Spider diversity and community structure in the forest of Ename (Eastern Flanders, Belgium)
2001
Bakker, D. de | Baert, L. (Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels (Belgium). Dept. of Entomology) | Maelfait, J.P. | Hendrickx, F.
The relationship between environmental variables and the occurrence of soil dwelling spiders of woodland in the forest of Ename was studied during a complete year cycle. Pitfall trapping at 13 stations during the complete year cycle revealed 6311 adult spiders belonging to 101 species. By means of the multivariate techniques DCA and TWINSPAN we obtained a classification and an indirect gradient analysis, yielding an easier interpretation of the distribution of the most abundant species in the sampled habitats. Species can be grouped in a number of specific habitats, in the first place based on a gradient from open to more densely vegetated habitats. Because this division is mainly based on catches in an adjacent grassland (which influenced the rest of the data) and not merely on catches in the rest of the sites (all situated inside the forest), this parameter cannot be considered of major importance in explaining the spider community structure of the forest sites. Division of the forest sites (excluding the grassland-site) was based on a humid-dry gradient. Of minor importance, but still detectable, is the influence of vegetation structure and composition in the forest stands. Hydrological characteristics are thus mainly responsible for the occurrence of the spider faunas in the forest. Compared with another forest (the "Walenbos") this diversity is rather low. This can partially be explained by means of ecological and historical data: the greater heterogeneity of the "Walenbos" and the relatively short historical existence of the Ename forest. Indeed, after being exploited almost completely, this woodland was replanted in the 19th and 20th century, mainly with monotonous poplar plantations.
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