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There are significant gaps in accessible knowledge about the distribution and phenology of Iberian harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones). Harvestmen accessible datasets in Iberian Peninsula are unknown, an only two other datasets available in GBIF are composed exclusively of harvestmen records. Moreover, only a few harvestmen data from Iberian Peninsula are available in GBIF network (or in any network that allows public retrieval or use these data). This paper describes the data associated with the Opiliones kept in the BOS Arthropod Collection of the University of Oviedo, Spain (hosted in the Department of Biología de Organismos y Sistemas), filling some of those gaps. The specimens were mainly collected from the northern third of the Iberian Peninsula. The earliest specimen deposited in the collection, dating back to the early 20th century, belongs to the P. Franganillo Collection. The dataset documents the collection of 16,455 specimens, preserved in 3,772 vials. Approximately 38% of the specimens belong to the family Sclerosomatidae, and 26% to Phalangidae; six other families with fewer specimens are also included. Data quality control was incorporated at several steps of digitisation process to facilitate reuse and improve accuracy. The complete dataset is also provided in Darwin Core Archive format, allowing public retrieval, use and combination with other biological, biodiversity of geographical variables datasets.

The study at a local scale of the fauna in a natural mountain landscape provides insights regarding the patterns and the factors influencing distribution. We test if each type of natural forest and some open habitats in the Muniellos Biosphere Reserve have their own unique harvestmen assemblages. We further investigate the presence of groups of sites sharing harvestmen assemblages and the factors and indicator species involved. Nineteen sites with well-known phytosociological association were sampled during nine surveys from late 2001 to 2002 by means of three sampling protocols. The quality of the inventories was assessed via the corresponding species accumulation curves. The cluster analysis using the Bray Curtis similarity index showed the presence of two main distinct groups of sites. One group consisted of seven lower forest sites, while the second group contained samples from more open sites and lighter forests. IndVal analyses show the first group has six characteristic species and the second group has one. ANOSIM analyses revealed that the harvestmen community composition was significantly different between the two clusters. Orientation appears to be one main driver of harvestmen assemblages on Mount Muniellos: a clear distinction between the two clusters appears along the boundary of shady to sunny habitats. The vegetal associations that house the higher harvestmen species richness have the higher soil richness. Seven rare and infrequent species were found in forests with richer soil.

We thank Carlos Prieto for help in taxonomic and identification enquiries, T.E. Díaz-González 18 and J.A. Fernández Prieto for help in habitat characterization, Mario O. Díaz Anadón for 19 obtaining the species indicator values and Irene Fernández-Rodríguez and Florentino Braña for 20 assistance in statistical analyses. 21 22 Manuscript Click here to download Manuscript JICO-D-17-00082R2 MS 2018 N29-03.docx Click here to view linked References

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