

Other participants in the study are the experts from the Experimental Station of Arid Zones (EEZA-CSIC) and the University of Helsinki (Finland).

 

A sampling of more than 20,000 spider samples

The scientific team has studied a total of 20,539 samples of different Iberian spider species –with 8,521 adult specimens corresponding to 190 genera, 39 families and 376 species- in the oak woodlands of National Parks in Aiguestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici, Ordesa i Mont Perdut, the Peaks of Europe, Monfragüe, Cabañeros and Sierra Nevada.

These forests with temperate climate –where arboreal species and deciduous trees are abundant- represent the most appropriate natural habitat “to study the biogeographic patterns of spiders at a peninsular scale”, says Professor Miquel Àngel Arnedo. “In a broader sense, oak woodlands are a few of the forest communities that are represented in all National Parks building up our study. These are natural habitats of interest regarding conservation, and show a high level of endemism and their evolutionary history is quite well known”.

Further informationPhotos: Marc Domènech (University of Barcelona)