Volker W. Framenau

Protecting the innocent: studying short-range endemic taxa enhances conservation outcomes

A major challenge confronting many contemporary systematists is how to integrate standard taxonomic research with conservation outcomes. With a biodiversity crisis looming and ongoing impediments to taxonomy, how can systematic research continue to document species and infer the ‘Tree of Life’, and still maintain its significance to conservation science and to protecting the very species it strives to understand? Here we advocate a systematic research program dedicated to documenting short-range endemic taxa, which are species with naturally small distributions and, by their very nature, most likely to be threatened by habitat loss, habitat degradation and climate change. This research can dovetail with the needs of industry and government to obtain high-quality data to inform the assessment of impacts of major development projects that affect landscapes and their biological heritage. We highlight how these projects are assessed using criteria mandated by Western Australian legislation and informed by guidance statements issued by the Environmental Protection Authority (Western Australia). To illustrate slightly different biological scenarios, we also provide three case studies from the Pilbara region of Western Australia, which include examples demonstrating a rapid rise in the collection and documentation of diverse and previously unknown subterranean and surface faunas, as well as how biological surveys can clarify the status of species thought to be rare or potentially threatened. We argue that ‘whole of biota’ surveys (that include all invertebrates) are rarely fundable and are logistically impossible, and that concentrated research on some of the most vulnerable elements in the landscape – short-range endemics, including troglofauna and stygofauna – can help to enhance conservation and research outcomes.

Predicting the post‐fire responses of animal assemblages: testing a trait‐based approach using spiders

1. Developing a predictive understanding of how species assemblages respond to fire is a key conservation goal. In moving from solely describing patterns following fire to predicting changes, plant ecologists have successfully elucidated generalizations based on functional traits. Using species traits might also allow better predictions for fauna, but there are few empirical tests of this approach. 2. We examined whether species traits changed with post-fire age for spiders in 27 sites, representing a chronosequence of 0-20 years post-fire. We predicted a priori whether spiders with ten traits associated with survival, dispersal, reproduction, resource-utilization and microhabitat occupation would increase or decrease with post-fire age. We then tested these predictions using a direct (fourth-corner on individual traits and composite traits) and an indirect (emergent groups) approach, comparing the benefits of each and also examining the degree to which traits were intercorrelated. 3. For the seven individual traits that were significant, three followed predictions (body size, abundance of burrow ambushers and burrowers was greater in recently burnt sites); two were opposite (species with heavy sclerotisation of the cephalothorax and longer time to maturity were in greater abundance in long unburnt and recently burnt sites respectively); and two displayed response patterns more complex than predicted (abdominal scutes displayed a U-shaped response and dispersal ability a hump shaped curve). However, within a given trait, there were few significant differences among post-fire ages. 4. Several traits were intercorrelated and scores based on composite traits used in a fourth-corner analysis found significant patterns, but slightly different to those using individual traits. Changes in abundance with post-fire age were significant for three of the five emergent groups. The fourth-corner analysis yielded more detailed results, but overall we consider the two approaches complementary. 5. While we found significant differences in traits with post-fire age, our results suggest that a trait-based approach may not increase predictive power, at least for the assemblages of spiders we studied. That said, there are many refinements to faunal traits that could increase predictive power.

Review of the wolf spider genus Artoria Thorell (Araneae : Lycosidae)

The Australasian wolf spider genus Artoria, with A. parvula Thorell, 1877 as type species, is revised in part. In addition to A. parvula (=A. luwamata Barrion & Litsinger, 1995, new synonymy), recorded from the Philippines and Indonesia, and A. palustris Dahl, 1908 from Papua New Guinea, it includes the Australian A. albopedipalpis, sp. nov., A. avona, sp. nov., A. cingulipes Simon, 1909, A. flavimanus Simon, 1909 (=Lycosa neboissi McKay, 1976, new synonymy), A. howquaensis, sp. nov., A. lineata (L. Koch, 1877), A. mckayi, sp. nov., A. quadrata, sp. nov., A. taeniifera Simon, 1909, A. triangularis, sp. nov., A. ulrichi, sp. nov. and A. versicolor (L. Koch, 1877). Artoriella flavimanus, the type species of Artoriella Roewer, 1960, is returned to Artoria. Of the remaining species of Artoriella, the Western Australian species A. cingulipes and A. taeniifera are transferred to Artoria, the African species Artoriella amoena Roewer, 1960, A. maculatipes Roewer, 1960 and A. lycosimorpha (Strand, 1909) are considered incertae sedis and Artoriella maura (Urquhart, 1891) from New Zealand is considered a nomen dubium. Trabaeola Roewer is a junior synonym of Artoria, as its type species, T. lineata, is transferred to Artoria. Trabea australiensis (L. Koch, 1877) is considered a nomen dubium. The genus Artoria is characterised by a unique apophysis near the base of the embolus of the male pedipalp. It does not fit into the existing lycosid subfamilies, which have been established by investigation of mainly Northern Hemisphere taxa. Artoria is widespread in Australia and species can be found in a range of habitats (swamps and riverbanks, open areas, rain and dry sclerophyll forests).

Revision of the wolf spider genus Venatrix Roewer (Araneae : Lycosidae)

The Australasian lycosid genus Venatrix Roewer, 1960, with Venator fuscus Hogg, 1900 as type, is reinstated and redefined to include 22 species as follows: Venatrix funesta (C. L. Koch, 1847), comb. nov. (= Venator fuscus Hogg, 1900; syn. nov.); V. penola, sp. nov.; V. australiensis, sp. nov.; V. roo, sp. nov.; V. mckayi, sp. nov.; V. koori, sp. nov.; V. archookoora, sp. nov.; V. pictiventris (L. Koch, 1877), comb. nov.; V. hickmani, sp. nov.; V. allopictiventris, sp. nov.; V. speciosa (L. Koch, 1877), comb. nov. (= Lycosa mayama McKay, 1976; syn. nov.); V. esposica, sp. nov.; V. pseudospeciosa, sp. nov.; V. brisbanae (L. Koch, 1878), comb. nov.; V. forsteri, sp. nov.; V. lapidosa (McKay, 1974), comb. nov.; V. fontis, sp. nov.; V. furcillata (L. Koch, 1867), comb. nov.; V. arenaris (Hogg, 1905), comb. nov.; V. pullastra (Simon, 1909), comb. nov.; V. goyderi (Hickman, 1944), comb. nov. (= Lycosa howensis McKay, 1979; syn. nov.); and V. hoggi, sp. nov. Hogna albosparsa (L. Koch, 1876) is considered nomen dubium. Venatrix comprises species mainly found in temperate forests and open areas near watercourses, lakes and springs. Notes on the distribution together with maps, zoogeography and subfamilial placement of Venatrix are given. A solution is proposed to resolve confusion over the dates of some of Roewer’s publications.

Systematics of the Australian orb-weaving spider genus Demadiana with comments on the generic classification of the Arkyinae (Araneae : Araneidae)

The orb-weaving spider subfamily Arkyinae L. Koch, 1872 is exclusively found in the Australasian region and its taxonomy and the systematic relationships within and between genera of this subfamily are poorly understood. We here revise the arkyine genus Demadiana Strand, 1929 to include six Australian species, four of which are described as new: Demadiana simplex (Karsch, 1878) (type species), D. carrai, sp. nov., D. cerula (Simon, 1908), comb. nov., D. complicata, sp. nov., D. diabolus, sp. nov., and D. milledgei, sp. nov. A phylogenetic analysis based on an updated araneid morphological data matrix including 57 genera of orb-weaving spiders identified Demadiana as a member of the araneid subfamily Arkyinae. A separate phylogenetic analysis for the genus at the species level showed little resolution within Demadiana, but did identify a monophyletic Demadiana supported by three putative synapomorphies: small unique setal pits with spherical sockets covering the carapace, sternum and the bases of the paturon (chelicerae), an extreme elongation of the trumpet-like aggregate spigots of the posterior lateral spinnerets and a distinct curvature of the embolus. We detail several new generic and species synonymies within Arkyinae. Aerea Urquhart, 1891 (type species Aerea alticephala Urquhart, 1891) and Neoarchemorus Mascord, 1968 (type species N. speechleyi Mascord, 1968) are regarded as junior synonyms of Arkys Walckenaer, 1837 (type species A. lancearius Walckenaer, 1837), resulting in Arkys speechleyi (Mascord, 1968), comb. nov. Aerea magnifica Urquhart, 1893 and Archemorus simsoni Simon, 1893 are regarded as junior synonyms of Aerea alticephala Urquhart, 1891, and Arkys nitidiceps Simon, 1908 is proposed as a junior synonym of Arkys walckenaeri Simon, 1879.

Revision of the Australian wolf spider genus Dingosa Roewer, 1955 (Araneae, Lycosidae)

The Australian wolf spider genus Dingosa Roewer, 1955 is revised to include four species: Dingosa simsoni (Simon, 1898) (type species); D. humphreysi (McKay, 1985), n. comb.; D. murata n. sp.; and D. serrata (L. Koch, 1877), n. comb. Dingosa belongs to the subfamily Lycosinae Sundevall, 1833 and differs from all other lycosine spiders by the structure of the male pedipalp, which has an enlarged embolic division and an unusually elongated tegular apophysis. The median septum of the female epigyne is inverted T‐shaped with the corners of the transverse part bent anteriorly in some species. Additional somatic characters, such as a raised cephalic region and distinct colour patterns of prosoma (narrow light longitudinal band between eyes) and opisthosoma (serrated cardiac mark) are unique within the Australian Lycosinae. Species within the genus Dingosa prefer sandy habitats with a sparse cover of vegetation where they construct a characteristic turret around their burrow entrance. All species mature in late summer to winter; females with eggsac can usually be found in July and August. The holotype of the Australian Dingosa topaziopsis (Hogg, 1896) is an immature spider and accurate species identification is not possible. This species is here considered nomen dubium. Dingosa is an Australian genus with much derived lycosine morphology. Other species from outside Australia currently included in this genus do not conform to the diagnosis of Dingosa. We propose the following new generic placements based on a critical evaluation of the original descriptions: Pardosa angolensis (Roewer, 1959), n. comb. (Angola), Pardosa completa (Roewer, 1959), n. comb. (Mozambique), Pardosa hartmanni (Roewer, 1959), n. comb. (Tanzania), and Trochosa ursina (Schenkel, 1936), n. comb. (China). We also support Mozaffarian and Marusiks (2001) previous suggested combination Trochosa persica (Roewer, 1955). Dingosa traghardi (Lawrence, 1947) (South Africa) was described from an immature female holotype which is lost; this species is here considered nomen dubium.

Nukuhiva Berland, 1935 is a troglobitic wolf spider (Araneae: Lycosidae), not a nursery-web spider (Pisauridae).

The monotypic genus Nukuhiva Berland, 1935 with N. adamsoni (Berland, 1933) as type species, is re-described and transferred from the Pisauridae Simon, 1890 (fishing or nursery-web spiders) to the Lycosidae Sundevall, 1833 (wolf spiders) based on genitalic and somatic characters. Nukuhiva adamsoni, originally described from French Polynesia, appears to inhabit mountainous habitats of volcanic origin. Its troglobitic morphology--comparatively small eyes and pale, uniform coloration--suggest it to be associated with subterranean habitats such as caves or lava tubes, similar to the Hawaiian troglobitic species Lycosa howarthi Gertsch, 1973 and Adelocosa anops Gertsch, 1973.

Review of the Australian Wolf spider genus Venator (Araneae, Lycosidae)

Species of the Australian wolf spider genus Venator are reviewed including the type species, V. spenceri Hogg, 1900, from south-eastern Australia and V. immansuetus (Simon, 1909) comb. nov., a common species in south-west Western Australia. Venator marginatus Hogg, 1900 is only known from two female specimens and the genital morphology of this species does not conform to the diagnosis of genus as presented here. Therefore V. marginatus is considered incerta sedis. Venator includes medium-sized (9.0-22 mm body length) wolf spiders of overall brownish colouration, and with a black patch covering the anterior three quarters of the venter. They differ from all other wolf spiders in particular by genitalic characters, namely an elevated atrium of the female epigyne that forms a raised edged against the inverted T-shaped median septum. This edge often corresponds to a retrolateral incision on the tegular apophysis of the male pedipalp. The genus is mainly a representative of the Bassian fauna of the Australian continent where it occurs predominantly in dry sclerophyll forests.

Figures 11 A − E In New Species Of Mouse Spiders (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Actinopodidae: Missulena) From The Pilbara Region, Western Australia

FIGURES 2 A – B. Distribution records of Missulena spp. in Western Australia: A, records of Missulena compiled from the WA Museum database (grey circles) and locality data for specimens included in molecular analyses (red circles). The biogeographic (IBRA) regions (Thackway & Cresswell 1995) are displayed in yellow. Bioregions from which specimens were sequenced are shaded darker. B, close-up of the Pilbara bioregion in Western Australia, highlighting the distribution of Missulena faulderi sp. nov. (green squares) and M. langlandsi sp. nov. (blue triangles).