Abstract:
Little is known about the diversity and distribution of spider community in headwater
ecosystems. Spider species diversity, abundance and its distribution along the headwater
stream of Sungai Peres were studied from June to September 2006. Three different sites
namely upper stream (US), middle stream (MS) and lower stream (LS) were sampled
monthly using three techniques: sweeping, beating and active searching. A total
collection of 697 individuals representing I 06 morphospecies from 23 families have been
successfully sampled and identified. Pisauridae was the most dominant family (24%)
followed by Araneidae (23%) and Salticidae (20%). Polybeae vulpina (family Pisauridae)
was the most abundance species recorded in this study. There were significant differences
in the family (p = 0.015) and morphospecies (p = 0.022) composition between LS-MS
and MS-US. Some families are being widespread and abundant while others were
restricted to a single site. All sites have unique morphospecies composition and overall
diversity, richness and evenness of spiders were high.
