Richness and composition of spiders in urban green spaces in Toledo, Ohio

Moorhead, Leigh C.; Philpott, Stacy M.

doi:10.1636/p12-44

Cited by 14 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Our results highlight that creation of unique urban greenspaces through these efforts, such as planted prairies and urban farms, can have measurable positive and distinct influences on species abundance and richness. This study adds to a body of literature documenting abundant and taxonomically rich communities found among these habitats (Moorhead and Philpott 2013, Gardiner et al 2014, Philpott et al 2014, Burkman and Gardiner 2015. Further, our research demonstrates that habitat design can filter species based on ecological traits such as moisture tolerance and dispersal capacity.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 51%

“…Differences in habitat quality for focal biotic communities can be highly influenced by the human-mediated environmental filters acting upon them (Swan et al 2011). This process of facilitated assembly, wherein humans modify existing low-input urban greenspace, has often been found to support a greater richness and abundance of several arthropod groups vs. selfassembled vacant lots (Swan et al 2011, Moorhead and Philpott 2013, Gardiner et al 2014, Philpott et al 2014, Burkman and Gardiner 2015.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within many of these cities, greening efforts to convert vacant parcels to diverse habitats such as urban farms, rain gardens, and native wildflower plantings or urban prairies are underway (Gardiner et al 2013, Park and Ciorici 2013, Chaffin et al 2016. Vacant lots and other forms of greenspace established on these formerly developed patches have been highlighted as potentially important for conservation as they support a high richness and abundance of beneficial taxa that provide desired ecosystem services (Uno et al 2010, McDonnell and Hahs 2013, Moorhead and Philpott 2013, Gardiner et al 2014, Burkman and Gardiner 2015, De ak et al 2016, Herrmann et al 2016b, Riley et al 2017, as well as several rare and threatened species (Small et al 2002, Eyre et al 2003, Woods 2012, Kamp et al 2015. Given the potential of urban greenspaces to contribute to conservation, it is critical to understand whether detected patterns of species occurrence shift with a changing urban habitat mosaic, and what impacts these changes might have on ecosystem functioning and desired ecosystem services.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Patch and landscape‐scale variables influence the taxonomic and functional composition of beetles in urban greenspaces

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Urbanization is a leading cause of species extinction; however, interest in urban greenspaces as sites for conservation has grown considerably in recent decades, raising questions about the ability of these habitats to support desired wildlife. Our goal was to determine how distinct forms of urban greenspace and their landscape context influenced the species composition of ground-dwelling beetle communities. We examined the taxonomic and functional composition of Carabidae and Staphylinidae in urban vacant lots, urban farms, and planted urban prairies within the City of Cleveland, Ohio. Beetles were collected using pitfall traps across 23 sites. We found that the three habitats examined varied significantly in beetle composition, with several unique species found within each type of greenspace. Carabidae abundance and richness were greater in urban prairies and urban farms relative to vacant lots. The abundance and taxonomic richness of Staphylinidae were highest within urban farms. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and partial CCA revealed that both local features and landscape variables influenced beetle community assembly. Most beetle taxa were negatively associated with buildings within the surrounding 1-km landscape, whereas grass was the most important local habitat feature. Additionally, we found variation in the distribution of species traits among habitats; ecological traits such as moisture tolerance and dispersal capacity differed significantly among urban greenspaces. Most interesting from a conservation perspective was a greater abundance of brachypterous carabids found in urban prairies, which suggests that these habitats provide overwintering and breeding habitat for some beetle species. Our findings demonstrate that urban greenspaces play important roles in shaping arthropod diversity in cities, and maintaining habitats that vary in design and management is important for their conservation.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 51%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Patch and landscape‐scale variables influence the taxonomic and functional composition of beetles in urban greenspaces

et al. 2017

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“…Contrasting with those results, Shochat et al (2004) found a reduction in spider diversity in disturbed areas within the Phoenix (state of Arizona), metropolitan area. Another scenario was found by Alaruikka et al (2002), in 20 km urban-rural forest gradient in southern Finland, and Moorhead and Philpott (2013), in urban environment in Toledo, state of Ohio, who failed to find significant differences in spider richness between different kinds of disturbed habitats. In addition, the patterns of abundance and richness differ depending on the trophic and taxonomic group (Philpott et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Does urbanization have positive or negative effects on Crab spider (Araneae: Thomisidae) diversity?

Argañaraz

Gleiser

2017

Zoologia

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ABSTRACT. Urbanization has a great impact on the diversity of living organisms. Spiders, for example, have been shown to respond negatively (some orb weaving species) and positively (ground dwelling species) to urbanization. The effects of urbanization on crab spiders (Thomisidae) (sit-and-wait predators that generally ambush their prey on flowers and leaves) are not sufficiently known. This paper describes the Thomisidae community that inhabits green patches in a temperate Neotropical city, Cordoba, Argentina, and its surroundings, and ascertains whether there are differences in species richness, abundance and composition between urban and exurban sites. Samples were collected from 30 sites during the summer and spring of 2013 and 2014, using the garden-vacuum method. We compared the abundance, richness and composition of Thomisidae among three habitat categories (urban, suburban and external). Seven species in three genera, Misumenops, Wechselia and Tmarus, were detected. Misumenops was the most abundant genus in Córdoba, and Tmarus elongates Mello-Leitão, 1929 was collected in Argentina for the first time. The abundance, richness and composition of thomisid spiders did not differ between habitat categories, indicating that urbanization does not have a negative effect on the communities of these spiders in open green spaces. Site variability, on the other hand, does, suggesting that local factors may be more relevant than broad-scale factors to explain community patterns in this family.

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“…Several researchers have described the rich diversity of animal species observed in these habitats, including populations of arthropods, birds, and mammals [17,18,20,41]. Arthropods in particular have been studied extensively in urban ecosystems [12,13,17,[42][43][44][101][102][103][104][105][106][107][108][109][110][111] and have been identified as reasonable conservation targets for vacant land management due to their small patch size requirements, high capacity for dispersal, and contribution to ecosystem functions and services [17,[112][113][114]. Vacant land has been found to support rare arthropods, including 46 nationally rare and scarce beetle species in England [42] and 63 ground beetle species in Britain, with two considered nationally scarce [43].…”

Section: Ecological Considerations Of Usvmentioning

confidence: 99%

Asset or Liability? Ecological and Sociological Tradeoffs of Urban Spontaneous Vegetation on Vacant Land in Shrinking Cities

et al. 2018

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The increase of minimally managed vacant land resulting from population loss and the subsequent removal of infrastructure is a reoccurring feature in shrinking cities around the globe. Due to the low frequency and intensity of management, these spaces create a unique environment for plant colonization, establishment, and succession. Herein we refer to these plants and the habitats they form as urban spontaneous vegetation (USV). As a form of urban green space, USV has the potential to provide a number of ecological and sociological benefits to shrinking cities, such as supporting urban wildlife, enhancing the provision of regulating ecosystem functions and services, connecting residents with nature, and improving human health and well-being. Conversely, USV can also support undesirable animals such as vectors of disease, and due to its wild and disorderly appearance, can evoke negative emotions in residents while signaling community neglect. This review aims to explore the potential ecological and sociological tradeoffs of USV within the context of shrinking cities. Through this evaluation, we aim to inform future planning and management to exploit the benefits offered by this resource while minimizing negative outcomes, thereby leading to the enhanced sustainability of shrinking cities worldwide.

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Richness and composition of spiders in urban green spaces in Toledo, Ohio

Cited by 14 publications

References 53 publications

Patch and landscape‐scale variables influence the taxonomic and functional composition of beetles in urban greenspaces

Patch and landscape‐scale variables influence the taxonomic and functional composition of beetles in urban greenspaces

Does urbanization have positive or negative effects on Crab spider (Araneae: Thomisidae) diversity?

Asset or Liability? Ecological and Sociological Tradeoffs of Urban Spontaneous Vegetation on Vacant Land in Shrinking Cities

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