Environmental Entomology

Published by: Entomological Society of America

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Environmental Entomology 36(4):801-810. 2007
doi: 10.1603/0046-225X(2007)36[801:SSPOWS]2.0.CO;2

Small-Scale Spatial Pattern of Web-Building Spiders (Araneae) in Alfalfa: Relationship to Disturbance from Cutting, Prey Availability, and Intraguild Interactions

Klaus Birkhofer12, Stefan Scheu1, David H. Wise34

1University of Technology Darmstadt, Department of Animal Ecology, Schnittspahnstrasse 3, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.

2Corresponding author: Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Department of Animal Ecology, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany (e-mail: ).

3University of Kentucky, Department of Entomology, S-225 Ag Sci Bldg.–North, Lexington, KY 40546-0091.

4Present address: University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Biological Sciences & Institute for Environmental Science & Policy, 845 W. Taylor St. (M/C 066), Chicago, IL 60607-7060.

Abstract

Understanding the development of spatial patterns in generalist predators will improve our ability to incorporate them into biological control programs. We studied the small-scale spatial patterns of spider webs in alfalfa by analyzing the relationship between web locations over distances ranging from 4 to 66 cm. Using a coordinate-based spatial statistic (O-ring) and assuming a heterogeneous distribution of suitable web sites, we analyzed the impact of cutting and changes in spider abundance on web distribution. We analyzed the influence of small-scale variation in prey availability by comparing web distributions to the pattern of sticky-trap captures of Aphididae and Diptera described by a count-based spatial statistic (SADIE). Cutting of alfalfa reduced the overall density of web-building spiders but had no immediate impact on the spatial distribution of their webs. Availability of aphids was highest before the alfalfa was cut and was clumped at a scale of 66 cm. Spider webs, however, were not clumped at any scale or date. In contrast, webs were regularly distributed at smaller distances (<20 cm) immediately before and after cutting. Because cursorial and web-building spiders were most active during this period, we hypothesize that the development of small-scale regularity in web locations was driven by intraguild interactions. Our results suggest that intraguild interactions contribute to the development of small-scale spatial patterns of spider webs in alfalfa. Variation in prey availability may have more of an influence on web distribution in crops with a different vegetation structure or if patterns are studied at larger spatial scales.

Received: February 21, 2007; Accepted: May 7, 2007

Keywords: generalist predators, predator-prey association, biological control

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