Nivedita Priyadarshini, Reeta Kumari, Ashutosh Kumar and Alok Kumar Pandey
Abstract
The present study describes the variations in spider communities with respect to different seasons in Saran, Bihar. This is a tropical region situated in the lower Gangetic biotic province of India. The region experiences clearly four different seasons in a year viz. pre-monsoon, monsoon, post monsoon and winter. Spider sampling was done for one year during June 2013 to May 2014 by semi-quantitative methods and pitfall traps. A total of 52 species belonging to 30 genera and 16 families were reported over the studied period. Different diversity indices were calculated using PAST software version 3.02. The spider communities showed significant variations in guild structure, species composition and abundance between all seasons. Lowest diversity among spider communities were recorded in pre monsoon season (H= 2.84) and highest diversity in spider communities were recorded in winter (H= 3.493). The study suggests changes in abiotic factors and variation in vegetation according to seasons have influence on variations in spider diversity in the studied area.