Ground Surface Spiders In 3 Central Florida Plant-Communities

Ground surface spiders were pitfall-trapped every two months in pond pine, sand pine scrub, and flatwoods plant communities on the University of Central Florida campus near Orlando from May, 1983 to March, 1984. Eight-two species and 2,326 individuals were collected: 57 species and 1,094 individuals in pond pine, 42 species and 851 individuals in sand pine scrub, and 48 species and 381 individuals in flatwoods community. Spider diversity was greatest in pond pine, followed by sand pine scrub, and then flatwoods community. Similarity in spider species was greatest between pond pine and flatwoods, followed by sand pine scrub and flatwoods, and then pond pine and sand pine scrub. A new species of Drassyllus (Gnaphosidae) was collected in the flatwoods and a range extension for Zora pumila (Zoridae) was recorded in pond pine