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Research Paper Checklist of Spider Fauna in Nsukka, Southeastern

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Research Paper Checklist of Spider Fauna in Nsukka, Southeastern Academia Journal of Biotechnology 3(5): 069-078, November 2015 DOI: 10.15413ajb.2015.0221 ISSN 2315-7747 ©2015 Academia Publishing Research Paper Checklist of Spider Fauna in Nsukka, Southeastern, Nigeria Accepted 5th October, 2015 ABSTRACT A checklist of spider fauna was carried out in University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2015. This study investigated the numerous spider species, its relative abundance and their distributions. Spiders were collected from four different sampling sites: hostel, staff quarters, University secondary school and University primary school. Sampling was done by using equipment like the sweep net, pitfall trap and sticks. Six hundred and thirty-two individuals which belonged to the spider families; Agelenidae (3.79%), Araneidae (40.5%), Theridiidae (55.5%) and Sicariidae (0.15%) were collected. Species recorded for the hostel habitat included: Latrodectus geometricus (Brown widow spider), Argio pelobata (Orb weaver spider), Argio peaurantia (Garden spider) and Tegenaria domestica (Funnel weaver spider). These species listed above were also collected in the staff quarters΄ habitat, Gasterancantha cancriformis (spiny backed orb weaver) and Loxosceles reclusa (Brown recluse spider) were also found. University primary school and University secondary school habitat had a new species: Steatoda nobilis (False widow spider). Most of the species recorded in Nigeria were found in the University secondary school habitat. Relative abundance of these spider Odo, Gregory Ejikeme1, Agwu Ekenma Juliana1, Felicia Nkechi Ekeh1, Esther species were determined by using the Shannon Wiener Index formula. University Nkiru Ekechukwu1, Nelson IK Ossai2, secondary school habitat showed the highest abundance 1.4547 >1.2182 > Ezea, Celestine Osita3, Madu Josephine1, 1.0154 > 0.9508 against University primary school, staff quarters΄, and hostel 2 1 Eneje Victor and Ugwu Fidelis habitat respectively. Comparison of these relative abundances shows that the 1Department of Zoology University of staff quarters΄ habitat has more spider fauna than the other sampling sites: Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. hostel, University secondary school and University primary school. Hostel habitat 2Enugu State University Science and showed the least fauna of spider species (0.9508). From these findings, it could Technology, Enugu, Nigeria. be concluded that habitat characteristics, geographical distribution and 3Federal University, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. availability of food played a vital role in the relative abundance of spider fauna of an area. Corresponding author Email: [email protected] Key words: Spider, Nsukka, Nigeria, University of Nigeria. INTRODUCTION Nigeria is an agricultural country and has very diverse characteristics of spider are the presence of carapace found fauna. Most of the areas are under habitation of different on the dorsal side of cephalothorax. The jaws are called kinds of invertebrates. Spider are of the members of the chelicerae and have fangs which also make them piercing invertebrates and is a dominant member of the community. device for injecting venom. Spider produces silk through However, in the past, less discoveries were made on it, spinnerets located on the ventral side of the abdomen. because, researchers see it as a less important organism Epigynum is a female reproductive organ. It is situated on (Butt and Beg, 2001). the ventral side of the abdomen of females. The trachea and The spider belongs to the Order Aranae, which is one of booklungs are the breathing organs (Nieuwenhuys, 2008). the gasping animal groups (Riechert, 1984). The important There are 110 families, 3859 genera and 42751 species of Academia Journal of Biotechnology; Ejikeme et al. 070 spider described in the world (Platnick, 2012). Most people diversities of spider and there is a need for further study on see the spider as a hateful and injurious animal (Davey, the richness of diversity of spider. Arshed (et al 2012) 1994), when in actual sense they are of immense help in studied diversity of foliage spiders in two contrasting protection of our crops from pests (Fabre, 1994). Also they habitats in rain forest of Southwestern Nigeria and his are biological control agents (Platnick, 1995). Furthermore, study suggested possible effect of habitat characteristics on they are less harmful to the environment than man for their the occurrence and diversity of foliage spider species. This venoms are not polluted as the pesticides used in agro- present study is therefore aimed at documenting the ecosystems (Novak, 2001) and their venoms are also used distribution and diversity of spiders in five different in the treatment of the heart disease (Davey, 1994). habitats with a view to estimating the influence of habitat Spiders inhabit the ground, underground tunnels system, structure on diversity of spider in the area of study. The under stones and near water but habitually it likes moist information gained on the diversity and distribution of place. Some spiders live on the seaside where they are spiders elucidated in this study would play an important sunken into the sea twice a day. Freshwater is also the role in the management of spiders and related pests in the territory for many species including the water spider study area. (Karren, 2002). The growth of spider is through molting in which their size is increased with the removal of old and hardening of new skins. The spider varies in size and MATERIALS AND METHODS colours. The giant bird eating spider, Theraphosid (thorell) has a body size of 75 mm with leg length up to 255 mm. The Study area female spiders are always larger than the males (Kingsley, 1999). Nsukka is a town and Local Government Area in South The origin of spider is still not vivid; however, many Eastern Nigeria in Enugu State. It has a total land area of scientists believed that the spider originated in sea 17.52sq mi(45.38 km2)(Federal Republic of Nigeria Official (Auduoin, 1994; Blackwall, 2001). Later on they evolved Gazette, 2007). This town is inhabited by many ethnic into two groups, one with and other without extensor leg groups but it is dominated by the Igbos. This area has the muscles. The evolution of spider is around 400 million following neighbours; Edemani, IbagwaAni, Opi, Orba, and years ago. The earliest spider were larger in size and with Ede-oballa. Other nearby towns include Enugu-ezike, segmented body, however, the recent spiders have Obollo Afor, Adani, Uzouwani and Mkpologwu. Nsukka unsegmented body. Only members of the suborder people are known for their peaceful nature and kind Mesothalae are still reported with segmented abdomen, hospitality. It has an estimated population of about 309,683 and they are generally considered the most ancient type of people, Nsukka lies within the following coordinates, and is ״and longitude 7°24҆30.43 ״spiders. There is very little fossil record about them, the latitude: 6°51҆55.35 oldest spider fossil was found in a rock in New York, USA approximately 300m above sea level (Federal Republic of and it dated back to the Devonian period (410 to 360 Nigeria Official Gazette, 2007). million years)(Barrion and Litsinger, 1995). This fossil was preserved and only spinnerets and chelicerae were documented from the carboniferous period (360 to 290 Sampling materials million years) (Cambridge, 1984). The fossil spiders with segmented abdomen were recognized. The web of spider is This ecological research was carried out with the use of hardly fossilized, it is believed that early spiders built some materials which includes; pitfall traps, sweep nets, unstable web near the ground, however, later on they beating sheets, insect nets, sticks, and plastic containers. developed aerial web in flora for catching flying insects. It is possible to say that the evolution of spider is just related to Pitfall traps: Aluminum mixing bowls(8.5 inch diameter the evolution of insects (Karen, 2002). 3.0 inch deep,1.5 qt.capacity) were use to capture and Little information is available about spider found in retain spiders associated with ground-litter habitats of Mesozoic period (240 to 65 million years) (Dyal, 2003). Nsukka. The bowls were buried flush with the soil surface, Spiders are obligate predators of herbivorous insects and and partially filled with a killing - preservative agent- a they are capable of reducing insect population that may not 50:50 mixture of ethylene glycol and 95% ethyl alcohol, be limited by competition and food availability in some plus 1-2 drops of household detergent to reduce surface agro ecosystem. Several studies have shown that insect tension. populations significantly increase when released from predation by spiders. Spiders as predators are not attached Sweep nets: The standard insect sweep nets were used to to a particular plant species as a food source, therefore collect spiders from the herbaceous- shrub-small tree vegetation structure, is an important determinant of spider layers. These nets included; (1) a Professional series insect community attributes. net, 12 inch diameter, with muslin netting and a 36 inches In Nigeria however, there are relatively low data on wooden handle, and (2) a Heavy duty sweep net,15 inch Academia Journal of Biotechnology; Ejikeme et al. 071 diameter, with sail cloth netting, and a 24 inches handle. using the keys by Ubick et al., (2005). Captured spiders were removed from sweep net by aspirator or by dry vial and transferred to small jars. Checklist arrangement Beating sheets: To collect spiders from woody shrubs and Spider families, genera and species are listed in alphabetical trees. order for convenience. Seven species of spider in University of Nigeria, Nsukka are listed and arranged. They were listed Other materials include; Aspirator bottle, Jars, Alcohol, and arranged based on their different stations. Microscope, Petri dishes, Hand gloves. Habitat affinities Sampling sites Prior to the statistical analysis, each spider species was Sampling was carried out in the Hostels, Staff quarters, classified according to its family and genera, since all University secondary school and University primary school, studied species are from the order Araneae.
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