Abundanz und Vikarianz epigäischer Weberknechtarten (Arachnida: Opiliones) in einem Auwaldgebiet des Mainzer Beckens

Abstract

From the beginning of November 2003 to January 2004 the opilionid fauna was collected in a floodplain forest of the Rhine valley west of Mainz. Altogether 1643 individuals were captured in pitfall traps; these belong to six species representing three families. The thermophilous species Astrobunus laevipes, Nemastoma dentigerum and Trogulus martensi are noteworthy for this habitat. Results on the phenology of three stenochronous species over the sample periods are presented, and both activity abundance and dominance were measured. Additionally survival strategies for flooding periods are proposed and vicariance and concurrence with related species are discussed.

Keywords

• faunistics
• floodplain
• harvestmen
• phenology
• survival strategy