Impact et biodiversité des araignées associées à la phoeniciculture dans la région d’El Atteuf

Abstract

El Atteuf is part of the oases located in the Algerian Sahara, which are conducive to the cultivation of date palms (Phoenix dactylifera). In order to assess the variety of spiders present in this area, a study was conducted for this purpose over a 3-month sampling period from February 2023 to April 2023, in two different stations with a 10-day interval between each harvest outing. Sampling was carried out using two methods : visual hunting, which was the most effective method (93 spiders), and Baber pots. A total of 135 spiders were collected, including 73 females, 33 males, and 29 juveniles. The results showed a diversity of families and species, with a dominance of the Lycosidae family (79 spiders), followed by the Gnaphosidae family (41 spiders) compared to other families. The species Wadicosa fidelis (54 spiders) and Nomisia castanea (29 spiders) were also prominent, while other species had a lower yield. The study we conducted highlighted the significant influence of the composition and structure of the palm grove vegetation on spider families, their composition, and their feeding habits. Furthermore, we observed that this influence is closely related to the abundance of water in the region.