A trait database and updated checklist for European subterranean spiders

Mammola, Stefano; Pavlek, Martina; Huber, Bernhard A.; Isaia, Marco; Ballarin, Francesco; Tolve, Marco; Čupić, Iva; Hesselberg, Thomas; Lunghi, Enrico; Mouron, Samuel; Graco-Roza, Caio; Cardoso, Pedro (2022) A trait database and updated checklist for European subterranean spiders. Scientific Data, 9 (1). ISSN 2052-4463

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Abstract

Species traits are an essential currency in ecology, evolution, biogeography, and conservation biology. However, trait databases are unavailable for most organisms, especially those living in difficult-to- access habitats such as caves and other subterranean ecosystems. We compiled an expert-curated trait database for subterranean spiders in Europe using both literature data (including grey literature published in many different languages) and direct morphological measurements whenever specimens were available to us. We started by updating the checklist of European subterranean spiders, now including 512 species across 20 families, of which at least 192 have been found uniquely in subterranean habitats. For each of these species, we compiled 64 traits. The trait database encompasses morphological measures, including several traits related to subterranean adaptation, and ecological traits referring to habitat preference, dispersal, and feeding strategies. By making these data freely available, we open up opportunities for exploring different research questions, from the quantification of functional dimensions of subterranean adaptation to the study of spatial patterns in functional diversity across European caves.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	cave spider ; traits ; database ; European spiders
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Biology
Divisions:	Division of Molecular Biology
Depositing User:	Martina Pavlek
Date Deposited:	16 Aug 2022 10:07
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/7507
DOI:	10.1038/s41597-022-01316-3

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