The distribution, spatial clustering, and density of trapdoor spiders in two California coastal dune ecosystems

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  The distribution, spatial clustering, and density of trapdoor spiders in two California coastal dune ecosystems Abstract Coastal dune ecosystems support endemic trapdoor spiders, yet population data for these species are limited. We conducted the first coastal dune trapdoor spider population estimation surveys at Moss Landing State Beach (California) and for Aptostichus stephencolberti Bond 2008 at Sunset State Beach using randomly selected 1m 2 quadrats across ~26,000 m 2 per site. Burrow densities were similar between sites (Sunset: 0.287 burrows/m 2 ; Moss: 0.453 burrows/m 2 ), yielding estimated population sizes of ~35,206 and ~30,959 individuals, respectively. However, spatial analyses revealed contrasting patterns of burrow distribution. At Sunset State Beach, burrow presence was strongly associated with vegetation and occurred closer to plants, despite vegetation being randomly distributed. In contrast, no vegetation–burrow association was detected at Moss Landing, alth...

Heavy metal predators: diverse elemental enrichment across the weapons of scorpions

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Heavy metal predators: diverse elemental enrichment across the weapons of scorpions

Abstract

Scorpions diverged from their closest relatives around the Ordovician Period, and since then, environmental interactions have shaped the evolution of the material properties of their exoskeletons. Hardening of this structure via the incorporation of transition metals has enabled biomechanical advancements in weapon development. Scorpion weapons consist of the stinger (telson) and claws (chelae) and contain diverse metals such as zinc, manganese and iron, though little is known about comparative patterns of incorporation across the wider clade. In this study, we harness X-ray-driven microanalytical techniques to characterize the different elemental enrichment patterns within the weapons of 18 species from a range of scorpion families. We hypothesized that enrichment by metal would be inversely correlated between weapons, tied to their functional roles and morphological diversity. We identified cryptic enrichment strategies, including weapon-selective elemental replacement and an inverse enrichment of Zn between weapons. Chela enrichment by Zn was found to positively correlate with a morphological indicator of chelae pinch strength, wherein Zn enrichment was greater in specimens with reduced crushing power. This study supports a growing body of research into the evolution of metal enrichment among invertebrates and provides a greater understanding of the material properties of the exoskeleton within weapon development.

Sam I. D. Campbell, Edward P. Vicenzi, Thomas Lam, Bryan G. Fry, Hannah M. Wood; Heavy metal predators: diverse elemental enrichment across the weapons of scorpions. J R Soc Interface 1 April 2026; 23 (237): 20250523. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2025.0523