Diversity and Feeding Habits of Spiders Across Habitats in Coimbatore District

2022 Indian Journal of Ecology  
Spiders the generalist predators are considered ecosystem health indicators and are significant predators of insect's pests and play an important role in regulation of ecological balance. The study on the diversity and feeding habits of spiders was undertaken in three different habitats from Coimbatore District viz. the agricultural farms of ICAR- Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), forest ecosystem of Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), and a farming village Kondanur. Overall
more » ... spider diversity from the three study areas comprised of 35 species belonging to 29 genera representing 13 families with a total of 102 individuals. Maximum of 66 individuals representing 16 species and 10 families were noted at KVK followed by Kondanur with 19 individuals representing 14 species and five families, while SACON had 17 individuals representing 13 species and seven families. Shannon diversity index and Evenness index was high at Kondanur followed by SACON and KVK. The spiders fed on 12 different faunal orders occupying habitats as per their prey base niches.
doi:10.55362/ije/2022/3506 fatcat:w4tnbp3zxfelnc72y4ncmzskmq