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Study of influence Sunlight intensity and Human interference on

the diversity of spider species in Disturbed and Undisturbed part


of IIT Tirupati Campus
Indian Institute of Technology, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
17th April, 2023
Team members: Ajitesh Ghogarekar, Mayaram Dhamaniya, Mohit Kumar, Shubham Kumar Verma, Vaibhav
Mishra, Prateek Kumar Singh, Prakhar Moses, Subhodeep Hemrom, Manas Poddar, Anupam Tripathi, Abhishek
Sorohia, Sohom Ray Mandal, Satyam Prakash, Sumit Dhanayat, Abhishek Anand, Kushal Goyal, Adarsh
Dwivedi, A. Tejas Ratna.

Abstract:
The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the diversity of species in disturbed and
undisturbed areas, and this report presents the results of this study. The study area was the IIT
Tirupati campus, where equal time was spent for collecting data in both disturbed and
undisturbed regions. The study found that the undisturbed region had a significantly higher
diversity of species, with a greater number of different types of species observed in this area
compared to the disturbed region. The Orbweavers family was the most commonly found
species in both regions, but the undisturbed region had more rare and unique species that
were not frequently seen in the disturbed region.
These findings underscore the importance of preserving undisturbed areas to maintain
biodiversity. Human activities, such as urbanization and agriculture, can disrupt the natural
habitat and lead to a loss of biodiversity. Therefore, it is crucial to conserve undisturbed areas
to ensure the survival of a variety of species. This study contributes to the growing body of
knowledge on the impact of human activities on biodiversity and provides valuable insights
into the importance of preserving natural habitats.

Introduction
Spiders are a primitive group of animals occurring almost everywhere, on or near water,
inside or on the ground; from the seashore to the tops of the high mountains and in various
climates from deserts to snowlands. They are distributed extensively in the fields, thick forest
floors as well as in the human habitations and deserted buildings, under stones and logs and
on tree trunks and flowering shoots. 
The objective of this project is to study the diversity of Spiders species in Disturbed and
Undisturbed environment.
Spiders are among the dominant predators of any terrestrial community. When the fauna of
the soil and its plant cover is analysed, they come to light in vast numbers, in such convincing
abundance that it is evident that they play a significant part in the life of every habitat.

Spiders are members of the class Arachnida, of the phylum Arthropoda, animals that possess
jointed appendages and a chitinous exoskeleton, which includes a diverse range of species
such as scorpions, mites, and ticks. The members of this class ·arc air-breathing arthropods
and their head and thorax are usually fused together, forming a cephalothorax, provided with
four pairs of legs and apparently there are no antennae. The Arachnida are viviparous or
oviparous.
In arachnids, the sexes are separate and in some the sexual dimorphism is very much
remarkable. They are either viviparous or oviparous. The young ones are born or hatched
from the egg, in a form substantially resembling their parents without any metamorphosis,
but undergo a series of successive moults. The individuals are generally terrestrial,
carnivorous, either diurnal or nocturnal.

Difference between Insects and Spiders

Spiders Insects

1. Usually, 8 legs  1. Usually, 6 legs

2. They already have a combined head 2. Insects have their head, the thorax, and
and thorax. This combined thorax and the abdomen.
head is called a cephalothorax, but
they do still have an abdomen.

3. Use their chelicerae to consume their 3. Use their mandibles to consume food.
food.

4. Have their pedipalpi 4. Have their antennae 

While there is no current global list of species of spiders, there are estimated to be over
48,000 species of spiders worldwide, with new species being discovered each year. In India's
Eastern Ghats region alone, there are over 600 recorded species of spiders, making it a
hotspot for arachnid diversity.
Compared to other members of the phylum Arthropoda, spiders are unique in their ability to
produce silk, which they use for a wide range of purposes. While scorpions, mites, and ticks
also have eight legs and a similar body plan, they do not produce silk or use webs to capture
prey.
In terms of spider fauna, there are numerous general series that categorize and describe spider
species, including the World Spider Catalog, which is a comprehensive online database of
spider taxonomy and nomenclature. Understanding the diversity and distribution of spider
species is crucial for the conservation and management of ecosystems, as spiders play
important roles in many ecological processes, such as pollination and pest control.
General Series on fauna published by Gazetteer of India, Eastern Ghats of Southern Andhra
Pradesh, records a total of 90 species of spiders belonging to 14 families (Tikader, 1980)
 International Studies:
Since the 18th century, naturalists have been interested in the distribution and diversity of
spiders. There have been many studies on the systematics and taxonomy of spiders, including
Petrunkevitch's inquiry into their natural classification based on internal anatomy, Bonnet's
overview on spider taxonomy, and Lehtinen's comparative and phylogenetic system of
classification. Other researchers have provided illustrated keys and notes to identify different
spider genera in specific regions. The distribution of spiders in certain regions, such as South
Asia, New Zealand, and Australia, has been well documented, while other areas such as Latin
America, Africa, and the Pacific region remain less well known. As of 2011, there were
42,473 documented species of spider belonging to 3,849 genera and 110 families worldwide,
according to The World Spider Catalog by Platnick.
 National Studies:
While spiders are found in large numbers across the country, our understanding of Indian
spiders remains incomplete and limited. Two of the earliest contributions on Indian spiders
were made by Stoliczka (1869) and Karsch (1873). Simon (1892) recorded many species
from the Himalayas and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The study conducted by Harinath Palem, Suryanarayana Kanike, Venkata Ramana Sri
Purushottam, found 14 families of spiders described by Tirumala from Andhra Pradesh, 18
families was newly reported.

Methods and Materials:

Study site:
The area chosen for this study is IIT Tirupati. The area is divided into two categories:
Disturbed and Undisturbed area, Undisturbed area comprising of the area where there is no
construction or the construction is negligible, whereas the Disturbed area comprises of transit
campus of IIT Tirupati, DB1, DB2, Admin Block and all other sites where the construction
activity is ongoing. The temperature ranges from 22.50C to 31.60C with an average
temperature of 25.80C.

The average temperature and relative humidity observed was:

The species was also collected from regions including the Hostels of the IIT Tirupati Campus
as well as mess which is considered as the Ecological disturbed area in our study.
Study Sites Geographical Features Habitat Type

IIT Tirupati Disturbed Sites Altitude – Most human Interventions


(Transit Campus, DB1, DB2, a. Disturbed Area - 1: 123m – 151m area.
CIF, Administrative Block, b. Disturbed Area – 2: 132m – 157m
Hostels Area, Faculty Quarters, c. Disturbed Area – 3: 134m – 160m
Sports Complex and all other d. Disturbed Area – 4: 117m – 136m
area where construction is in
progress) Latitude and Longitude:
a. Disturbed Area - 1: 13042’20’’N –
13042’24’’N and 79035’44’’E –
79035’25’’E
b. Disturbed Area – 2: 13042’52’’N –
13043’16’’N and 79035’5’’E –
79035’19’’
c. Disturbed Area – 3: 13042’36’’N –
13042’46’’N and 79035’11’’E –
79035’32’’
d. Disturbed Area – 4: 13042’44’’N –
13043’10’’ and 79035’17’’E –
79035’46’’E

IIT Tirupati Undisturbed Altitude: Stable Environment, less


Sites(Water tank, Sewage a. Undisturbed Area -1: 123m – Human Interventions, some
Treatment plant 1(undisturbed 134m places close to eastern
one), Forest area, Dense bushes, b. Undisturbed Area -2: 141m – Hills.
area behind hostel -h , where no 183m
construction is there.) c. Undisturbed Area -3: 131m –
147m
d. Undisturbed Area -4: 132m –
146m
Latitude and Longitude:
a. Undisturbed Area -1:
13042’36’’N – 13042’43’’ and
79035’32’’E – 79035’40’’E
b. Undisturbed Area -2:
13042’41’’N – 13043’5’’N and
79034’50’’E – 79035’15’’E
c. Undisturbed Area -3:
13042’43’’N – 13042’55’’N and
79035’11’’E - 79035’30’’E
d. Undisturbed Area -4:
13042’38’’N – 13042’43’’N and
79035’21’’E – 79035’31’’E

Area of Observed Sites:


1. Disturbed Site Total Area: 103.49 ha
a. Disturbed Area – 1: 29.3 ha
b. Disturbed Area – 2: 20.1 ha
c. Disturbed Area – 3: 7.69ha
d. Disturbed Area – 4: 46.4 ha
2. Undisturbed Site Total Area: 38.32 ha
a. Undisturbed Area – 1: 2.51 ha
b. Undisturbed Area – 2: 24.6 ha
c. Undisturbed Area – 3: 9.46 ha
d. Undisturbed Area – 4: 1.75 ha
Survey Method
For studying the diversity, we opted for systematic sampling method in which we spent equal
time in equal areas to conduct the survey. The survey was conducted twice a month with two
teams dividing up into disturbed and undisturbed areas. By doing so, each area was surveyed
twice, and an equal amount of time was spent in each area.
We divided the area into total 8 locations – 4 Disturbed and 4 Undisturbed transecting almost
full IIT Campus.
iNat software was used to identify the species.

Results:

Different Species Observed:


(All species observed was under Typical Spiders, Suborder Araneomorphae )

(In terms of different infraorder, superfamily and family)


1. Haplogyne Spiders (Infraorder Haplogynae) – 79 + 2*
a. Lost Tracheae Clade Superfamily Pholcoidea
1. Cellar Spiders Family Pholcidae – 85
2. Entelegyne Spiders Infraorder Entelegynae – 818 + 9*
a. Dictynoidea – superfamily - 2
Tracheid Spider - Family Trachelidae - 3
b. Hackled Orbweavers and Net-castinSpiders Superfamily Uloboroidea-7
1. Hackled Orbweavers Family Uloboridae - 7 
c. Pirate Spiders Superfamily Mimetoidea-1
1. Pirate Spiders Family Mimetidae - 1 
d. Ghost Spiders Family Anyphaenidae - 1 
e. Salticoid Spiders Superfamily Salticoidea-182
1. Jumping Spiders Family Salticidae - 182
f. Araneoid Spiders Superfamily Araneoidea  - 527 + 19*
1. Cobweb Spiders Family Theridiidae - 14
2. Sheetweb and Dwarf Weavers Family Linyphiidae 4
3. Long-jawed Orbweavers Family Tetragnathidae - 23
4. Orbweavers Family Araneidae - 467
5. Anapid Family Anapidae - 1
g. Wolf Spiders and Allies Superfamily Lycosoidea – 79 + 1*
1. Lynx Spiders Family Oxyopidae - 35
2. Wolf Spiders Family Lycosidae - 44 
h. Funnel Weavers and Amphinectids - superfamily Agelenoidea - 1
1. Funnel Weavers - Family Agelenidae -  1 
i. Velvet, Flatmesh, and Long Spinnerets Spiders Superfamily Eresoidea-2
1. Flatmesh Weavers Family Oecobiidae - 2
j. Sac Spiders Family Clubionidae - 3
k. Gnaphosoid Spiders - 1  
l. Sparassoid Spiders - 1 
m. Intertidal Spiders -1
1 House Spiders - 1  
n. Crab and Running Crab Spiders Superfamily Thomisoidea -6
1. Crab Spiders Family Thomisidae - 5
2. Running Crab Spiders Family Philodromidae 1

Note - *indicated the Species was found the that broad category(superfamily and infraorder),
we were not able to identify which family do that species belong accurately.

Summarising, the following families of spider we found in our study


a. Cellar Spiders
b. Tracheid Spider
c. Hackled Orbweavers
d. Pirate Spiders
e. Ghost Spiders
f. Jumping Spiders
g. Cobweb Spiders
h. Sheetweb and Dwarf Weavers
i. Long-jawed Orbweavers
j. Orbweavers
k. Anapid
l. Lynx Spiders
m. Wolf Spiders
n. Funnel Weavers
o. Flatmesh Weavers
p. Sac Spiders
q. Gnaphosoid Spiders
r. Sparassoid Spiders
s. House Spiders
t. Crab Spiders
u. Running Crab Spiders

(In terms of Species)


Total no of
S.No Common Name of Scientific name of Found where Time of species
. the species the species (disturbed/undisturbed) the day found.

1 Signature spider Argiope anasuja Disturbed Day 68

Day
and
2 Tailed cellar spiders Crossopriza lyoni Disturbed Night 45

Common Hairy Field Undisturbed Night


3 Spider Neoscona subfusca

4 Menemerus nigli Menemerus nigli Disturbed Day 23

Gray Wall Jumping Menemerus Disturbed Day


5 Spider bivittatus 17

Garden Tent-web Cyrtophora Disturbed Day


6 Spider cicatrosa 16

Common Housefly Disturbed Day


7 Catcher Plexippus petersi 14

8 Salticus mutabilis Salticus mutabilis Disturbed Day 13

Disturbed Day
Larinioides and
9 Grey Cross Spider sclopetarius Night 13

Pantropical Jumping Disturbed Day


10 Spider Plexippus paykulli 12

11 Multi-coloured Saint Argiope versicolor Disturbed Day 12


Andrew's Cross
Spider

Northern Saint Disturbed Day


Andrew's Cross
12 Spider Argiope aetherea 10

Gem-shaped Disturbed Night


13 Orbweaver Araneus gemma 9

Disturbed Day
Silver Garden and
14 Orbweaver Argiope argentata Night 7

Disturbed Day
and
15 Spotted Orbweaver Neoscona crucifera Night 7

16 Decorative Vleispider Leucauge decorata Both Night 7

Metazygia Undisturbed Day


17 Metazygia wittfeldae wittfeldae 7

Oval Saint Andrew's Both Day


18 Cross Spider Argiope aemula 7

Half-edged Wall Menemerus Disturbed Night


19 Jumping Spider semilimbatus 6

Disturbed Day
Marbled Cellar Holocnemus and
20 Spider pluchei Night 6

Neoscona Both Night


21 Pointillist Neoscona punctigera 6

Disturbed Day
and
22 Brown Sailor Spider Neoscona nautica Night 6

Pardosa Undisturbed Day


23 Pond Wolf Spider pseudoannulata 6

Undisturbed Day
Hump Back Araneid and
24 Spider Eriovixia excelsa Night 5

Indian Green Lynx Undisturbed Day


25 Spider Peucetia viridana 5

26 Uloborus diversus Uloborus diversus Disturbed Day 5

27 Red House Spider Nesticodes rufipes Disturbed Night 5


28 Araneus ventricosus Araneus ventricosus Disturbed Night 5

Disturbed Day
and
29 Cellar Spider Pholcus manueli Night 5

Disturbed Day
Long-bodied Cellar Pholcus and
30 Spider phalangioides Night 4

Giant Golden Both Day


31 Orbweaver Nephila pilipes 4

Nephilengys Disturbed night


32 Asian Hermit Spider malabarensis 4

Oriental Spiny Orb- Gasteracantha Undisturbed Day


33 Weaver geminata 4

Undisturbed Day
and
34 White Lynx Spider Oxyopes shweta Night 4

Small Striped Wolf Disturbed Day


35 Spiders Genus Artoria 4

Undisturbed Day
and
36 Parawixia audax Parawixia audax Night 4

37 Marma nigritarsis Marma nigritarsis disturbed Day 4

Asiatic Wall Jumping disturbed Day


38 Spider Attulus fasciger 4

Both Day
Tetragnatha and
39 Tetragnatha elongata elongata Night 3

Leafcurling Sac disturbed Day


40 Spiders Genus Clubiona 3

41 Larinioides Undisturbed 3
Furrow Orbweaver cornutus Night

42 Cricket-bat 3
Orbweaver Mangora acalypha Undisturbed Night

43 Genus Stenaelurillus Genus Undisturbed Day 3


Stenaelurillus

44 genus meriola genus meriola Undisturbed Day 2

45 common house spider common house Day 2


spider and
Both Night

46 Day 2
Tropical Tent-web and
Spider Cyrtophora citricola Disturbed Night

47 Barn Orbweaver Araneus cavaticus Undisturbed Night 2

48 Day 2
Tuft-legged and
Orbweaver Mangora placida Undisturbed Night

49 Black Dwarf Spiders Genus Erigone Undisturbed Day 2

50 Day 2
and
Wall Spider Oecobius navus Undisturbed Night

51 Day 2
and
Pardosa mercurialis Pardosa mercurialis Undisturbed Night

Day
and
52 Small Cross Spider Argiope minuta Both Night 2

53 Rough Twig Spider Poltys illepidus Both Day 2

54 Common Web-Spider Neoscona theisi Both Day 2

Day
and
55 Noble False Widow Steatoda nobilis Disturbed Night 2

Day
Laglaise's Garden and
56 Spider Eriovixia laglaizei Undisturbed Night 2

Day
and
57 Neoscona vigilans Neoscona vigilans Undisturbed Night 2

58 Pantropical Heteropoda Disturbed Day 2


Huntsman Spider venatoria and
Night

Day
Araneus and
59 Cross Orbweaver diadematus Undisturbed Night 1

Day
and
60 Tropical Orbweaver Eriophora ravilla Both Night 1

Day
Goldenrod Crab and
61 Spider Misumena vatia Both Night 1

Day
Silver Long-jawed and
62 Orbweaver Silver Spider Undisturbed Night 1

Day
Steatoda and
63 Triangulate Combfoot triangulosa Both Night 1

Genus Genus
64 Trachelopachys Trachelopachys Undisturbed Day 1

Day
Hawaiian Garden and
65 Spider Argiope appensa Undisturbed Night 1

Day
Arabesque and
66 Orbweaver Neoscona arabesca Undisturbed Night 1

Metepeira
67 Labyrinth Orbweaver labyrinthea Undisturbed Day 1

Day
and
68 Angular Orbweaver Araneus angulatus Both Night 1

Day
and
69 Black House Spider Badumna insignis Both Night 1

Day
Humpbacked and
70 Orbweaver Eustala anastera Both Night 1

71 Myrmarachne Myrmarachne Both Day 1


formicaria formicaria and
Night

Day
African Green Lynx and
72 Spider Peucetia viridis Undisturbed Night 1

Day
Ornamental Tree Herennia and
73 Trunk Spider multipuncta Undisturbed Night 1

Day
Two-striped and
74 Telamonia elamonia dimidiata Both Night 1

Southern Bolas Mastophora


75 Spider cornigera Undisturbed Night 1

Day
and
76 Wulfila saltabundus Wulfila saltabundus Undisturbed Night 1

77 Genus Zelotes Genus Zelotes Undisturbed Day 1

Day
Tuberculated Crab and
78 Spider Tmarus angulatus Undisturbed Night 1

Day
Common Stretch Tetragnatha and
79 Spider extensa Both Night 1

Common Pirate
80 Spider Mimetus puritanus Both Day 1

Day
Common Hentz and
81 Jumping Spider Hentzia palmarum Undisturbed Night 1

Day
and
82 Carrhotus viduus Carrhotus viduus Undisturbed Night 1

Day
Silver-sided Sector and
83 Spider Zygiella x-notata Both Night 1

Day
Ninja-star Ceiling and
84 Spider Zosis geniculata Both Night 1
Day
and
85 Genus Coleosoma Genus Coleosoma Undisturbed Night 1

Spectacular Crab Thomisus


86 Spider spectabilis Undisturbed Day 1

Day
Saint Andrew's Cross and
87 Spider Argiope keyserlingi Undisturbed Night 1

88 Genus Jollas Genus Jollas Undisturbed Day 1

Day
Drumming Sword and
89 Wolf Spider Gladicosa gulosa Undisturbed Night 1

Day
Eurasian Running and
90 Crab Spider Philodromus dispar Undisturbed Night 1

Day
and
91 Steatoda castanea Steatoda castanea Disturbed Night 1

Day
Araneus Araneus and
92 detrimentosus detrimentosus Undisturbed Night 1

93 Metazygia zilloides Metazygia zilloides Undisturbed Day 1

94 Eriophora edax Eriophora edax Undisturbed Day 1

95 Xysticus texanus Xysticus texanus Undisturbed Day 1

96 Mexigonus minutus Mexigonus minutus Undisturbed Day 1

Day
Short-bodied Cellar Physocyclus and
97 Spider globosus Disturbed Night 1

Pseudeuophrys
98 Pseudeuophrys vafra vafra Undisturbed Day 1

Day
Variegated Lynx Oxyopes and
99 Spider heterophthalmus Undisturbed Night 1

100 Toothed Weaver Textrix denticulata Undisturbed Night 1


Adanson's House
101 Jumper Hasarius adansoni Disturbed Day 1

Day
and
102 Kogane-gumo Spider Argiope amoena Undisturbed Night 1

Day
and
103 Lean Lynx Spider Oxyopes macilentus Undisturbed Night 1

104 Oriental Bolas Spiders Genus Ordgarius Undisturbed Night 1

Cryptachaea
105 White Porch Spider gigantipes Disturbed Day 1

Day
and
106 Grass Cross Spider Argiope catenulata Undisturbed Night 1

Wasp-mimic Jumping
107 Spider Rhene flavicomans Undisturbed Day 1

Walckenaer's
Feather-legged Uloborus
108 Spider walckenaerius Undisturbed Night 1

Day
and
109 Genus Wadicosa Genus Wadicosa Undisturbed Night 1

Day
and
110 Genus Psellonus Genus Psellonus Undisturbed Night 1

111 Shaded Orbweaver Metellina merianae Undisturbed Night 1

Day
Euryopis and
112 Ant-eating Theridiid episinoides Undisturbed Night 1

Day
and
113 Scytodes atlacoya Scytodes atlacoya Undisturbed Night 1

Day
Neoscona Neoscona and
114 menghaiensis menghaiensis Undisturbed Night 1

115 Social House Spider Philoponella Disturbed Day 1


and
congregabilis Night

Day
and
116 Araneus granadensis Filter by Place Undisturbed Night 1

Sandy ground
117 Attulus ammophilus Jumper Undisturbed Day 1

Day
Small Round and
118 Orbweaver Araneus rotundulus Undisturbed Night 1

Day
and
119 Zimiris doriae Zimiris doriae Undisturbed Night 1

Day
and
120 Guizygiella nadleri Guizygiella nadleri Undisturbed Night 1

Banded-legged Day
Golden Orb-web Trichonephila and
121 Spider senegalensis Undisturbed Night 1

Day
Black Golden and
122 Orbweaver Nephila kuhli Undisturbed Night 1

Pear-shaped
123 Opadometa Leucauge fastigata Undisturbed Day 1

Day
and
124 Painted Cross Spider Argiope picta Undisturbed Night 1

Charts:
Distribution in terms of Families

3 1 1 1 1 5 1 23
Cellular Spider Tracheid Spider
1 44 85 7 Hackled Orbweavers Pirate Spiders
35 1 Ghosts Spiders Jumping Spider
1
Cobweb Spiders Sheetweb and Dwarf Weavers
Long-jawed Orbweavers Orbweavers
Anapidae Lynx Spider
182 Wolf Spider Funnel Weavers
Sac Spider Gnaphosoid Spider
Sparassoid Spiders House Spider
Crab Spiders Running Crab Spiders
Flatmesh Weavers
467 1
4 4
2
3

Distribution in Terms of Species


Number of Diff erent Species Observed
21 35

70

Disturbed Area Undisturbed Area Both Areas

Results:
Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index for Different Spider families

Spider Type Number Pi Ln(Pi) Pi*Ln(Pi)


Orbweavers 467 0.5293 -0.635 -0.335928287

Jumping Spiders 182 0.2068 -1.577 -3.141418503


Cellar Spiders 85 0.0963 -2.337 -5.454907531
Wolf Spiders 44 0.0499 -3.003 -9.49529731
Lynx Spiders 35 0.0397 -3.234 -10.17452269

Long-jawed Orbweavers 23 0.0261 -3.647 -13.00522803

Cobweb Spiders 14 0.0159 -4.144 -20.58590618

Hackled Orbweavers 7 0.0079 -4.84 -31.01016144

Tracheid Spider 3 0.0034 -5.673 -53.19761551


Sac Spiders 3 0.0034 -5.673 -53.19761551

Sheetweb and Dwarf Weavers 4 0.0045 -5.402 -46.56515375


Crab Spiders 5 0.0057 -5.16 -39.9744727

Flatmesh Weavers 2 0.0023 -6.075 -63.89742379


Pirate Spiders 1 0.0011 -6.802 -87.55098747
Ghost Spiders 1 0.0011 -6.802 -87.55098747
Anapid 1 0.0011 -6.802 -87.55098747
Funnel Weavers 1 0.0011 -6.802 -87.55098747

Gnaphosoid Spiders 1 0.0011 -6.802 -87.55098747

Running Crab Spiders 1 0.0011 -6.802 -87.55098747

Sparassoid Spiders 1 0.0011 -6.802 -87.55098747


House Spiders 1 0.0011 -6.802 -87.55098747
sums 882 -1050.443551
Similarity indices:
Jaccard CJ :
C = j/(a+b – j)
= 35/(70 + 21 – 35)
= 0.625
Sorenson CS
CS = 2j/(a + b)
= 2*35/(70 + 21)
= 0.769231
Discussions:
The study aimed at getting the diversity of the spiders found in the Disturbed Area (more
human interventions and more construction activities) and Undisturbed Area (Less human
interventions and no/very less construction activities) of IIT Tirupati Campus.
The study showed that a greater number of spiders was found in disturbed area than
undisturbed Area whereas more diversity of species was observed in Undisturbed site than
the Disturbed Site. A greater number of rare species was found at undisturbed area than the
disturbed area.
The study also showed that a greater number of spiders were found at a place where the
amount of sunlight reaching was fairly low and a greater number of smaller insects were
present. Since a greater number of insects were present in that particular area, the probability
of getting the prey trapped was more compared to area with relatively smaller number of
small insects.

Maps:
 Study Area Map:
 Map showing Tirupati

 Map of Observed Area – (Link - https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?


mid=1OPVMPkJcbHZgO0VzqQCw5T1tyZLQGXQ&usp=sharing )
Project Link :
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/arachnides_team-07

Some Interesting Photos:

References:

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and their relatives: The scorpions, pseudoscorpions, whip scorpions, harvestmen and
all members of the class Arachnida found in India, with analytical keys for their
classification and biology. Calcutta, West Bengal: Zoological survey of India.
14. Palem, H., Kanike, S. and Purushottam, V.R. (2016) “Image:
Https://crossmark.crossref.org/images/crossmark_button.png Diversity of spider
fauna (arachnida: Araneae) in different ecosystems, Eastern Ghats, southern Andhra
Pradesh, India,” South Asian Journal of Life Sciences, 4(2), pp. 51–60. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.14737/journal.sajls/2016/4.2.51.60.
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