Spiders (Araneae) of oak forest in Dębniak nature reserve
Spiders in the oak forest and two forest associations (lime forest and lime-hornbeam forest) in the Dębniak nature reserve were studied. Epigeic spiders were collected using pitfall traps and epiphytic spiders were caught using sweep net. Dominance structure, species composition of spider assemblages and species diversity were analyzed.
Spider fauna of studied oak forest did not stand out from spiders of the other studied plant associations in the Dębniak nature reserve. The similarity of species composition and dominance structure of analyzed spider assemblages was probably caused by homogeneous forest structure and no great area of this nature reserve. In the oak forest the greatest diversity of epigeic spider species was noticed.
Natural succession changes resulting in shading of the bottom of the forest caused that araneofauna of studied oak forest became similar to the spider species composition of lime-hornbeam forests. Moreover, lack of spiders with southern ranges typical for warm oak forests was observed.
It is suggested that active form of protection is necessary in order to preserve the oak forests.
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