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Zonation of spiders (Araneae) and carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in island salt marshes at the North Sea coast

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Abstract

The specific communities of spiders and carabid beetles of island salt marsh habitats of the East Frisian Island chain at the German North Sea coast were investigated. During the vegetation periods of 1997 and 1998 three pitfall trapping transects were installed on the islands of Borkum and Wangerooge. Within the salt marshes, transects extended from 0 m to 175 m. Elevation gradients varied between 10 cm and 232 cm above MHT (mean high tide). On Borkum, 35 traps were exposed in two transects, on Wangerooge 25 traps were placed in one transect. Three to five elevations above MHT were investigated per transect, each one with five traps. Highest species numbers were recorded in the higher elevated salt marshes. In contrast, highest activity values were noticed in the medium elevated salt marshes. Within both groups, spiders and carabids, four communities were distinguished by indirect gradient analysis. Indicator species were assigned to the different communities that were mainly assorted to different elevations of the salt marshes. Thus, the communities of both taxa corresponded well to the vegetational formations. The importance of sea level rise for structuring the communities of salt marsh arthropods is discussed. Overall, still great uncertainties exist on how arthropod communities and salt marshes themselves will develop.

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Acknowledgements

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research supported this study (FKZ 01 LK 9603/5). We appreciate the help of D. Metzing and T. Holle (both Oldenburg) during our field work. H. von Storch gave a useful suggestion concerning sea level rise at the North Sea coast, we are obliged for this.

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  1. Faculty V, Biology, Geo- and Environmental-Sciences, Terrestrial Ecology Working Group, Carl-von-Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany

    Oliver-D. Finch, Heinrich Krummen, Friedhelm Plaisier & Walter Schultz

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  1. Oliver-D. Finch
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Correspondence to Oliver-D. Finch.

Appendix

Appendix

Table 3 Appendix I: Total catches of spiders in the three salt marsh transects (five replicate pitfall traps per elevation; nomenclature follows Platnick 2004)
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Table 4 Appendix II: Total catches of carabids in the three salt marsh transects (five replicate pitfall traps per elevation; nomenclature follows Trautner et al. 1997)
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Finch, OD., Krummen, H., Plaisier, F. et al. Zonation of spiders (Araneae) and carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in island salt marshes at the North Sea coast. Wetlands Ecol Manage 15, 207–228 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-006-9024-4

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