Epigeic spider (Arachnida: Araneae) communities in Lithuanian peat bogs

Since spiders are close to the top of nutrition pyramid of mesofauna, they are more sensitive to changes of habitats and anthropogenic impact than most the other groups of invertebrates. It shows that the investigation of peat bog spider communities is certainly a relevant goal. The aim of the study was to perform a taxonomic and zoogeographic analysis of Lithuanian epigeic spider communities, to estimate the diversity of their structure and to assess the main peculiarities of seasonal dynamics. The following tasks were set to achieve this aim: to compile a checklist of Lithuanian epigeic spider species living in peat bogs, to investigate vertical distribution of spiders in Sphagnum tussocks of peat bogs, to perform a taxonomic and zoogeographic analysis of epigeic spider fauna of Lithuanian peat bogs, to describe and analyze the diversity of spider communities and their structure in Lithuanian peat bogs, to study and compare dominant complexes in different peat bog spider communities, to investigate the composition of spider species and relationships between epigeic spider communities and surrounding habitats, to evaluate and analyze seasonal dynamics of epigeic spider communities in Lithuanian peat bogs. The data regarding spider species living in Lithuanian peat bogs, dominant species, zoogeographic distribution of species, and seasonal dynamics were summarized. This work presented 22 spider species new for the Lithuanian fauna. The spider communities in peat bogs were investigated, a qualitative and quantitative analysis was carried out. An original pitfall trap method was created and employed for the first time