Effects of anthropogenic factors on spider communities (Arthropoda: Araneae) in Chréa National park (Blida, Algeria)

Abstract

Chréa National Park, one of the 11 national parks in Algeria, is natural and diverse but under different pressures: urbanisation, fires caused by the high flux of visitors. Several ecological and systematic studies have been conducted on the Araneae, the most important epigeal fauna, but no attention was given to the anthropogenic parcels of the Park. To assess the effects of urbanisation and fires on the ecology of this fauna, spiders were collected monthly for 2 years, using ‘Pitfall’ traps in three disturbed stations: burned, urbanised and reforested and three natural sites as control. In total, 1,476 specimens were sampled (19 families, 42 genera and 68 species). Zodarion algericum was the dominant species (13.25%), particularly in the burned station. Mann–Whitney U test showed a significant difference between urbanised and nonurbanised sites in contrast to other ones and no significant differences with the control. Our results show that fires transform the forest into a mosaic of habitats, with open gaps of different stages of succession. In addition, the reforestation of cedars without any agricultural practices has no negative effects on the Park. No loss of biodiversity was observed; this would encourage the restoration of the forest to protect its fauna and flora.

Ecology and phenology of the Dysderidae (Araneae) in the Djurdjura National Park (Algeria)

“…Because of their great diversity and ecological importance in woodland formations, the Araneae have been and still are the subject of several studies (Valverde & Lobo, 2006, Pearce & Venier, 2006, Cardoso et al, 2009, Hamřík & Košulič, 2019), but in Algeria this has remained poorly limited to few families (Kherbouche‐Abrous et al, 2008, Mansouri et al, 2020, Touchi et al, 2018). Although the taxonomy and the systematics of Dysderidae are well‐known in Algeria (Beladjal et al, 1996; Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997; Bosmans & Beladjal, 1988, 1989, 1991), the ecology and phenology remains very little studied.…”