Influência da cobertura vegetal e densidade habitacional na composição e distribuição de espécies de aranhas na área urbana de Uberlândia – MG

Abstract

Urban growth results in the fragmentation of natural habitats, directly impacting biological diversity and species composition. This study analyzed the effect of vegetation cover and house density on the diversity and abundance of spiders in the urban area of Uberlândia, MG. Sampling across the urban grid resulted in 762 spiders from 13 families and 31 species. Menemerus bivittatus (Salticidae) and Latrodectus geometricus (Theridiidae) were the most abundant. The results revealed that house density did not affect spider abundance or diversity, but vegetation cover significantly contributed to increased diversity, explaining 46% of the observed variation. Greater diversity and lower dominance of tolerant species were observed in areas with higher vegetation cover. In contrast, areas with low vegetation cover were dominated by more tolerant species. Furthermore, orb-weaving spiders, such as Argiope argentata (Araneidae), were more common in areas with greater vegetation cover, suggesting that vegetation is essential for establishing their populations. The study also indicates that more tolerant species can maintain their abundance regardless of the macrostructural characteristics of the urban environment, with an increase in rarer species in locations with higher vegetation occurrence. Therefore, conserving green areas is an important measure to reduce the adverse effects of urbanization on biodiversity. Future studies should consider other variables that may be relevant in shaping spider communities, such as the abundance, diversity, and size distribution of prey, as well as variations in abiotic factors that could constitute barriers to the persistence of less tolerant species.