Térreo ou cobertura? Estratificação vertical de Vectius niger (Araneae, Trochanteriidae) em árvores de Caesalpinia pluviosa var. peltophoroides (Benth.) G. P. Lewis (Leguminosae – Caesalpinioideae)

Abstract

Spiders have a great aptitude for selecting habitat, which is one of the most important evolutionary characteristics, as they gain access to resources that contribute to their development and abundance. In the present study we aim to present information about the species Vectius niger and its habitat. We investigated whether there are variations in the size of spiders in relation to the height of the host plant Caesalpinia pluviosa var. peltophoroides (Benth.) G.P. Lewis. (Leguminosae – Caesalpinioideae), and whether this variation persists in the wet and dry seasons. Our hypothesis is that there is a uniformity in the vertical distribution in the height ranges, and that there will be variation in the size of the spiders between different heights and seasons. The results revealed that there was no relationship between the size of the cephalothorax of the spiders and the height of the tree trunks. However, we found a greater abundance of spiders in the lower strata of the trees, corroborating the vertical non-uniformity. In summary, this research provides a better understanding of the natural history of V. niger and a better understanding of how this species is distributed in its habitat.