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Febi Chacko
ABSTRACT
The present study was on the species diversity and abundance of spiders in Arakulam Village,
Idukki district which is found to be rich in different types of micro habitat.. The studies were carried
out for a period of one month from August to October, 2015; which included summer and Rainy
season. To analyze the diversity of spiders I have taken pictures of them and have analyzed its
diversity with the help of bar diagram. The study revealed that among the 7 families with 23 species
considered under study all were found to be ecologically significant but family Salticidae is
abundantly distributed in this area due to its high adaptive capacity to various environmental
conditions .
INTRODUCTION
The present study was on the species diversity and abundance of spiders in Arakulam
Village, Idukki district. The study also investigated the environmental condition and factors
that are affecting the spider diversity.
The objectives that have been formulated under the present study are as follows:
To understand types of spider species present in the Arakulam Village, Idukki district
To identify different types of species of spider.
To Study the taxonomical features of various families.
To understand the environmental conditions and factors those are affecting the spider
diversity.
METHODOLOGY
This project work is a pioneer attempt to study the Species Diversity and Abundance
of spiders in Arakulam Village, Idukki district which is found to be rich in different types of
micro habitat. The different methodology adopted while performing the work are as follows:
STUDY AREA
MATERIALS USED
A. Collection bottles
Collection bottles were used to collect spiders and to take its photographs.
Different spider identifying manual were used to write the external features of the
collected spiders.
C.Digital Camera
1. Salticidae
2. Araneidae
3. Tetragnathidae
4. Pholcidae
5. Oxyopidae
6. Thomicidae
7. Sparasside
The 7 different families of spiders were observed during my study are the following:
FAMILY
The above graph shows the abundance of 23 species of spider belonging to 7 families,
collected during my study period. Among these 7 families considered under study all were
found to be ecologically significant but family Salticidae is abundantly distributed in this
area due to its high adaptive capacity to various environmental conditions .
CONCLUSION
Among these salticidae was the most abundant family. The members belonging to
family Salticide show great variation in their habitat and size. The morphological peculiarity
of this family is their characteristic arrangement of eye and has the keenest vision among
spiders. Generally they do not spin web to trap their pray.
The next dominant family was Araneidae and they are usually orb web weavers.
Members of this family are highly adapted so that they can survive even in distributed area.
Thomisidae, Tetragnathidae and Sparassidae were the other families with higher represented
by 3 species each. Oxypide, Linyphiidaeand Uloboridae were represented by only 1 species
each.
Spiders are also ecologically significant because it help in control of large number of
insect pest. They are good food for a large number of birds. They are the part of food web.
Even though the species diversity is rich in these limited area now but it may be lack in the
coming years due to the lack of natural habitat and also due to continuous human
interferences. So from this study it can be concluded that protective measures are needed to
keep the diversity as such.
REFERENCES:
Barrion, A& J.A. (1991): Ecology of spiders in selected non rice habitats and irrigated
rice field in Philippines .Ph. D. Thesis. University of the Philippines at Loss Banoss.
Blackwell (1850): Description of some newly discovered species and character of a