Journal of Research in Biology An International Scientific Research Journal Original Research A preliminary study on spider diversity from a house hold garden (artificial mixed plantation) in West Tripura, India Authors: ABSTRACT: 1* Animesh Dey , 1 Susmita Debnath , Biplab Insects are the largest taxonomic group in the animal kingdom and their Debbarma1, PS Chaudhuri 2. significant role in ecology needs no description. Spiders are exclusively predatory, hence can play a very important role in regulation of insect population in any Institution: 1. Department of Zoology, ecosystem. Comprehensive study of spider fauna of Tripura has not been carried out Maharaja Bir Bikram yet. In our present study, we are attempting to provide relevant information regarding College, Agartala - 799004, spiders. This information may serve as the baseline documentation for future studies West Tripura in Tripura. A survey was carried out during July 2011 to January 2012 in a house garden (artificial mixed plantation) in Khayerpur of west Tripura district. A total of 47 2. Department of Zoology, spider species belonging to 36 genera of 14 families were collected. Among all the Tripura University, families, Salticidae dominated the studied assemblage and represents approximately Suryamaninagar – 799022, 38% of the total species collected. West Tripura Corresponding author: Keywords: Animesh Dey Spider diversity, artificial mixed plantation, salticidae, insect predator Email Id: Article Citation: Animesh Dey, Susmita Debnath, Biplab Debbarma and PS Chaudhuri. A preliminary study on spider diversity from a house hold garden (artificial mixed plantation) in West Tripura, India. Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(5): 1009-1017 Web Address: Dates: http://jresearchbiology.com/ Received: 24 June 2013 Accepted: 18 July 2013 Published: 16 Aug 2013 Journal of Research in Biology Research Journal of documents/RA0361.pdf. This article is governed by the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/2.0), which gives permission for unrestricted use, non-commercial, distribution and reproduction in all medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 1009-1017 | JRB | 2013 | Vol 3 | No 5 Journal of Research in Biology An International Scientific Research Journal www.jresearchbiology.com Dey et al., 2013 INTRODUCTION illustrated account of the diversity, beauty and intricacies The arachnids are the second largest contributor of spiders has been documented by Taylor (1999). (8.3%) of total arthropod diversity after insects. Spiders Although few reports on spiders from southern part of belong to the order Araneae of class Arachnida and are the country are available up to some extent (Charpentier, one of the diverse and functionally important predators. 1996; Jose and Sebastian, 2001; Jose et al., 2006; Smith, Hence, spiders can play a very important role in 2004; Sugumaran et al., 2005; Vijayalakshmi and regulating the terrestrial arthropod populations Ahimaz, 1993), there are scanty records on diversity and (Coddington and Levi, 1991). Considering, the distribution of spiders in India including its north east potentiality of spiders as bio-control agents of insect part as compared to other regions of the world. In NE pests and bio-indicator as well, exploration of spider India, diversity of spiders approximately unexplored and diversity need to be done with immediate effect. Since have received least attention in conservation strategies the distribution and occurrence of spiders are greatly (Singh et al., 2012). A very few documentations related to habitat structure and vegetation parameters (Tikader, 1970; Biswas, 2000a, 2000b, 2003, 2004, (Buddle et al., 2000; de Souza and Martins, 2004; 2006, 2007) are available on spiders of north east India. Greenstone, 1984; Uetz, 1991; Wise, 1993), study of As far as the spider diversity of Tripura is concerned, it spiders can be very much helpful for understanding is still not completely explored or understood. The main biodiversity patterns (Platnick, 1999). Despite of their aim of this study was to explore the spider species enormous importance in the natural ecosystem, spiders richness in a house hold garden. Considering the duration are largely ignored in conservational studies (Chetia and and plot size, this study is far from the complete Kalita, 2012). exploration of spider fauna of the state. However, it Now-a-days, distribution and diversity of spiders forms the basis for further investigations on this faunal has been studied in different parts of the world. A well group and reveals the importance, as well as potentiality Figure 1. Showing the study site (Khayerpur) near Agartala city 1010 Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(5): 1009-1017 Dey et al., 2013 of house hold gardens as natural habitat of spider fauna. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was conducted during July 2011 to January 2012 in a house hold garden having an area of 80 m2 in Khayerpur (23° 50' 37.9'' N, 91° 20' 39.9'' E; elevation 24 m) near to the Agartala city of west Tripura district (Fig. 1). Since, polyculture house hold gardens with such type of size are very rare in the core city of Agartala now a days, the above site is selected for this preliminary survey of spider fauna near to the city. Aerial and ground hand collection methods, along with vegetation beating was mainly used for the collection of Figure 2. Showing the total number of genera represented by different spider families spider specimens. Spiders were searched visually also under fallen tree branches, leaf litters etc. Collected respectively (Framenau, 2013; Richman et al., 2005). specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol for further Rest are endemic to south-east Asia (Siliwal et al., 2005) identification. Keys and catalogs provided by Biswas and and distribution of four species (Thiania bhamoensis, Biswas (1992, 2003, 2004), Sebastian and Peter (2009) Argiope versicolor, Cyrtophora unicolor, Amyciaea and Tikader (1987) were followed for the identification lineatipes) are reported in India for the first time of spider specimen. (Keshwani et al., 2012). A total of 1686 spider species accounts with RESULTS AND DISCUSSION India (Keswani et al., 2012) and 47 species are recorded A total of 47 spider species were collected from during the study from a small house hold garden. the studied house hold garden. Among the collected Records on spider diversity from the other parts of the species of spiders, eighteen species belong to the family country viz. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sikkim, Salticidae, seven species to the family Araneidae, three Calcutta and Assam (Chetia and Kalita, 2012; Singh species each to the family Tetragnathidae, Lycosidae and et al., 2012; Tikader and Biswas, 1981; Tikader, 1970, Thomisidae, two species each to the family Nephilidae, 1977, 1980) are comparable with the observations of the Oxyopidae, Sparassidae, and Theridiidae, one species present study. Highest species diversity was shown by each to the families Scytodidae, Hersiliidae, Uloboridae, Salticidae, followed by Araneidae, Tetragnathidae, Corinnidae and Miturgidae (Table 1). India represents Lycosidae, Thomisidae etc. (Fig. 3). Plexippus paykulli 438 genera (Keswani et al., 2012) from which 36 genera was found to be most abundant in the studied garden were recorded during the study. Highest generic diversity followed by Phintella vittata, Myrmarachne sp1, was found in Salicidae (12), Araneidae (6), Neoscona sp, Araneus mitificus, Pardosa sp, Camaricus Tetragnathidae (3), Lycosidae (3) and Thomisidae (2) formosus etc. Out of total spider species recorded, about (Fig. 2). Among the collected spiders, four (Cyrtophora 48 % (22 species) were found to be foliage runner, 28 % unicolor, Camaricus maugi, Nephila pilipes, Heteropoda (13 species) were orb web builder, 15 % (7 species) were cervina) and one (Menemerus bivittatus) species of ground runner, 6 % (3 species) were ambusher and 4 % spiders were also reported from Australia and USA (2 species) were scattered line weber (Fig. 4). Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(5): 1009-1017 1011 Dey et al., 2013 Table 1: List of spider species collected from the household garden during study Family Species Distribution Salticidae 1) Plexippus paykulli (Audouin, 1826) IND, CHN, LKA (Foliage runner) 2) Plexippus petersi (Karsch, 1878) IND, CHN, SGP 3) Phintella vittata (C. L. Koch, 1846) IND, CHN, MYS 4) Asemonea sp. IND, LKA, THA 5) Phintella versicolor (C. L. Koch, 1846) IND, CHN, MYS 6) Portia labiata (Thorell, 1887) IND, LKA, MYS 7) Epeus sp.1 IND,CHN,MYS,IDN 8) Epeus sp.2 IND,CHN,MYS,IDN 9) Menemerus bivittatus (Dufour, 1831) IND, USA 10) Thiania bhamoensis (Thorell, 1887) SGP, IDN, MYS 11) Telamonia dimidiata (Simon, 1899) IND, IDN, BTN 12) Brettus sp. IND, CHN, LKA 13) Siler sp. IND, LKA 14) Rhene danieli (Tikader, 1973) IND 15) Myrmarachne orientales (Tikader , 1973) IND, PAK 16) Myrmarachne plataleoides (Cambridge, 1869) IND, LKA, CHN 17) Myrmarachne sp.1 IND, LKA, CHN, PAK 18) Myrmarachne sp.2 IND, LKA, CHN, PAK Araneidae 19) Neoscona sp. IND, PAK, CHN (Orb web builder) 20) Argiope versicolor (Doleschall, 1859) SGP, IDN, VNM 21) Cyclosa sp. IND, LKA, MYS 22) Cyclosa bifida (Doleschall, 1859) IND, LKA, MYS 23) Araneus mitificus (Simon, 1886) IND, PAK, BGD 24) Cyrtophora unicolor (Doleschall, 1857) LKA, PHL, AUS 25) Gasteracantha hasselti (C. L. Koch, 1837) IND, CHN Tetragnathidae 26) Leucauge decorata (Blackwall, 1864) IND, LKA, SGP (Orb web builder) 27) Opadometa fastigiata (Simon, 1877) IND, PHL 28) Tylorida