International Research Journal of Environment Sciences________________________________ ISSN 2319–1414Vol. 3(8), 14-18, August (2014) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 14 Sustainability of spiders in Temperature variation at Shoolpaneshwar wild-life sanctuary, Gujarat, IndiaNikunj Bhatt V P and R P T P Science College, Vallabh Viyanagar, Anand, Gujarat-388001, INDIAAvailable online at: www.isca.in, www.isca.me Received 28th May 2014, revised 4th June 2014, accepted 21st August 2014 AbstractSpiders are sensible towards the external temperature known ectothermic. The study observed the richness of spiders’ species at Narmada riverside habitat, the observation data mainly collected from arboreal and ground habitat included rocks and grass land. This gives rise enormous results to behavioral characteristic of spiders. The major difference found in richness of spider fauna during the three prime seasons in Gujarat. The major families are found abundant in monsoon and winter seasons during July to March. The Salticidae and Gnaphosidae are become low populated during late winter. The two families Araneidae and Lycosidae are found sustained in the summer season during April to June. Keywords: Richness, araneiae, lycosidae, salticidae, gnaphosidae. IntroductionSpiders are great feeders with high species richness in most of ground habitat, and they play a significant role in the structure of food webs and community hirerkey, both as number of individuals and as consumers they identified as nocturnal predators. These features make them perfect creature as ground predators among their kind of community. Taxonomical studies of spiders have been accessible in the past, mainly concerning the relationships between taxonomically distinct groups of spider species in regions in which problems on spider taxonomy are more or less resolved. Study of species composition and distribution in central Gujarat is carried out in Narmada District2. Study sight: The shoolpaneshwar wild life sanctuary is one of the greenest forests in the Gujarat because it is influenced by Narmada River. This habitat is covered first time where as some of part of Gujarat have been studied like Bhavanagar, Dang, Jassor wild life sanctuary. It is situated between longitudes 7379’ E and latitudes 21 76’ North. I have selected main study area like Rocky region of river side hill rocky area. It also contains more forest and hilly habitats. Near Sardar Sarovar is the highest peak at the bank of Narmada. Material and Methods The sampling methods were used during collections and observations are adopted according to the habitat of spiders. The methods named arboreal, twig striking, ground and sweep have been extensively used in similar protocols rest of the collections and observation are made random in case of sudden appearance of spiders. Arboreal: This method consisted in collecting all spiders found three to four feet above ground-level by hand, forceps and immediately transferring to collecting vial. Twig striking: With the help of wooden pole according to the height of tree was used for beating the branches, as high as I could be reached. The effective time included all the time spent in the activity, like beating and searching for fallen spiders on the square sheet. Ground: Similar to the arboreal method, but it concentrated on all spiders seen a gound level, including those in hidden sites such as below stones, soil or inside hollow trunks.Sweep – I used a handy sweep net with a diameter of 50 cm, 70 cm deep and with a handle. Only bushes and tall herbs were swept. All time spent sweeping or searching for displaced spiders. Sampling Time: Sampling was carried out during March 2010 to February 2011; however, most work was done from March to June, July to October and November to February in three basic seasons. This timeframe was chosen because these are the most species-fluctuations part of the year in the sanctuary. Most of the samples were taken during May 1and 2 and May 8 and 9, June 26 and 27 and July 3 and 4. Each collector carried out two day and two evening.The day samples were carried out between 08:00 to 11:00 hrs and 14:00 to 16:00, the evening samples between 18:00 and 20:00 h. torches and ultraviolet torch were used for evening collection. Two collectors were chosen for this porpose. The samples were preserved in 70% alcohol in the field. Identification of Spiders: The detailed examination for identification of spiders, a stereoscopic microscopic-model “Technival” (Carl Zeiss, Jena, Germany) with eye pieces 10X, and 25X, and objectives of 0.6X, 1.0X, 1.6X, 2.5X and 4 X magnifications was used. The adult spiders were identified on species level and others on genus or family level using available International Research Journal of Environment Sciences______________________________________________ ISSN 2319–1414 Vol. 3(8), 14-18, August (2014) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 15 literature4,1 Data were prepared for each season with detailed information on the occurrence of mature male, female and juvenile spiders. Results and Discussion Phonological analysis: The yearly spider activity in the study area is shown in tables and figures. Two peaks of activities occur, one in summer (from March to June) and one (slightly higher) in late monsoon (September). Monthly variations in activity are mainly influenced by the activity of males. When mature, males become very active in the effort to find a mate. Therefore, the great number catches are indicative of the time of reproduction. The October and November peak is produced both by male and female individuals, though the late monsoon peak is formed mainly by the male activity. Immatures are more abundant during October, November and December, indicating that the reproductive period of most of the spiders is in the august and September even cocoons are found abundant. When referring to the seasonal activity on a family level, three basic patterns are apparent, formed by the three dominant families, Araneidae, Lycosidae and Salticidae. These families are found more active in throughout the yearClubionidae and Gnaphosidae are also sought their present with low activities. In May (males and females) and September (nearly only males), while during the winter they are almost exclusively represented by immature individuals and some females of the genus Scytodiidae and Thomisidae. In October, November, December and January all the families are found active Araneidae, Lycosidae Salticidae and Theridiidae are the most abundant species, forming the main pattern of activity of the family, while Oecobiidae, Oonopidae, Oxyopidae, Pholcidae and Pisauridae are found very less active throughout the year and during the month of May they entirely disappeared where as Oecobiidaebeing active only during August and October to January. The families Araneidae and Lycosidae are consistence active even in hot summer during April and May. Salticidae is also show sustainability in April but it fall down in May. The Araneidae are found with different habitat in leaf web, orb web on rocks, on shrubs. Near river rocks and Zarvani fall it found high populated (figure-1) where moisture level is higher than other habitat. Oonopidae, Tetragnathidae and Uloboridae are found entire disappear during May to June, where as Oecobiidae, Oxyopidae, Pisauridae, Uroctediae and Zodariidae are found very low populated during these span of months. In Gujarat late May is the hottest month with very less humidity (IMD) which adverse climate for spiders. As discussed earlier except Araneidae and Lycosidae all families are found very low populated or absent. Table-1 Genera and Species collected from Study site: January to April Sr. No. Name of Family Number of Genera Number of species 1 Araneidae 12 16 2 Clubionidae 03 04 3 Eresidae 01 02 4 Gnaphosidae 07 07 5 Heteropodidae 04 05 6 Lycosidae 04 10 7 Oecobiidae 01 01 8 Oonopidae 02 02 9 Oxyopidae 02 04 10 Pholcidae 02 02 11 Pisauridae 01 01 12 Salticidae 08 10 13 Scytodiidae 01 01 14 Tetragnathidae 01 02 15 Theridiidae 04 06 16 Thomisidae 06 08 17 Uloboridae 01 02 18 Uroctediae 01 01 19 Zodariidae 02 02 Total 63 86 Table-2 Genera and Species collected from Study site: May to August Sr. No. Name of Family Number of Genera Number of species 1 Araneidae 11 14 2 Clubionidae 03 03 3 Eresidae 01 01 4 Gnaphosidae 06 04 5 Heteropodidae 03 02 6 Lycosidae 03 08 7 Oecobiidae 01 01 8 Oonopidae 00 00 9 Oxyopidae 01 01 10 Pholcidae 01 02 11 Pisauridae 01 01 12 Salticidae 02 03 13 Scytodiidae 01 01 14 Tetragnathidae 00 00 15 Theridiidae 02 01 16 Thomisidae 01 01 17 Uloboridae 00 00 18 Uroctediae 01 01 19 Zodariidae 01 01 Total 43 47 International Research Journal of Environment Sciences______________________________________________ ISSN 2319–1414 Vol. 3(8), 14-18, August (2014) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 16 Table-3 Genera and Species collected from Study site: September to December Sr. No. Name of Family Number of Genera Number of species 1 Araneidae 12 16 2 Clubionidae 03 04 3 Eresidae 01 01 4 Gnaphosidae 06 05 5 Heteropodidae 04 04 6 Lycosidae 04 09 7 Oecobiidae 01 01 8 Oonopidae 01 01 9 Oxyopidae 02 01 10 Pholcidae 02 01 11 Pisauridae 01 01 12 Salticidae 08 09 13 Scytodiidae 01 01 14 Tetragnathidae 01 01 15 Theridiidae 03 02 16 Thomisidae 06 07 17 Uloboridae 01 02 18 Uroctediae 01 01 19 Zodariidae 01 02 Total 59 69 Table-4 Individuals collected from study site Family Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Araneidae 256 309 279 240 250 274 289 382 301 409 298 280 Clubionidae 32 21 12 2 1 1 4 19 32 23 12 11 Eresidae 4 2 0 0 0 1 5 2 6 4 5 7 Gnaphosidae 12 33 34 11 2 11 11 17 21 20 12 19 Heteropodidae 13 11 9 0 0 9 10 18 19 18 15 10 Lycosidae 111 198 160 190 170 198 186 188 176 167 179 109 Oecobiidae 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 1 Oonopidae 2 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 3 2 1 0 Oxyopidae 9 8 9 0 0 1 0 1 2 2 1 1 Pholcidae 2 4 0 0 0 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 Pisauridae 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 2 1 1 2 Salticidae 45 34 67 43 10 8 7 23 34 53 67 54 Scytodiidae 10 11 10 9 1 1 1 9 6 8 10 9 Tetragnathidae 4 6 7 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 1 Theridiidae 11 10 14 1 0 2 4 18 17 21 22 21 Thomisidae 23 19 18 10 7 0 0 3 7 11 11 10 Uloboridae 9 7 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 11 9 8 Uroctediae 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 3 1 3 Zodariidae 5 4 8 1 0 1 0 0 5 3 5 6 Total 582 684 639 511 441 509 518 687 645 760 655 553 International Research Journal of Environment Sciences______________________________________________ ISSN 2319–1414 Vol. 3(8), 14-18, August (2014) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 17 Figure-1 Individuals per Family Figure-2 Individuals per Family Figure-3 1 individuals per Family Figure-4 Genera and Species during Jan-April Figure-5 Genera and Species during May-Aug Figure-6 Genera and Species during Sept-Dec 50100150200250300350400450 Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov Araneidae Clubionida Eresidae Gnaphosidae Heteropodidae Lycosidae 1020304050607080 jan mar may jul sep nov Oxyopidae Pholcidae Pisauridae Salticidae Scytodiidae Tetragnathidae 10152025 jan mar may jul sep nov Thomisidae Uloborida Uroctedia Zodariida   \n \r   \r \r  \r \r \r  \r  \n       \n \r   \r \r  \r \r \r  \r  \n       \n     International Research Journal of Environment Sciences______________________________________________ ISSN 2319–1414 Vol. 3(8), 14-18, August (2014) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 18 Discussion: The purpose of study is to recognize families Genera and species which can sustain in the high temperature in the environment is showing significant sustainability of families Araneidae and Lycosidae during the months of May to August except Araneidae and Lycosidae rest of seventeen families are showing significant down fall. As earlier discussed the web of Araneidae and Lycosidae are also found undamaged and also observed web activities by these spiders. During the sampling spiders of these two families is also show hyper activeness in the month of May. Conclusion The purpose of study is to recognize families Genera and species which can sustain in the high temperature in the environment (figure-1) is showing significant sustainability of families Araneidae and Lycosidae during the months of May to August except Araneidae and Lycosidae rest of seventeen families are showing significant down fall (figure-5). As earlier discussed the web of Araneidae and Lycosidae are also found undamaged and also observed web activities by these spiders. During the sampling spiders of these two families is also show hyper activeness in the month of May AcknowledgementI am gratefully thankful to Principal V P and R P T P Science College Vallabh Vidyanagar and Department of Forest for giving permission for study. My special thanks to UGC for providing grants for research study. References1.Tikader B.K., Fauna of India, Araneae,2(1&2), 1-533 (1982)2.Nikunj Bhatt et al, Research Digest, 3(4), 26-28 (2008)3.Patel S.K., Faunastic survey of spiders from Bhavnagar District, Gujarat. Ph. D. Thesis, Bhavnagar Univ. Bhavnagar (1985)4.Pocock R.I., The Fauna of British India,Today-Tomorrow publishers, New Delhi, 1-272 (1985)5.Chatzaki M. et al, seasonal activity of the ground spider fauna in a mediterranean ecosystem (Mt youchtas, crete, greece), 1998. p. a. selden (ed.), Proceedings of the 17th European colloquium of Arachnology, Edinburgh (1997)6.Jonathan murphy et al: cold-hardiness in the wolf spider pardosa groenlandica (thorell) with respect to thermal limits and dehydration, The journal of Arachnology, 36, 213–215 (2008)7.Paula E., cushing and brent d. opell, the effect of time and temperature on disturbance behaviors shown by the orb-weaving spider uloborus glomosus (uloboridae), J. Arachnol.,18, 87-93 (1990) 8.Victoriar, schmalhofer et al, crab spider hunting performance is temperature insensitive, ecological entomology, 24, 345-353 (1999)