Submission Type

Poster

Start Date

4-21-2022

Abstract

Myrmarachne formicaria are ant-mimicking jumping spiders native to Eurasia and North Asia which likely utilize protective mimicry to avoid predation. In 2001, they were first sighted in North America and are spreading throughout the Northeast US and Ontario. To learn more about the species in its native range, I conducted a series of data analyses on its geographic distribution and phenology using data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database. GBIF compounds global species occurrence data from local and foreign databases, including iNaturalist. Most observations in Europe were recorded in France, Switzerland, and Belgium and were concentrated at low elevations. I constructed species distribution models to determine locations we can expect to find M. formicaria across Europe as reported collection data is irregular. Chi-square tests suggest differences in seasonality between Europe and North America: in May and July, there were relatively more observations in Europe than North America, while North America had relatively more observations in August and September than did Europe. Chi-square tests also showed differences in the seasonality of female and male observations. In North America, the number of male and female sightings as reported on iNaturalist peaked in August and June, respectively, while in Europe, sightings of both sexes peaked in June. These differences in phenology may be associated with true biological differences in these spiders in their native and invaded ranges, or with the quality and intensity of observation and collection data, but nonetheless provoke further exploration into M. formicaria’s distribution and habits.

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Sponsored by Jennifer Apple

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Apr 21st, 12:00 AM

143 -- Distribution and Phenology of Myrmarachne formicaria in its Native and Invaded Range

Myrmarachne formicaria are ant-mimicking jumping spiders native to Eurasia and North Asia which likely utilize protective mimicry to avoid predation. In 2001, they were first sighted in North America and are spreading throughout the Northeast US and Ontario. To learn more about the species in its native range, I conducted a series of data analyses on its geographic distribution and phenology using data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database. GBIF compounds global species occurrence data from local and foreign databases, including iNaturalist. Most observations in Europe were recorded in France, Switzerland, and Belgium and were concentrated at low elevations. I constructed species distribution models to determine locations we can expect to find M. formicaria across Europe as reported collection data is irregular. Chi-square tests suggest differences in seasonality between Europe and North America: in May and July, there were relatively more observations in Europe than North America, while North America had relatively more observations in August and September than did Europe. Chi-square tests also showed differences in the seasonality of female and male observations. In North America, the number of male and female sightings as reported on iNaturalist peaked in August and June, respectively, while in Europe, sightings of both sexes peaked in June. These differences in phenology may be associated with true biological differences in these spiders in their native and invaded ranges, or with the quality and intensity of observation and collection data, but nonetheless provoke further exploration into M. formicaria’s distribution and habits.

 

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