Spider Density Shows Weak Relationship with Vegetation Density

(1) Biglerville High School

https://doi.org/10.59720/19-061
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Evidence supports that spiders have many ecological benefits including insect control and predation in the food chain. Percent of vegetation coverage and spider density may be correlated; our study compared 18 different locations with different percent coverage of vegetation using a sectioned quadrat and the field method known as beating vegetation. In locations with high vegetation, 76–100% covered area, we found an average of 0.599 spiders per quadrat with a standard deviation (S.D.) of 0.465. In intermediate vegetation, 25–75% covered area, we found an average of 0.44 spiders per quadrat with an SD of 0.07. In low vegetation, 0–24% covered area, we found an average of 0.05 spiders per quadrat with an SD of 0.288. While this data supported the initial hypothesis concerning a correlation between percent coverage of vegetation and spider density, a limited sample size and statistical review failed to reject the null hypothesis that there is no direct correlation between the percent coverage of vegetation and the density of arachnids.

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