How to translate text using browser tools
1 August 2017 Decreases in the size of riparian orb webs along an urbanization gradient
José A. Sanchez-Ruiz, Alonso Ramírez, Sean P. Kelly
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Urbanization is associated with a variety of anthropogenic impacts that alter aquatic ecosystems and could affect riparian web-spinning spiders. The objective of this study was to evaluate how changes in web structural features and body condition of a horizontal orb-weaver are associated with surrounding levels of urbanization. Along an urban watershed in Puerto Rico, we found a significant negative relationship between the capture area of webs and in the body condition of spiders with increasing levels of surrounding impervious surface. We propose that these changes in web structure and body condition are associated with variations in the diversity and quality of prey, as well as the loss of riparian substrate in more heavily urban areas.

José A. Sanchez-Ruiz, Alonso Ramírez, and Sean P. Kelly "Decreases in the size of riparian orb webs along an urbanization gradient," The Journal of Arachnology 45(2), 248-252, (1 August 2017). https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-16-076.1
Received: 9 October 2016; Published: 1 August 2017
KEYWORDS
Capture area
Puerto Rico
Río Piedras watershed
Tetragnatha
Web structure
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top