An integrative description of Euscorpius diagorasi sp. n. from Rhodes, Greece (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae)

Posted by
  An integrative description of Euscorpius diagorasi sp. n. from Rhodes, Greece (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) Abstract The genus  Euscorpius  Thorell, 1876 comprises a diverse and taxonomically challenging group of scorpions in the Mediterranean, with Greece representing one of its principal centers of diversity. In this study, we provide an integrative description of  Euscorpius diagorasi   sp. n. , a new species from Rhodes Island, Greece. The new species is described on the basis of adult male and female morphology and mitochondrial COI sequence data. It is a small oligotrichous species characterized by a total length of approximately 21–25 mm, pale yellow to light brown coloration with darker reddish-brown pedipalps, pectinal tooth count of 8 in the male and 7 in the females, Pv = 7–8, Pe-et = 5–6, and a distinct mitochondrial lineage. Phylogenetic analyses based on COI recovered the Rhodian specimens as a strongly supported monophyletic lineage, sister to...

Is spider resting metabolic rate more strongly associated with ecological guild or extreme habitat conditions?

Posted by

 


Is spider resting metabolic rate more strongly associated with ecological guild or extreme habitat conditions?

Abstract

Ectotherms with lower maintenance costs and broader environmental tolerances are generally more resilient in human-altered landscapes and under current climate change, enhancing their chances of survival and colonization. In this study, we explored how habitat use and foraging strategy are associated with the resting metabolic rate (RMR) of spiders from habitats with significant temperature variability due to anthropogenic disturbance: native forests and young pine plantations, both in the Southern Atlantic Forest. Using open-flow respirometry at 25°C, we measured CO2 production in immobile spiders to calculate their RMR. Key findings include: (1) all spiders showed 22%–57% lower RMR than predicted by standard metabolic equations; (2) continuous gas exchange patterns, typical of mesic-adapted species, were observed in all cases; (3) the metabolic rate scaling exponent was 0.65; (4) there were no significant RMR differences between habitats, but a negative correlation between RMR and microhabitat thermal amplitude was noted; and (5) active foragers had higher RMRs than passive foragers. These findings enhance our understanding of spider biology, physiology, and ecology, particularly in their responses to anthropogenic stressors.

G. Piñanez Espejo, Y. M., Munévar, A., Zurita, G. A., & Schilman, P. E. (2025). Is spider resting metabolic rate more strongly associated with ecological guild or extreme habitat conditions? Ecology, 106(10), e70231. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.70231