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Behaviour and Ecology of Spiders pp 85–108Cite as

Habitat Selection and Dispersal

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Abstract

Spiders can be roughly grouped into four guilds based on their manner of foraging: web builders, ambushers, wandering spiders, and refuge builders. These guilds have different needs that influence the choice of a site when focused on foraging, shelter, or reproduction. The choice of a place to settle is of fundamental importance to spiders, and this choice is mediated by a variety of factors. The physical attributes of the microhabitat also play an important role in influencing site occupancy. In this chapter, I introduce the term Topophilia to encapsulate these concepts. In most spiders, site selection may occur at two distinct stages: natal dispersal (when spiderlings leave the eggsac) or breeding dispersal (when adults or subadults search for the optimal location). The end result of dispersal is dispersion. Spiders can be solitary, in aggregations, colonial, or social; and these dispersion patterns imply different microhabitat needs. In this chapter, I review studies done on Neotropical spiders using the aforementioned classification as a guide to bringing out patterns of habitat selection and dispersal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inbioteca, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

    Dinesh Rao

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  1. Dinesh Rao
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  1. Entomología, Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Carmen Viera

  2. Universidade Federal de Uberlândia Biology Institute, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Marcelo O. Gonzaga

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Rao, D. (2017). Habitat Selection and Dispersal. In: Viera, C., Gonzaga, M. (eds) Behaviour and Ecology of Spiders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65717-2_4

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