Meeting Abstract
P2.28 Jan. 5 Pardosa species on Disko Island (West-Greenland): Habitat preferences and altitudinal distribution HAMMEL, J.S.; NICKEL, M.*; Stuttgart University, Germany michael.nickel@bio.uni-stuttgart.de
Lycosids are the largest predating arthropods in arctic terrestrial habitats. From Greenland eight species are known, partly highly abundant. On Disko Island homothermic springs influence the microclimate, increasing the number of species compared to otherwise similar arctic locations. We aimed at unravelling spatial distribution of Arctosa insignita, Pardosa glacialis, P. groenlandica, P. furcifera, and P. hyperborea in relation to habitats and altitude. 28 pitfall traps in 14 locations were run for a season, and checked weekly. An altitudinal transect included 9 locations (0m to 800m ASL), including different habitats. Additional habitat types were sampled at 5 locations. Vegetation analyses was performed and habitat preference tested by ordination analysis. The altitudinal distribution shows the highest species diversity from 0m to 200m. All five species occur in this zone. From 200m to 800m P. glacialis and P. groenlandica dominate the habitats. A. insignita prefers moist or dry vegetation rich habitats near homothermic springs, pointing to a preference of low arctic conditions. The most abundant species in the costal zone, P. furcifera dominates moist habitats near streams, mainly dense Salix-dwarf-shrub heaths. P. hyperborea is presently only known from one specific site representing a semi-dense, moderately dry dwarf-heath shrub. P. glacialis and P. groenlandica are typical species of higher latitudes in Greenland. Both populate moist and dry locations. P. glacialis prefers rich vegetation, like heaths or herb slopes. P. groenlandica is associated to less dense vegetation with scattered rubble or even open areas like wind swept barrens. Our results explain the unusual occurrence of the less abundant species on Disko. They will also allow checking specifically for less abundant species in areas not yet faunistically well characterized, e.g. the northern costal areas.
