Structural complexity and prey availability shape spider communities under retention forestry

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 Abstract Retention forestry is promoted as a conservation-oriented management strategy to sustain forest biodiversity by preserving key structural elements, such as single old trees and deadwood. However, the effectiveness of this approach in conserving the diversity of spiders as generalist predators remains unclear, particularly because the effect of structural elements under retention forestry on spiders may be mediated by its effect on prey availability. We sampled spiders (Araneae) and potential prey (Diptera, Hemiptera, Collembola) in 55 1-hectare plots across mixed temperate forests of the Black Forest, Germany. We used pitfall traps targeting species active on the forest floor. We studied spider abundance, taxonomic diversity, ecological diversity (combined measure of functional and phylogenetic distance) and community composition along gradients of forest structure (canopy cover, proportion of conifers, stand structural complexity, volume of lying deadwood, herb cover and...

New Record of Anapistula (Gertsch 1941) (Araneae: Symphytognathidae) in Europe with the description of a new species

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New Record of Anapistula (Gertsch 1941) (Araneae: Symphytognathidae) in Europe with the description of a new species

Abstract

A new species of the genus Anapistula Gertsch, 1941, A. delrosalae sp. nov., is described, marking the second record of the family Symphytognathidae in Europe. The new species has, to date, only been found in the Cueva de Nerja, Málaga (Spain). Based on the specimens collected, A. delrosalae sp. nov. appears to be present throughout the cave, from the Tourist Galleries to the New Galleries. Detection of the species is challenging due to its small size, which has likely caused it to go unnoticed until now. The new species is based on both somatic and genitalic morphological characters of females. The male is still unknown. The diagnostic characteristics that have been useful in distinguishing the new species from the already known Anapistula ataecina Cardoso & Scharff, 2009, native to the Frade cave system, Lisbon, Portugal, are discussed.

Pertegal, C. & Barranco, P. (2025). New record of Anapistula (Gertsch 1941) (Araneae: Symphytognathidae) in Europe with the description of a new species. Zootaxa 5590(2): 275-284. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5590.2.7; https://mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.5590.2.7