Global Patterns of Guild Composition and Functional Diversity of Spiders

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021710
• Publication Date: 2011-06-29T21:07:47Z
• Authors: Pedro Cardoso; Stano Pekár; Rudy Jocqué; Jonathan A. Coddi...
• Keywords: Guild

The objectives of this work are: (1) to define spider guilds for all extant families worldwide; (2) test if defined at family level are good surrogates species guilds; (3) compare the taxonomic and guild composition assemblages from different parts world; (4) functional diversity and; (5) relate with habitat structure. Data on foraging strategy, prey range, vertical stratification circadian activity was collected 108 families. Spider were by hierarchical clustering. We searched inconsistencies between placement known each species. Richness abundance per before after correcting compared, as proportions possible pairs sites. Functional site calculated based Eight discriminated: sensing, sheet, space, orb web weavers; specialists; (6) ambush, (7) ground, (8) other hunters. Sixteen percent richness corresponding 11% captured individuals incorrectly attributed a surrogacy; however, correlation uncorrected vs. corrected invariably high. or abundances generally higher than abundances. not always in tropics temperate regions. Families may potentially serve ecological Different present similar roles ecosystems, replacement some taxa within same guild. Spiders tropical regions seem have redundancy and/or finer resource partitioning Although tropics, seems be also influenced altitude