Systematics and Biodiversity 6 (2): 249–282 Issued 6 June 2008 doi:10.1017/S1477200008002648 Printed in the United Kingdom C The Natural History Museum ∗ Paulo A.V. Borges1 & Joerg Wunderlich2 Spider biodiversity patterns and their 1Azorean Biodiversity Group, Departamento de Ciˆencias conservation in the Azorean archipelago, Agr´arias, CITA-A, Universidade dos Ac¸ores. Campus de Angra, with descriptions of new species Terra-Ch˜a; Angra do Hero´ısmo – 9700-851 – Terceira (Ac¸ores); Portugal. Email:
[email protected] 2Oberer H¨auselbergweg 24, Abstract In this contribution, we report on patterns of spider species diversity of 69493 Hirschberg, Germany. the Azores, based on recently standardised sampling protocols in different hab- Email: joergwunderlich@ t-online.de itats of this geologically young and isolated volcanic archipelago. A total of 122 species is investigated, including eight new species, eight new records for the submitted December 2005 Azorean islands and 61 previously known species, with 131 new records for indi- accepted November 2006 vidual islands. Biodiversity patterns are investigated, namely patterns of range size distribution for endemics and non-endemics, habitat distribution patterns, island similarity in species composition and the estimation of species richness for the Azores. Newly described species are: Oonopidae – Orchestina furcillata Wunderlich; Linyphiidae: Linyphiinae – Porrhomma borgesi Wunderlich; Turinyphia cavernicola Wunderlich; Linyphiidae: Micronetinae – Agyneta depigmentata Wunderlich; Linyph- iidae: