Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in different urban green areas: an analysis of their taxonomic and functional diversity

Abstract

In cities, habitats classified as green areas are especially important for the conservation of species. Therefore, understanding how different biological groups are influenced by differences in the structures of green areas is relevant when planning urban environments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different types of green areas to the taxonomic and functional diversities of ants and spiders and to discuss the importance of green area management for both groups. We sampled three categories of green areas: forest fragments (40 sample points), vacant lots (20) and gardens/backyards (20), where we evaluated the taxonomic and functional richness and composition of both groups of organisms. At each sample point, we used several techniques, such as: entomological umbrella, Winkler extractors and manual collection. We sampled 149 ant species and 97 spider species. Our results demonstrate that there are differences in the diversity of ants and spiders, as well as in the number of functional groups of ants between the different types of green areas. As expected, forest fragments are the ones that most contribute to the observed diversity, and our findings highlight the importance of evaluating the biotic influence of green areas at a smaller spatial scale.