A collection of spiders (Araneae) from palsa bogs in the vicinity of Vardø, northern Norway

Abstract

Spiders have been collected by pitfall traps from two palsa bogs in the vicinity of Vardø in Finnmark, northern Norway. A total of 449 specimens belonging to 27 species from 4 families were caught. Two major ecological guilds were present, active vagrant forms, mainly consisting of lycosids, and the smaller net-building species represented by Linyphiidae and Hahniidae. Linyphiids made up 70% of the species but only 38% of the individuals, the lycosids being most abundant. Faunal differences between sites is probably caused by placement of the traps in different parts of the bogs. Seven species are new to Finnmark, although one has been reported before without being named. General faunistic and taxonomic comments are given on a few additional species: Agyneta mossica, recently reported from Norway, Agyneta sp., Arctosa alpigena lamperti, and Ozyptila arctica.

Keywords

• Arachnida
• Araneae
• biodiversity
• sampling
• habitat preference
• Northern Norway