Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Egypt, 71515
2
Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Egypt, 83523
Abstract
Spiders are one of the more diverse arthropod taxa, ranking seventh in global diversity, which makes them a fascinating group to study (Coddington, 1986). The Egyptian spider fauna still incompletely known due to scarcity of studies on this group especially in Upper Egypt. So, the present study was focused on Qena Governorate (15-260 N, 32-500 E) to make a survey of spiders in different habitats of this region and to study its abundance of this group as well as the effects of some physical factors on the abundance of the collected taxa. Samples were collected every 2 weeks during a period of one year (from February, 2012 till January, 2013) from six different sites covering Qena governorate. Sampling methods include hand picking, sweep net and pitfall trap. Also, physical factors (temperature, relative humidity, evaporation and wind velocity) were recorded during the period of study. Survey results revealed the occurrences of 1247 specimens belonging to 14 families that included 23 genera and 23species. Families recorded were: Agelenidae, Araneidae, Eutichuridae, Gnaphosidae, Linyphiidae, Lycosidae, Oecobiidae, Oxyopidae, Philodromidae, Pholcidae, Salticidae, Sparassidae, Theridiidae and Thomisidae. Family Salticidae was represented by the highest number of specimens during the whole period of study (22.29 % from the total number of collected taxa), while family Agelenidae was represented by the lowest number. The maximum number of spiders was collected during autumn (29.11 % from the total number) while the minimum number was collected during winter. By using statistical analysis, it could be concluded that the total relative abundance of all species was affected by temperature followed by relative humidity.
Keywords
)
View on SCiNiTO