The spiders of Prince Edward Island: experts and citizen scientists collaborate for faunistics

Authors

  • Joseph J. Bowden Current Address: Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service 26 University Dr Corner Brook, NL A2H 5G4 http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0940-4901
  • Kyle M. Knysh University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Ave, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada C1A 4P3 http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2118-4593
  • Gergin A. Blagoev Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph, 579 Gordon Street, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
  • Robb Bennett Royal British Columbia Museum, 675 Belleville Street, Victoria BC, Canada V8W 9W2
  • Mark A. Arsenault Prince Edward Island Department of Community, Lands and Environment, PO Box 2000, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada C1A 7N8
  • Caleb F. Harding University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Ave, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada C1A 4P3 http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6840-8032
  • Robert W. Harding Nature PEI, PO Box 2346, Charlottetown PEI, Canada C1A 8C1 http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4071-3681
  • Rosemary Curley Nature PEI, PO Box 2346, Charlottetown PEI, Canada C1A 8C1

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v132i4.2017

Keywords:

Maritime provinces, Araneae, Prince Edward Island, PEI, faunistics, citizen science, Arachnida

Abstract

Although lists of spider species have been compiled for all of Canada’s provinces and territories, the spider fauna of Prince Edward Island (PEI) is poorly known. Based on the efforts of citizen scientists, naturalists, and scientists on PEI and researchers at the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, we present the first comprehensive list of spider species on the island, increasing the known number from 44 to 198. The Centre for Biodiversity Genomics conducted intensive collection in Prince Edward Island National Park; Nature PEI citizen scientists and naturalists contributed specimens from across the island from several different habitats. This provincial list is dominated by the araneoid families, Linyphiidae, Theridiidae, and Araneidae, with 55, 27, and 22 species, respectively. Several non-native species, such as the theridiid Eurasian False Black Widow Spider (Steatoda bipunctata (L.)) and the araneid Red-sided Sector Spider (Zygiella atrica (C.L. Koch)), have been collected in several locations on the island, suggesting that they are well established. This work highlights the effectiveness of collaboration among citizen scientists, naturalists, and professional researchers to further our knowledge of species diversity and distributions.

Author Biographies

Joseph J. Bowden, Current Address: Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service 26 University Dr Corner Brook, NL A2H 5G4

Joe Bowden is currently a research scientist at Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service with interests in the effects of climate change on species and biological communities.

Kyle M. Knysh, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Ave, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada C1A 4P3

Kyle is an ecologist and ecotoxicologist with research interests in aquatic ecology and arthropod (Insects, Arachnids, and Crustaceans) biology. Originally from Edmonton Alberta, he completed a Bachelor of Science in Ecology at the University of Alberta, a Masters thesis at the University of Prince Edward Island in freshwater entomology, and is presently a  Ph.D. Candidate in the Canadian Rivers Institute at UPEI investigating pollution-related impacts on estuary crustaceans and insects.

Mark A. Arsenault, Prince Edward Island Department of Community, Lands and Environment, PO Box 2000, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada C1A 7N8

Mark Arsenault, nature enthusiast, employed with PEI Forests, Fish and Wildlife as Wildlife Habitat Technician

Caleb F. Harding, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Ave, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada C1A 4P3

Caleb Harding is currently completing his B. Sc. in Environmental Biology at the University of Prince Edward Island. Caleb has worked on Spiders, Click Beetles, Fruit Flies and Pollen Beetles.

Robert W. Harding, Nature PEI, PO Box 2346, Charlottetown PEI, Canada C1A 8C1

Robert Harding is a Prince Edward Island naturalist with experience in several citizen science initiatives. Bob currently serves on the Executive Council of Nature PEI

Rosemary Curley, Nature PEI, PO Box 2346, Charlottetown PEI, Canada C1A 8C1

Rosemary Curley is a retired conservation biologist currently serving as President of Nature PEI.

Downloads

Published

2019-07-11

Issue

Section

Articles