The Faunistic Diversity of Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) of the Savanna Biome in South Africa S.F
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This article was downloaded by: [Stefan Foord] On: 21 December 2011, At: 10:54 Publisher: Taylor & Francis Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ttrs20 The faunistic diversity of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) of the Savanna Biome in South Africa S.F. Foord a , A.S. Dippenaar-Schoeman b c , C.R. Haddad d , L.N. Lotz e & R. Lyle f a Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Zoology, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa b ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, Queenswood, Pretoria, 0121, South Africa c Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa d Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa e National Museum, Bloemfontein, P.O. Box 266, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa f Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 413, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa Available online: 20 Dec 2011 To cite this article: S.F. Foord, A.S. Dippenaar-Schoeman, C.R. Haddad, L.N. Lotz & R. Lyle (2011): The faunistic diversity of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) of the Savanna Biome in South Africa, Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 66:3, 170-201 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0035919X.2011.639406 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae, and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand, or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa 100 Vol. 66(3), November 2011, 170–201 100 95 95 75 The faunistic diversity of spiders 75 (Arachnida: Araneae) of the 25 Savanna Biome in South Africa 25 5 5 S.F. Foord1*, A.S. Dippenaar-Schoeman2,3, C.R. Haddad4, L.N. Lotz5 & R. Lyle6 0 0 1Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Zoology, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950 South Africa *Author for correspondence e-mail: [email protected] 2ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, Queenswood, Pretoria, 0121 South Africa 3Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa 4Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300 South Africa 5National Museum, Bloemfontein, P.O. Box 266, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa 6Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 413, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa Invertebrates include more than 80% of all animals, yet they are severely under-represented in studies of southern African diversity. Site biodiversity estimates that ignore invertebrates, not only omit the greatest part of what they are attempting to measure, but also neglect major contributors to essential ecosystem processes. All available information on spider species distribution in the South African Savanna Biome was compiled. This is the largest biome in the country, occupying over one third of the surface area. A total of 23 739 records from 1260 localities were recorded in the South African Savanna Biome until the end of 2010. This included 1230 species represented by 381 genera and 62 families. The last decade has seen an exponential growth in the knowledge of the group in South Africa, but there certainly are several more species that have to be discovered, and the distribution patterns of those listed are partly unknown. Infor- mation is summarised for all quarter-degree squares of the biome and reveals considerable inequalities in knowledge. At a large scale the eastern region is much better surveyed than the western parts, but at finer scales throughout the region, several areas have little information. The Salticidae is the most diverse family (162 spp.) and also has the most endemic savanna species (42 spp.). An endemicity index indicates that 366 species are endemic to the biome, with 322 species that are near endemics, i.e., also occurring in an adjacent biome. An abundance index (1–3) was also calculated for each species based on numbers sampled. A rarity index for each species gives a preliminary indication of their conservation importance. Patterns of guild composition are summarised and species known to play a role as predators in agro-ecosystems found within the biome are also discussed. Keywords: abundance index, endemicity index, rarity index, SANSA, guilds. INTRODUCTION biological control in agro-ecosystems (Dippenaar-Schoeman, Signatories of the Convention of Biological Diversity (UNEP 2001), while only a few species are considered to be of medical Downloaded by [Stefan Foord] at 10:54 21 December 2011 1992) are obligated to develop a strategic plan for the conserva- importance to humans (Dippenaar-Schoeman & Müller, 2000). tion and sustainable use of biodiversity. The inclusion of inver- Savanna is one of the world’s major biomes and covers tebrates in these biodiversity inventories is clearly desirable, as approximately half of Africa’s land surface (Scholes & Walker, invertebrates constitute more than 80% of all animal diversity, 1993), occupying the extensive areas between the equatorial yet they are under-represented in studies of southern African forests and deserts. It is characterised by a well-developed diversity. Site biodiversity estimates that do not consider inver- grassy layer with a prominent woody layer of trees and/or tebrates not only omit the greatest components of what they shrubs that may be evergreen and/or deciduous. Although the are attempting to measure, but also ignore groups that are very main vegetation types are trees and grasses, the ecology of the significant contributors to terrestrial ecosystem processes. savanna is a complex interaction between the woody and As with insects, spiders have several qualities to support herbaceous plants giving it a unique character (Scholes & human well-being and life on Earth. For example, in the face of Walker, 1993). The major delimiting factors are the effects of fire urgent conservation issues, they can be used as valuable and rainfall, the latter varying from 235 to 1000 mm per year bio-indicators (Buchholz, 2010; Cardoso et al., 2010; Clausen, with frost 0–120 days/year (Cowling et al., 2004). Several 100 1986; Marc et al., 1999; Pearce & Venier, 2006), i.e., taxa whose surveys on spiders in the African savanna have been under- 100 presence or abundance readily reflects some measure of the taken during the last thirty years as discussed by Dippenaar- 95 character of the habitat within which they are found. Most Schoeman & Jocqué (1997), of which the majority of published 95 arachnid orders are known to be sensitive to pollution and studies were carried out in South Africa. 75 75 alterations in habitat structure (Oxbrough et al., 2005; Pearce & The Savanna Biome is the largest biome in South Africa and Venier, 2006). They are also abundant, speciose and relatively occupies over one third of the country’s surface area (Low & easy to collect quantitatively. Spiders are an important preda- Rebelo, 1996; Scholes & Archer, 1997). It is especially well 25 tory group of terrestrial animals, and play an important role in developed in the Northern Cape, North West, Limpopo, 25 5 ISSN 0035-919X Print / 2154-0098 Online 5 © 2010 Royal Society of South Africa 0 DOI: 10.1080/0035919X.2011.639406 0 http://www.informaworld.com 100 Foord et al.: Faunistic diversity of spiders of the Savanna Biome of South Africa 171 100 95 95 Table 1. Main guilds and their subdivisions. 75 75 WANDERERS GROUND WANDERERS 25 BGW Ground dwellers living in burrows 25 FGW Free-living ground wanderers 5 5 PLANT WANDERERS 0 FPW Free-living plant wanderers 0 WEB BUILDERS TYPES OF WEBS Orb-web OWB Web consisting of a frame with mooring and bridge lines that anchor the web and radial signal threads arranged like the ribs of an umbrella converging in the centre of the web, with circular spiral threads Funnel-web FWB Web made over soil surface with a funnel-shaped retreat Gumfoot-web GWB Three-dimensional web consisting of a central area with or without a retreat. The upper part comprises mooring, signal and catch threads and a lower part with mooring and catch threads. The lower catch threads studded with sticky droplets are attached to the substrate Retreat-web RWB Silk threads radiating from retreat used to catch prey; usually made with cribellate silk Sheet-web SHWB Web that usually consists of an upper sheet with mooring, signal and catch threads Space-web SPWB Web that fills open space and are usually attached with mooring threads to different substrates Mpumalanga and parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern MATERIALS AND METHODS Cape provinces. In 1997 the South African National Survey of Arachnida Information from databases (SANSA) was launched in accordance with the country’s Data on spider species richness for the Savanna Biome of obligations to the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). South Africa were obtained from existing data sets for this SANSA is providing essential information needed to address region compiled for the first Spider Atlas of South Africa issues concerning the conservation and sustainable use of the (Dippenaar-Schoeman et al., 2010).