Dry sandpits and gravel–sandpits serve as key refuges for endangered epigeic spiders (Araneae) and harvestmen (Opiliones) of Central European steppes aeolian sands

• Published in: Ecological engineering Vol. 73; pp. 659 - 670
• Main Authors: Heneberg, Petr, Řezáč, Milan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.12.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aggregates quarrying; altitude; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Araneae; Biological and medical sciences; Biological diversity; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; cultural landscape; dunes; Environmental degradation: ecosystems survey and restoration; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Habitat conservation; habitat preferences; Habitats; indicator species; Landscape restoration; microhabitats; Near-natural restoration; Opiliones; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; Post-industrial sites; Post-mining sites; Reclamation; Refuges; shear strength; Soil (material); soil penetration resistance; soil texture; Spiders; Steppes; Texture; vegetation cover; Central Europe; Europe; Post-mining sites; Aggregates quarrying; Near-natural restoration; Post-industrial sites; Habitat conservation; Landscape restoration; Sand; Opiliones; Environmental engineering; Steppe; Habitat; Ecological recovery; Animal conservation; Endangered species; Araneida; Refuge; Ecological engineering; Arachnida; Quarrying; Old mine; Arthropoda; Industrial area; Gravel; Invertebrata; Aggregate; Environmental monitoring
• ISSN: 0925-8574; 1872-6992
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.09.101

[Display omitted] •Czech xerothermophilous sandpit habitats host 323.8±23.9 spider species.•Czech xerothermophilous sandpit habitats host 8.5±1.1 harvestmen species.•6 CR, 17 EN, 29 VU and 29 NT species were detected at sandpit xerothermes.•72 (89%) of rare species were present at spontaneously formed sandpit xerothermes.•Sandpit (post) industrial habitats host highly diverse spider communities. Although the value of the habitat lost by quarrying is widely known, awareness of the conservation value of the newly formed habitat is negligible. We provide evidence on the conservation value of both active and disused sandpits and gravel–sandpits for epigeic spiders and harvestmen, commonly considered important indicator species. We focus on xerothermophilous habitats within sandpits subjected to near-natural succession or other reclamation efforts. We show that xerothermophilous sandpit microhabitats are used by 323.8±23.9 epigeic spider species and 8.5±1.1 harvestmen species, with the species spectrum changing dramatically during spontaneous succession and if the habitat is subject to other forms of reclamation, with low species dominance across all habitats tested. We found 81 spider species recognized as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or nearly threatened. Of these, 72 (89%) were present at spontaneously formed xerothermophilous habitats of various ages, and 40 (49%) at the reclaimed sites. We analyzed the species-specific habitat preferences of the red-listed spider species in relation to both abiotic (altitude, slope, soil penetration resistance, soil shear strength resistance, soil texture) and biotic (vegetation cover, plant diversity, diversity of red-listed plants) factors. The xerothermophilous sandpit habitats served as important refuges for Central European steppe and aeolian sand dune species, which had nearly disappeared from the surrounding intensively cultivated cultural landscape.